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The dropout who never gave up
Ilisoni Simmons did not have any academic credential that would get him a white collar job. The only real opportunity available to the high school dropout was to start his own business. And he did...
154 years on | Mine turns off the tap
For the second time in two years, the dark shadow of despair slipped across the lives of 37 families whose breadwinners were former employees of the Emperor Gold Mining Company at Vatukoula. This story was reported in The Fiji Times on Friday, September 7, 1979. The first time, sons, fathers and husbands were laid off...
Cybersecurity | Protecting and defending the use of cyberspace from cyber attacks
Last Thursday (21/09) I was fortunate to be invited to present and be a panel member at Digicel’s Cybersecurity Symposium at GPH. The chief guest was the Minister for Home Affairs and so that set a good platform for the day. Events like these are useful not only for information dissemination, but for networking with...
154 years on | Fiji’s ‘Blue Lagoon’ film | A second home for actress Brooke Shields
In 1979, one of Fiji’s most attractive islands — Nanuya Levu (Turtled Island, owned by American businessman, Richard Evanson) — was the setting for the remake of the film Blue Lagoon. It also became the temporary home for actress Brooke Shields. This was reported in The Fiji Times of September 22, 1979. A Columbia Pictures’...
8.2 per cent contribution to GDP
Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary Andrew Tukana says non-sugarcane agriculture contributed 8.2 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2021. Mr Tukana told an agriculture discussion forum in Suva yesterday farming was vital to Fiji’s economy. “Farming provides food security, income and employment,” he said. “It supplies food to the tourism industry, inputs for...
Financing challenges for commercial farmers and SMEs
The Reserve Bank of Fiji sets a target of just 4 per cent of total loans to go to the agriculture sector, says Agriculture permanent secretary Andrew Tukana. Officiating at the agriculture discussion forum yesterday Mr Tukana said neither commercial banks nor the emerging microfinance industry was willing or able to sufficiently meet the financial...
$300m agri trade deficit
Fiji consistently runs on an agriculture trade deficit in excess of $300 million. Agriculture permanent secretary Andrew Tukana told an agriculture discussion forum yesterday that population growth, the accelerating pace of climate and the evolving dietary preferences of the people presented further challenges. “Without accelerated growth in the agricultural sector and the agri-food industry, Fiji...
Intermittent fasting | The pros and cons
In the world of diet and nutrition, there are numerous renditions of types of diets to choose from or to follow. The current growing trend is intermittent fasting. A few questions surround the culture of intermittent fasting with its growing popularity. To have a better understanding, we will look at the types and consider the...
Good news for cassava farmers
Good news for cassava farmers in Vanua Levu, as they can supply 10,000 tonnes of cassava every week at the price of $400 a tonne. In a meeting held in Labasa yesterday, facilitated by Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh, the sale of cassava will begin next week. Mr Singh said during his campaign leading...
Disastrous mill upgrade project
The Fiji Sugar Industry suffered a loss of $550 million through its disastrous mill upgrade program of its four mills since its commencement in 2006. And the losses continue to accumulate even today through interests on the borrowed money. This project was financed through an initial loan of $102 million from the EXIM Bank of...
Tariff review sparks concerns
Deep concerns have been raised within the local business and industrial sectors, including tourism operators regarding the recent pursuit of a tariff review by Energy Fiji Ltd (EFL) with the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC). In a media release issued yesterday the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) shared their dismay at EFL’s justification...
Unveiling the iconic logo | How a WWII fighter pilot helped the Flying Fijians find their wings
One of the great thrills of my life was discovering, when I went to work for the Fiji Rugby Union in 2001, that my boss was Pio Bosco Tikoisuva. I had just turned nine years old in 1977 when I listened to Pio’s exploits as Fiji captain organising the defeat of the British Lions, on...
Across the divide | School reunions | Part 4
Cross-cultural experiences at schools play a key role in helping bridge the divides that separate us and confine us from fully realising and celebrating the delights of diversity in our lives. Last week, I brought to you particulars about the recent reunion at South Taveuni Indian School where I spent the first five years of...
Getting on with Govind Park
Govind Park in Ba was badly damaged during Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston in February 2016 and seven years on the facility is still out of service. Latest data made available shows government funding to a tune of $7.9 million has been given towards the rehabilitation works for the Pavilion A, building services, construction of the...
Ratu Tu’uakitau finally at rest
Fijian chief and former politician, Ratu George Cokanauto Tu’uakitau was finally laid to rest at the old Suva Cemetery today. Hundreds of mourners gathered this morning for the funeral service at the Wesley Church in Suva to pay their final respects and farewell a life that was recognized not only for his noble linage but...
