Bula! Here are some headlines that made The Sunday Times for January 2, 2022.
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- The country’s two teacher unions are calling for a delay in reopening schools because of the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases.
- The unions said it would be impossible to maintain COVID-19 protocols in schools.
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- The Education Ministry should weigh their options carefully before re-opening schools next week, says the two teacher unions. The unions said it would be impossible to maintain COVID-19 protocols in schools. Fijian Teachers Association general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga said the ministry should defer the re-opening of schools for at least a month.
- Foundation for the Education of Needy Children (FENC) in Fiji national coordinator Priya Lata says they have seen burdened parents who choose to enjoy the festive season and try to deal with their children’s education later.
- The death of Makelesi Tinai’s husband early last year has left her clueless as to how she will send her children to school. The mother of two said they were struggling to put food on the table and the opening of schools placed an extra burden on her.
- Reopening schools is not safe for our children, says Foundation for the Education of Needy Children (FENC) in Fiji national co-ordinator Priya Lata.
- Umeni Siovini says in the midst of rising cost of basic food items and cost of living, she is unsure if her two granddaughters will be able to go to school next year.
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- Get a booster jab when you qualify, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. In his New Year’s message, Mr Bainimarama said getting “boosted” was free, easy, and essential to us getting on with our lives and with a recovery that could carry us forward every day of the New Year ahead.
- Government should be super vigilant in restraining both Covid-19 and omicron this year, says The People Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka. In his New Year’s message, Mr Rabuka said virus controls, especially at Fiji’s borders, must be more efficient than they were earlier in 2021 when Fiji for a time had the highest infection rate in the world.
- Sepitaia Yalisaya gave birth to her fifth child slightly after midnight at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, making it the New Year’s baby. The mother of five said her daughter weighed 3.6 kilograms.
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- All I want is a shelter for my family. That’s the plea from a helpless double forefoot amputee Tuiafitu Biumaiwai after sharing his daily struggles with his family to this newspaper. The 35-year-old man was diagnosed with diabetes in 2019 where he was told that his 10 toes would be removed to prevent the spread of the sickness to his other body parts.
- The wet weather did not dampen New Year celebrations for Lautoka families who flocked to popular picnic spot Saweni Beach on the first day of 2022. Despite rain clouds hovering over the picnic spot, residents took the time to enjoy their day out with their loved ones.
- President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere has appointed a three-member Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG).
SPORTS
- The big one on the back page is about rugby league…. Big Bill Kikau has declared his availability for the Fiji Bati for the League World Cup.
