Bula
Tonight, the permanent secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong announced that after another 2974 tests, we have recorded 11 new positive cases.
The first six are related to the Vunimono/Nadali cluster and were in home isolation. The next five are household contacts of a previous case. They have been in a quarantine facility in Nausori, and tested negative for their entry swabs while being admitted to the facility, but now have tested positive for their second swabs in quarantine.
He said, three previously infected patients have recovered, which means there are currently 57 active cases in home isolation or quarantine facilities. You can read about this on the front page.
Here are some stories that made the headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Thursday, May 20.
PAGE 1
Peril looms for cane farming family
The second story on the front page is about a 63-year-old farm labourer who says if the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s Lautoka mill does not begin crushing on June 7 as scheduled, his family will be in peril. The Lautoka mill was his family’s “last hope”.
REFLECTIONS
Let’s pause here for a moment and take stock of what we have so far.
The revelation by Sugar Ministry permanent secretary Yogesh Karan, that crushing at the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s Lautoka and Ba mills will have to be pushed back, will cause some concern and anxiety among those directly impacted.
As our report points out, for farmers, labourers and transport providers who depend on the industry, the news could not have come at a worse time. It will negatively impact them.
In fact, many were clinging to the hope harvesting and crushing would begin next month.
Their cupboards are bare and the survival of their families depends on that eventuality. There are obviously many other factors tied to their hope for a fixed crush season.
However, Mr Karan pointed out the deferment was because of the risks associated with bringing labourers from outside COVID-19 containment areas.
Government, he said, had to tread a fine line between ensuring the health and safety of all Fijians versus their need to earn and provide for their families.
Clearly, the pandemic is impacting the ability of farmers to reap the rewards of their labour.
It’s not something they expected. That’s the harsh reality they have before them though.
Now given their predicament, and the rising number of new cases of COVID-19 around the country, it makes sense that there would be anger and frustration on the part of those, directly and indirectly, impacted, and understandably a sense of trepidation on the part of the authorities.
Yet, on the flip side, police registered 47 cases of breaching curfew orders and health restrictions over the 24-hour period ending this morning.
Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu confirmed the Southern Division recorded 41 cases, the Eastern Division recorded four and the Western Division recorded two.
Now when you analyse the various scenarios, we learn that people were still gathering in some areas, some were caught playing volleyball, some playing cards, some drunk, some loitering and some drinking kava.
It is quite sad that in the face of great suffering, we still have people being inconsiderate about the impact of the virus on their fellow Fijians.
We must, as a nation, unite against the virus. We can only hope that every Fijian will give due consideration to the fact that Fiji needs unity in the face of this unseen enemy.
For the sake of our loved ones, ourselves, and for all those who are suffering around the country, please stay home! Protect your own little bubble. Do not allow anyone else into your bubble. Do the right thing! Be part of the good fight!
Acknowledgement is due to the thousands of Fijians who are playing their part by adhering to advice from the permanent secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong and his team. Thank you!
PAGES 2-3
Grim picture for cane growers
IF cane growers do not receive the $25.30 owed to them for last year’s crop, 8300 will be pushed into poverty, perpetual debt and out of the industry. This was the grim picture painted by National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad.
Crushing pushed back
CRUSHING at the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s Lautoka and Ba mills will be pushed back because of the risks associated with bringing in labourers from outside containment areas, says permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Yogesh Karan.
Cane price
NATIONAL Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry says the forecast price for cane for the 2021 season should have been announced by April end.
Fourth cane payment
RAKIRAKI businessman and prominent cane grower George Shiu Raj has called on Prime Minister and Sugar Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to ensure farmers received at least $20 per tonne in their fourth cane payment this month.
No option
MOHAMMED Sahim Ali is pinning his hopes on whatever he will earn as a labourer during the 2021 cane crushing season because he has no other option.
FSC capital works
THE Fiji Sugar Corporation has been urged to release details on capital works that have been undertaken at the three mills this year.
Labour availability
A NADI advisory councillor and cane grower is scratching his head over labour availability for the 2021 harvesting and crushing season.
Harvesting and borders
LAUTOKA cane grower Fariyad Mohammed says he does not know how he will harvest more than 150 tonnes of crop this year if the borders remain closed.
PAGE 18
Life on Lakeba
WHILE Viti Levu remains in the grip of a COVID-19 outbreak, life continues as normal for villagers on the island of Lakeba in the Lau Group.
Teacher Isimeli Nalomaca
RETIRED school teacher Ìisimeli Nalomaca says the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic was the need for people to observe personal hygiene and etiquette at all times.
Call to ‘Girmitiyas’
THE largest Hindu organisation in the country, Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji last week called on the descendants of ‘Girmitiyas’ to continue to work hard and help their families, societies and country.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Check out the letters on Pages 8 and 9.
PEOPLE
In this ever-popular section, you can read about: Ilaisa Gonebure
Ilaisa Gonebure has a daunting task. The agriculture extension officer has to ensure fresh vegetables are transported to the Sawani containment border to meet the needs of the people.BACKTRACKS
Songs of old
This section is about music. Read about: Songs of old still have a place in today’s COVID-19 stricken world. That’s what William ‘Bigwilz’ Waqanibaravi established after analysing the response to his online charity concert event on Tuesday.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about:
Kaiviti Silktails challenge
THE Kaiviti Silktails are expecting a tough challenge against the second placed Hills Bulls in round 11 of the Ron Massey Cup in Sydney, Australia this Saturday.
GET A COPY
There’s a lot to read inside. You’ll have to get a copy though to know what we are talking about. Happy reading!
e-EDITION
I have been getting calls from people who miss the newsprint version. In this lockdown period, you could try reading the newspaper on the e-Edition platform. It’s easy to hook up via mPaisa! You can contact us for details on https://www.fijitimes.com/subscribe/ or you can call Setaita on 7754078, or on 3304111 during office hours, to assist you.
You could also just follow a few steps and read The Fiji Times a few minutes later, live and direct! Here are the simple steps to follow:
1: Log onto www.fijitimes.com 2: Select the SUBSCRIBE tab. 3: Register. 4: Select mPaisa payment option!
Try it! It’s a different experience!
