Bula
The acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo has given State and defence lawyers two weeks to peruse trial records of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho.
Mr Bainimarama and Mr Qiliho appeared before acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo in the appeal case by the State. Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) John Rabuku said there were issues in the records, as there were dots on some pages, and it was unclear as to what was discussed during the trial. Meanwhile, Mr Rabuku also told court he would not be prosecuting the case as he had appeared for the suspended police commissioner, Mr Qiliho, during the early stages of investigation and it would be a conflict of interest if he did. The matter has been adjourned to February 29, 2024, for hearing at 10.30am. That’s the lead news on the front page of The Fiji Times for Tuesday, December 5.
In the second story on Page 1, a member of the Army Sukuna Bowl team will be produced in the Nadi Magistrates Court tomorrow for allegedly assaulting a police officer on duty and escaping from a police station. Assistant Commissioner of Operations (ACP) Livai Driu said the military officer had allegedly assaulted a police officer in Namaka on Sunday morning, resulting in his arrest, and also escaping from lawful custody. He was arrested shortly after. “He is in custody and currently being processed for court tomorrow (today),” ACP Driu said. The military officer was in the starting line-up for Army in the Sukuna Bowl match against Police that was played in Nadi.
And in the third story on Page 1, the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office are against any moves to change election laws in an election year. The Electoral Commission (EC) and the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) state this in the 2022 election report that was tabled in Parliament last month. “Changes to election laws in the lead up to the election create public suspicion about motives for the change,” states the report. The EC and FEO state any law change can introduce last minute complexities and challenges for voter education and the conduct of the election.
Synopsis
It’s that time of the year again when we have an opportunity to talk about water safety.
On this date in 2018, the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) issued a statement urging members of the public to adhere to safety rules when out at sea.
It urged people to adhere to safety messages and strictly follow maritime safety rules as we head into the festive season.
Many Fijians, it said, plan to visit families in the maritime islands during this period.
The message is apt today as it was back then.
The travelling public is urged to be attentive and watchful during this time of the year.
We were informed that MSAF’s priority was not only the safety of passengers and crew members, but the protection of the marine environment as well.
Sea worthiness of all vessels, we were told are maintained by ship operators through stringent MSAF survey requirements.
Prior to departure MSAF enforcement officers’ carry out a final check.
The reality is that inter-island travel is risky business for many people.
They brave the elements to go island hopping.
People are still arriving in the Capital City on open fibreglass boats, braving the elements to get to Viti Levu.
For most of them, waiting for the scheduled vessel to arrive at their island jetty is frustrating.
Trips on fast fibreglass boats can take just up to two hours or so before they hit landfall, enough time for them get to the urban centres, do their shopping, attend to urgent matters and prepare to head back home a day or two later.
However, doing this, they sometimes risk everything, including their lives, and accidents have been known to happen.
One of the key factors that drives this business is time, or, as some of travellers suggest, lack of consistency in services offered by some shipping companies.
The location of our islands and distances that have to be travelled will always mean there is a need for a shipping service, but it has to be one that meets the needs of travellers.
As we get into the festive season, the onus is on us all to be mindful of safety, whether it is on our roads, or out at sea. It pays to be prepared.
We have had so many accidents on our roads that it is frustrating, and very scary. So let’s do something together this festive season. Let’s place safety on the top of our list of priorities. Let’s plan for a safe and joyful festive season. Let’s have some common sense and be vigilant.