‘We are committed to keeping communities safe’
Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew is pleading with members of the public to stop sharing the photos of the suspect who allegedly tried to burn down the Totogo Police Station on Thursday. Speaking during a media conference yesterday, he said the 33-year-old man was currently admitted at the St Giles Psychiatric Hospital in...
Another milestone for Singh
From starting off her career as a nurse at the Lautoka Hospital in 2016, Manpreet Kaur Singh has achieved yet another milestone in her career — becoming a lawyer. She was among 42 new lawyers from the University of the South Pacific (USP) who were admitted to the Bar of the High Court of Fiji...
Meth in mint tin
Police officers from the Eastern Division are still investigating an incident where more than 20 sachets of white substance believed to be methamphetamine were found on an individual, says Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew. A source of The Fiji Times, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said 28 zip lock plastic sachets containing...
Boost for the sugar fields
The Ministry of Sugar Industry has rolled out the infield drainage assistance program, which will help address sugarcane farmers drainage concerns. A statement released by the ministry stated the program would boost the sugar industry in the country and enhance sugarcane production through increased sugar cane land productivity, and an increase in yield with minimal...
Tabuya: Register complaints
Women, Children and Social Protection Minister Lynda Tabuya is urging social welfare beneficiaries facing discrepancies in their allowances to visit their nearest social protection office. This comes as complaints have been raised with this newspaper that some social welfare recipients have been receiving less than the amount announced in the 2023/2024 national budget. An 87-year-old...
US government finds 7000 obscene images on site
The US government has found 7000 obscene images of Fijian children on a website, says Attorney-General Siromi Turaga. Mr Turaga said the Fiji Police Force and the US Department of State was working together to find the source of the disturbing images. “On Monday, we had experts from US Homeland Security and a professor from...
Child Justice Bill
The Child Justice Bill will be tabled in Parliament in November. Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said further discussions on the Bill would be held next week with relevant stakeholders, including the Social Welfare and Education ministries. Mr Turaga said the Bill was an important legislation to discuss as it addressed the issue of children being used...
‘Slap in the face’ | FLP, Unity Fiji oppose Coalition’s pay increase decision
The leaders of Fiji Labour Party and Unity Fiji, Mahendra Chaudhry and Savenaca Narube, say they “strongly oppose the Coalition Government’s decision to give themselves a pay increase” at a time when the people are struggling to cope with the cost of living triggered by tax increases in the 2023/2024 Budget. Both leaders were referring...
FSC’s financial woes
In the hope of ending Fiji Sugar Corporation’s financial problem, the Government has started talks with a Singaporean company to work in partnership with FSC. Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh said once talks were finalised, Government would then make known more details. He told farmer’s reps and FSC officials in Labasa yesterday that FSC...
Ajay Bhai Amrit is new high commissioner to Australia
Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) board chairman and co-founder of The People’s Alliance party, Ajay Bhai Amrit, is the new High Commissioner of Fiji to Australia. Mr Amrit replaces former Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development permanent secretary David Kolitagane, who was posted to this role in November last year. While thanking the Fiji Government for...
Prasad: Park project a disaster
Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad has labelled Ba’s Govind Park upgrade project a disaster because “it was poorly managed and handled”. During his visit to Ba yesterday, the minister has also called for an urgent and thorough investigation of the matter, saying all those involved in the manipulation of construction works would be taken to...
FICAC appoints Toganivalu
David Toganivalu has been appointed the new acting Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner, says Attorney-General Siromi Turaga. Mr Turaga said he would meet Mr Toganivalu on Monday when he takes up his new role. “He received his appointment today (yesterday),” said Mr Turaga. “He will be getting an acting allowance, which is a...
‘Unnecessary alarm’ on contaminated water
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Biman Prasad said “a lot of unnecessary alarm” was created by some people on the issue of contaminated dam water at the Balevuto Dam in Ba — allegedly linked to multiple deaths in the community. According to the Health Ministry, the series of deaths could have been caused...
Sayed-Khaiyum’s undeclared shares
Former attorney-general and FijiFirst party (FFP) general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum did not declare the value of shares he owns in two companies in his asset declarations filed with the Fijian Elections Office since 2017, a Fiji Times investigation has found. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s asset declarations between 2016 and 2022 said that he and his wife Ela...
Firms ‘have healthy bank balances’ | Court states Aiyaz is a director and shareholder of two companies
A Magistrate’s court ruling delivered on September 13 states former attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is a director and shareholder of two companies that “have healthy bank balances”. Magistrate Jeremaia Savou noted this in the bail variation ruling for Mr Sayed-Khaiyum who was seeking court orders to travel to Singapore for medical reasons. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was allowed...
