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For the love of family
Motivation allows people to see beyond their jobs. For Joneti Rokotuibau, her source of inspiration has always been her family. Though her wages were, for many years, inadequate to afford the life she wanted for...
Back in history | Just ‘a bright girl’
A gold medallist in physics and mathematics, Sadhana Subramani made the news when she joined the University of the South Pacific as an associate lecturer in mathematics. “I enjoy being a student at USP and I suppose I will just enjoy the view from the other end,” she said. An article published in The Fiji...
Pacific meets South Korea
Fresh off their meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi in PNG, Pacific leaders are this coming week gathering in Seoul for the inaugural South Korea-Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting. It is not hard to be sceptical about the value of these summits but, that said, they are not going to go away. Normally, they focus...
Back in history | Fiji’s first team to the 1985 Olympic Games
The Fiji Chess Federation received $250 from Burns Philp Hardware group manager James Datta to outfit the national team. An article published in The Fiji Times on November 9, 1985, said the national chess team was preparing to leave the country for Dubai. For the first time, Athletics Fiji was sending chess players to the...
House of Mausio | A celebration of Pacific identity and fashion
At just 32, Michael Mausio has already made a remarkable name for himself in Fiji’s fashion industry. His brand, the House of Mausio, is driven by a desire to preserve and celebrate Pacific Island culture and heritage. Born to a mixed heritage — his father of Rotuman and Tuvaluan descent and his mother of Russian...
Hotel partners with Fiji Fashion Week
Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH), Suva has announced its partnership with Fiji Fashion Week (FJFW) for its upcoming annual event. As the official hub of the event GPH will host media sessions, designer workshops, and other exciting activities throughout the duration of Fiji Fashion Week. IHG Hotels & Resorts Area General – South Pacific Lachlan Walker...
Partnership to strengthen products and processes
A partnership between a small Fijian-based business and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus Program (PHAMA Plus) will see the business strengthen the quality and standards of its products. Vegan and dairy free ice-cream production business – Marama Niu – was founded by Kylie Daunoco and Jojina Ah Yuk in 2020. As part...
Banks’ expectations
The Reserve Bank of Fiji expects investment decisions to firm up once tax and fiscal policies are announced in the upcoming National Budget. In its May economic review the RBF said financial conditions continued to support economic recovery amidst sufficient $2.3 billion liquidity. As a result outstanding lending rates remain at historic low levels with...
Unplanned power outage due to technical fault – EFL
Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) teams have restored power supply to some of the affected areas in the Central Division in Viti Levu and will continue to restore power supply to the remaining areas. EFL Chief Executive Officer & Director, Hasmukh Patel clarified this in a statement saying the unplanned power outage experienced in the Central...
Court criticises ministry
The Employment Relations Court has criticised the Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Ministry for not acting with due diligence in a workman’s compensation claim. This was in relation to a case where a labour officer from the ministry represented Energy Fiji Ltd employee Keni Rokotunidau. “If one looks at the conduct of the Labour Office...
5 years and 4 months for attempted rape
The High Court in Lautoka jailed a man for five years and four months for attempting to rape a boy inside a mosque in Nadi. The incident happened in January 2020 when the victim was eight years old and had gone to the mosque with his father for prayers. The 32-year-old attacked the boy inside...
Minister warns illegal traders
Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa says anyone operating a business illegally in a residential area will be taken to task. He said all complaints of illegal businesses from residents were immediately attended to by municipal councils. “I think the message must be clear to everyone that if you operate a business in residential area and...
2023-2024 National Budget | Sabha hopes for aid to boost religious tourism
While many organisations are seeking socio-economic relief in the 2023-2024 National Budget, country’s largest Hindu faith-based organisation hopes the State will assist in its efforts to go green and boost religious tourism. The Shree Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha Fiji (Sanatan Fiji) national president Dhirendra Nand said they also hoped the Government would assist in other...
2023-2024 National Budget | Cabbies want taxi fares to rise, fuel rebate, reduction in duty
Cabbies want taxi fares to increase, they want a fuel rebate and a reduction in duty on imported motor vehicles, says Fiji Taxi Association (FTA) general secretary Ashwin Lal. He said because of the rise in prices of fuel and spare parts, they hoped the Government would consider their recommendations and reflect this in the...
2023-2024 National Budget | ‘Bring food price down’
The price of basic food items should be reduced in the 2023-2024 National Budget. Nausori Municipal Market vendor Anita Raj said this, echoing the sentiments expressed by many Fijians to The Fiji Times this week when asked of what they wanted to see in the upcoming budget. She said the price of basic food items...
