Politics
Another complainant alleges sexual harassment against ex-FHL boss
ANOTHER complainant has come forward with similar allegations of sexual harassment against former Fijian Holdings Limited Group CEO Nouzab Fareed. Police said the complainant came forward after the initial report was lodged by a former staff member of one of FHL’s subsidiaries. Police also said that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was in the process...
White Island Volcano: Rabuka expresses sympathy to New Zealanders
OPPOSITION Leader Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed his sympathy and condolences to the government and people of New Zealand following the recent volcanic eruption on White Island. According to overseas media reports, the death toll has risen to 14, while two people remain missing on the island and presumed dead. The group visiting the island at...
Ahmed: Fijian Police unaware of how to handle trafficking cases
EIGHTY per cent of police officers in Fiji are unaware of how to handle and identify human trafficking cases, says human trafficking unit senior investigator Inspector Mukhtar Ahmed. Speaking at the Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation workshop at Naviti Resort in Sigatoka yesterday, Insp Ahmed said there was a great need to train Fijian police officers...
‘We are reborn’: Bougainville votes for independence from Papua New Guinea
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The South Pacific islands of Bougainville have overwhelmingly voted to be independent from Papua New Guinea, the referendum commission said on Wednesday, in a historic poll that will embolden separatists as they start negotiating the terms of their sovereignty. Almost 98% of the 181,067 votes cast backed independence in the non-binding poll...
Koroisavou: Landowners should not feel threatened
LANDOWNERS shouldn’t feel threatened by Government’s bullying tactics, says youth activist Jope Koroisavou. He was responding to comments made by Agriculture Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy on plans to take action against landowners who evict farmers off their land without proper lease agreements. During a talanoa session, a concerned Rakiraki farmer told Dr Reddy he feared...
Call for Australia to intervene in controversial ‘Nauru 19’ trial
Independent Australian MP, Andrew Wilkie, has written to Foreign Minister Marise Payne pleading for her to intervene in the Nauru trial of the pro-democracy activists dubbed the ‘Nauru 19’ The group are facing charges of rioting and disturbing the legislature during an anti-government protest on Nauru four and a half years ago. Last year, the...
Jetty rehabilitation in support of inter-island accessibility
THE Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) has undertaken extensive programme of jetty rehabilitation and replacement in support of inter-island accessibility. This was highlighted Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services, Jone Usamate in Parliament last week. “Some of the rehabilitation has been completed in Lakeba and Savusavu and work is about to commence on...
Over 2,000 streetlights installed over the past two years
IN transforming Fiji, a modern, safe and well-connected road infrastructure is necessary and in support of this, FRA has installed over 2,000 streetlights over the past two years. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services, Jone Usamate said this while responding the the President’s address on the opening of Parliament last week. “Streetlights...
66,000 Fijians assisted by REACH program
GOVERNMENT’S Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion (REACH) program has provided essential government and non-government services to over 66,000 Fijians in 956 communities since its inception in 2015. This was highlighted by the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa in Parliament last week. “Such services include births, deaths and marriages registration, actual weddings, Legal...
Protection of iTaukei land in our Constitution: Usamate
WE have the protection of iTaukei land in our Constitution. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services, Jone Usamate stated this in Parliament last week. “We have, for the first time ever, share of royalties to iTaukei landowners,” Mr Usamate said. “That is part of the reform. This is the Government that delivers...
Fiji’s mediation service received 10,000-plus cases in 10 years
FIJI’S Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations this week marked the 10th year anniversary of its mediation services. Ministry permanent secretary Osea Cawaru said the service was established in 2009 in fulfilling the legal obligation under its reformed Employment Relations Act 2007 as a conflict resolution mechanism between employers and workers in supporting successful...
FCCC to oversee PSV fares
THE Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission will now be responsible for the fixing and declaration of fares or charges for the use of public service vehicles. This, after Parliament passed the Land Transport Amendment Bill 2019 yesterday. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the Act was promulgated in 1998 to among other things establish the Land Transport...
Parliament to debate sex offenders register
A BILL that will put in place monitoring mechanisms for sex offenders and limit access of sex offenders to employment dealing with children and women is expected to be debated in a future Parliament sitting. Speaking on the Registration of Sex Offenders Bill 2018 in Parliament yesterday, Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights...
PM Bainimarama attacks Opposition; Defends Government’s performance
PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday delivered his right of reply to President Jioji Konrote’s Parliament opening speech but he did not counter the statistical breakdown of the “national debt crisis” raised by National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad. The PM said the Government would only deal with accurate information as modern Fiji was not...
Serious crime offenders to forgo parole
A TOTAL of 143 people jailed for crimes such as murder, manslaughter, aggravated robbery and sexual offences who were eligible for parole will now have to serve their full sentences. This after the Corrections Services Amendment Bill 2019 was enacted after an hour of debate in Parliament yesterday. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the Bill was...
