Fiji tower controllers ‘not returning to work’

Fiji airport impasse continues

AS the impasse between air traffic controllers (ATCs) and Fiji Airports management enters its fourth day, the ATCs are adamant they will not return to work unless serious steps are taken to address their issues. Team leader and senior ATC Kolokesa Kini made the statement during a press conference at the Fiji Public Service Association...

FTUC members to deliver petition to Fiji-based Indian High Commission

THE Fiji Trades Union Congress Union members will deliver its petition to the Indian High Commission Office in Suva this morning. FTUC executive officer Jyotika Sharma said that the petition was to be delivered yesterday but the Indian High Commission’s Office was closed for the Holi festival. “Our trade union leaders gathered in Suva today...

Employment Minister meets Fiji Airports senior management

MINISTER for Employment, Industrial Relations and Productivity Parveen Kumar is meeting Fiji Airports senior management and air traffic controllers this hour. The air traffic controllers will be represented by Fiji Public Service Association general secretary Rajeshwar Singh. Mr Kumar is expected to release a statement on the impasse following the discussions.

Online Commission warns against hateful and racial words

THE Online Safety Commission has issued a warning to all Fijians to refrain from spreading hateful words and discrimination on social media over the barbaric attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, last Friday. Commissioner Anne Dunn Baleilevuka said they were aware that hateful and racial words were spreading across social media platforms. “We have not received...

Namosi hydro talks: Less impacts on swimming and washing – EIA Report

THERE is expected to be very few impacts on swimming, playing, bathing and washing in the Wainikoroiluva river once the construction of the proposed hydropower project starts. This was revealed in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the Wainikovu and Waivaka Hydropower project given to this newspaper by landowners of Nakavika Village in Namosi....

Namosi hydro talks: Land portions will be permanently inundated – EIA Report

PORTIONS of land owned by various clans (mataqali) located downstream and upstream of the Wainikoroiluva river in Namosi will be permanently inundated by the reservoir to be created upstream of the dam. This was revealed in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the Wainikovu and Waivaka hydropower project. Hydro VL Pty Ltd is working...

Namosi hydro talks: Navunikabi women plead with authorities

WOMEN of Navunikabi Village in the interior of Namosi are pleading with relevant authorities to remember them and their families. The villagers claim they will be the first to be inundated with water once the construction of the proposed Wainikoroiluva hydropower plant goes ahead. Usenia Tavutavu, 45, and her husband depend on farming and the...

Namosi hydro talks: Villagers fear flooding and diminishing food stock

VILLAGERS of Navunikabi in Namosi fear that their village will be inundated with water if the construction of the Wainikoroiluva hydro project goes ahead. Hydro VL Pty Ltd is working on the Wainikoroiluva, Wainikovu and Waivaka hydro project. It is estimated to cost $200million. The proposed Wainikoroiluva hydro project is located in the district of...

Namosi hydro talks: Landowners yet to decide on construction

VILLAGERS of Nakavika in Namosi will meet tomorrow to decide whether they will consent to the construction of the proposed Wainikoroiluva hydropower plant or not. Revealing this, Nakavika Village headman Mario Senimoli said they had rejected the proposed project because they were worried about the livelihoods of villagers of Navunikabi, who were located upstream from...

President Konrote receives Romania non-resident ambassador

PRESIDENT Jioji Konrote this morning received the Non-Resident Ambassador of Romania to Fiji Nineta Bărbulescu at Borron House. Ms Bărbulescu presented her credentials to President Konrote and was also accorded a guard of honour by the members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. Prior to holding the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania post...

Hungary non-resident ambassador to Fiji presents credentials

THE non-resident ambassador of Hungary to Fiji, Laszlo Zsolt Szabo presented his credentials to the President Jioji Konrote this morning. Mr Szabo presented his credentials to Mr Konrote at Borron House after inspecting a guard of honour mounted by members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. Prior to holding the ambassador post in 2016...

Konrote receives Kiribati counterpart

FIJIAN President Jioji Konrote today received his Kiribati counterpart Taneti Mamau who is here to attend the University of the South Pacific graduation. Mr Mamau who was was installed as the Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific on August 3, 2018 was also the single opposition candidate for the 2016 presidential election. He...

Solomon Is Governor-General pays courtesy call to President Konrote

THE Governor-General of the Solomon Islands, Sir Frank Kabui paid a courtesy call to the President Jioji Konrote this afternoon. Sir Kabui who has been the Governor General of Solomon Islands since July 7, 2009 is a former High Court judge and Attorney General. He was twice elected President of the Solomon Islands Bar Association,...

Athletes’ after-care fund

SPORTSMEN and sportswomen need to balance life properly and invest in education in order to have something to fall back on once their sporting careers end. Ministry of Youth and Sports permanent secretary Maritino Nemani highlighted this issue before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs in Suva yesterday. He said sporting bodies could use...

Rural sports development ceased due to poor management

THE poor management of sporting fields in rural areas has forced the Ministry of Youth and Sports to stop sports development in the informal settlements. This is an issue highlighted by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Maretino Nemani while making submissions before the Parliament Standing on Social Affairs yesterday. The issue came to light after SODELPA...

National youth policy scrutinised

THE national youth policy was scrutinised before the Parliament Standing Committee on Social Affairs in Suva this afternoon. The issue was highlighted while the Ministry of Youth and Sports was making submissions before the committee. SODELPA MP Salote Radrodro questioned the ministry on the delay of implementing the policy. “I’ve been raising this issue on...

Poland non-resident ambassador to Fiji presents credentials

THE Non-resident Ambassador of Poland to Fiji, Michal Kolodziejski today presented his credentials to the President Jioji Konrote. Mr Kolodziejski who was the Director General of Asia-Pacific Department, Deputy Director General of Asia-Pacific Department, and Economic Cooperation Department as well as for Minister’s Office in Warsaw was also Counsellor and Head of Section for Ministers...

Fiji’s Foreign Affairs ministry farewells Sapkal

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has bid farewell to the outgoing Indian High Commissioner of India to Fiji, Vishvas Sapkal. Earlier this week, Mr Sapkal also paid his farewell call on the Minister for Defence, National Security and Foreign Affairs, Inia Seruiratu, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Suva. The ministry thanked Mr Sapkal for his commitment and...

Parliament managers reminded to find new approach

SENIOR managers of the parliament secretariat were reminded that it was now time to find new and improved ways to the approach and deployment of their planned activities. During the opening of the 2019/2020 department operational planning workshop yesterday, Acting Secretary-General to Parliament Viniana Namosimalua said they had come through one term of parliament and...

Politics

22nd March