2023-2024 National Budget | Educators hope for salary increase
Educators are hoping for a salary increase in the 2023-2024 National Budget in terms of COLA (cost-of-living adjustment), and an increase in allowances, especially for teachers in the rural and maritime areas. Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) president Netani Druavesi said over the past 16 years teachers, lost their passion for teaching — but it was...
2023-2024 National Budget | Fijians feel the pinch at checkout
Ordinary Fijians are feeling the pinch at the checkout and they are pinning their hopes on the 2023-2024 National Budget to bring them some relief. Many said the sky rocketing prices of basic goods was affecting their pockets and their ability to provide healthy food for their families. Retired machinery worker Mohammed Magbul said the...
Expatriate patient billed $46,690 – Dr Bhagat
An expatriate who fell ill and was admitted at the Lautoka Hospital for two weeks was billed more than $46,000 by Aspen Medical. While speaking at a national budget consultation in Lautoka this week, general practitioner Dr Mukesh Bhagat said he was shocked that the expatriate patient was billed $46,690. “I was astonished that one...
Additional funds for USP
The University of the South Pacific will be receiving additional funding from Government in the 2023-2024 National Budget, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Finance Professor Biman Prasad. Speaking at a public consultation in Lautoka this week, he said the additional funding was to pay off arrears owed by the Fijian Government to the...
Changes introduced in upcoming budget ‘will not be too drastic’
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Prof Biman Prasad says changes that will be introduced in the upcoming 2023-2024 National Budget “will not be too drastic”. Speaking at a national budget consultation in Lautoka this week, he also said the three different rates of VAT (value added tax) would not exist once the new...
New plan for TELS – Prof Prasad
Government is reviewing the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme because the way it operated previously was not working and was placing students in debt. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad said this during a national budget consultation in Lautoka this week. He said their new plan for TELS would be implemented in the...
Ro Naulu to be installed as Vunivalu of Rewa
Ro Nauludole Verelevu Mataitini will be traditionally installed as the Vunivalu of Rewa at 10am today. The installation ceremony will take place at Lomanikoro Village in Rewa. Ro Naulu is the son of the former Vunivalu of Rewa and senator Ro Epeli Vakacaracara Mataitini who died on October 18, 2020. Ro Naulu has worked for...
Four new High Court judges sworn-in
Four new High Court judges were sworn-in by the President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere at the State House yesterday. The new-appointees, Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu – Puisne Judge, Justice Samuela Dina Qica – Acting Puisne Judge, Justice Chaitanya Lakshman – Acting Puisne Judge and Justice Senileba Levaci – Acting Puisne Judge were sworn in in the presence...
MoU on code-sharing arrangements with Korea
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on air services with Korea on code-sharing arrangements has been signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka, and the Director-General Aviation Policy Bureau of the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Kim Yeong Kook. The signing of the MoU between the...
Call to implement a health tax levy
Health services is one of the reasons people are leaving for better opportunities abroad, says Nadi private doctor Ahmed Shariff. While speaking at a National Budget consultation, the director of Health Masters Pte Ltd said a taxation system needed to be implemented for the health sector to improve and upgrade its services and facilities. “This...
What’s happening today!
Bula vinaka everyone. Here is another edition of some basic information you may need to know for today. First, here is your weather forecast for today: Weather A trough of low pressure lies just north of Fiji while another weak trough remains to the west of the group. Meanwhile, the moist easterlies that are prevalent...
1st June
From streets to farm
After spending most of his life on the streets, Naqelesi Tikolevu decided to call it quits. He realised he needed to change a few things in life if he was ever going to be successful. With a change of heart, he turned his life around. Today, more than anything else, the 62-year-old does not want...
Gonerogo shares musical journey
Like many local artists, Anarieta Sabua Leduaivosaki’s interest in music began in church. But once she caught the secular music bug, there was no stopping her. Today she has hit songs out and a growing legion of fans. Many may know her because of her hit song 2 Bags Waca La recorded and released under...
Back in history | In search of piano
The Dingles left their expensive piano at home in Queensland, Australia when they travelled to Fiji and were in search of a secondhand one for their promising musical daughter to practice at their new home in Suva. Desperate mother Nan Dingle Airs, in an article in The Fiji Times on February 17, 1983, said she...
New gender strategy | Are all gender strategies created equal? Examining the new German, US and UK approaches (Part 1)
Earlier this year, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that the Albanese government would be developing a new international gender equality strategy. The current gender equality and women’s empowerment strategy, developed two years after the merger of AusAID and DFAT in 2013, was ground breaking for Australia in that it covered all areas of foreign...
