Bula vinaka everyone
As we count down the hours to the start of another work-week, we wish you well wherever you are. Stay well and stay safe!
CASH PRIZES
Remember we are celebrating our 152nd year anniversary and you can get into the draw to win cash.
We had 10 lucky readers who won cash prizes in September. There is an opportunity for 20 lucky readers to win cash prizes in October, and now in this month of November, there is an opportunity for 30 lucky readers to win $152 each. Remember the grand prize is $15,200. The special numbers are 152, our anniversary! All you have to do to enter the draw is to cut out the masthead of The Fiji Times newspaper, write your name, address and your phone number on it, and place this in a bin at a participating store near you. It’s that easy! Turn to Page 11 for details.
HEADLINES
Here are some headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Monday, November 1.
PAGE 1
GOVERNMENT revealed in its 2020-2021 fourth quarter appropriation statement that it shifted $39.8 million out from 12 different ministries and entities to fund its “unemployment benefit” scheme. The two biggest sums moved were $15m from the Water Authority of Fiji’s “Capital Grant” and $14.3m set aside for “Tertiary Education Loan Scheme — Accommodation”.
# More on Page 3.
PAGE 2
FIJI is at COP26 to fight for every Fijian and for Pacific Island countries such as Tuvalu and Kiribati — some of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change This was the message from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in his first briefing from Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday. “The world’s action or inaction in Glasgow will determine whether nations limit the terrible impacts of climate change or unleash catastrophe on the planet,” he said.
PAGE 3
A TOTAL of $61 million was taken from 17 ministries and entities to fund Government’s financial shortfalls in certain areas in the 2020-2021 National Budget. This, according to the fourth quarter 2020-2021 appropriation statement that was presented in Parliament recently. According to the report, $11 million was taken out of the “Fiji Recovery Rebate Package” under Miscellaneous to be used for the “Sugar Stabilisation Fund — Fiji Sugar Corporation”.
PAGE 4
EDUCATION Minister Premila Kumar says she expects Year 12 and 13 students to study hard and obtain good marks to make their entry into tertiary and technical institutions easier. “Good marks will qualify you for the Toppers Scheme as well as TELS,” she said in a statement issued yesterday where she welcomed students back to school after six and a half months away.
PAGE 5
REOPENING Fiji’s borders with a large portion of our population unvaccinated against COVID-19 is like skating on thin ice, says Dialogue Fiji executive director Nilesh Lal. He made the comment in a Dialogue Fiji report on children’s COVID-19 vaccination in Fiji.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Check out interesting letters on Pages 8 and 9.
The leader is on the reopening of our international border and the concern that many Fijians are allowing complacency to creep into their lives. They are lowering their guard against the COVID-19 pandemic and this is a major concern.
PEOPLE
This section is about people, their hopes and aspirations, and the challenges they faced to get to where they are today.
AFTER losing his employment to COVID-19 a year ago, Ledua Lesumailepanoni was determined he would be able to find an alternative way to provide for his family. For the past decade, he depended entirely on pay cheques and his fortnight earnings. That came to an abrupt end when the pandemic hit and he had to let go of his employment.
MOVEMBER SPECIAL
Read about the Movember campaign this month. Find out what it means. Turn to Page 14.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about soccer.
A last-minute Christopher Wasasala penalty saved hosts Suva at the ANZ Stadium as they beat Rewa 2-1 in another round of the 2021 Digicel Premier League yesterday. The Capital City team was awarded a penalty after a late tackle by a Rewa player. They led in the first half 1-0 with the goal scored by Alex Senial. Rewa came in strong in the second half and was awarded a free kick by Setareki Hughes.
