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10th June
From the Editor-in-Chief’s desk: Your June 10 briefing
Bula The big news right now is obviously about the Fijian Drua taking on the might of the Crusaders in the quarter-finals of the Super Rugby Pacific competition in Christchurch, New Zealand. That’s on the...
9th June
Marine pollution cannot be ignored – Manoni
THE present challenges of marine pollution cannot be ignored, says deputy secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Dr Filimoni Manoni. Speaking at the World Oceans Day in Suva yesterday, Dr Manoni said people needed to take some responsibility and understand better the climate ocean nexus. “We cannot ignore illegal unreported and unregulated fishing,...
101 complaints, watchdog to name scammers
THE Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) has received 101 complaints relating to online platform scams from January to date. CEO Seema Shandil has urged consumers to exercise extreme vigilance when dealing with certain individuals/traders operating via social media platforms. “It is deeply concerning to see that these dodgy dealers are on the rise,” she said....
No case to answer for 10
THE Suva Magistrate’s Court yesterday ruled that 10 individuals who were charged by the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission for receiving payments in relation to the Lagilagi Housing project had no case to answer. Semeti Qalowasa, Chantelle Khan, Suliana Siwatibau, Samuela Saumatua, Mere Krishna, Vijay Naidu, Akuila Yabaki, late Kevin Barr, Cama Raimuria and Aisake...
Mary Ballantine Memorial Chapel celebrates 100 years
VILLAGERS of Nailaga in Ba celebrated the 100th anniversary of their Methodist Church known as the Mary Ballantine Memorial Chapel. The celebration was officiated by Ba Methodist Church president Reverend Samisoni Mainqoro Daunivala. The church was named after the late Sister Mary Ballantine who dedicated her life to the education of young Fijian girls. Hundreds...
You’ve won, a scam
FIJIANS are urged to stay alert about a scam that is circulating on popular messaging platforms, Viber, and WhatsApp. Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) CEO Seema Shandil said scammers were targeting individuals by calling or sending messages, congratulating them on winning a lottery and enticing them to claim a substantial prize amount. “People have come...
Man to proceed with judicial review
THE High Court in Lautoka has allowed a man to proceed with his judicial review case against a decision made by the iTaukei Lands & Fisheries Commission to remove his name from the iTaukei register known as the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB). On September 16, 2021, the chairman of the TLFC removed Nemani Lalabalavu’s...
BACK IN HISTORY: Ace hits top tally
World squash king Jahangir Khan top scored for Just Sports Stumpers with a stylish 28 but could not stop his side going down to RFMF by 16 runs in a 30-over friendly cricket match at Albert Park. An article in The Fiji Times on February 1, 1985, said the squash ace proved he was no...
Allowance set to increase
GOOD news for senior citizens as they will be getting an increase in monthly allowance following the 2023-2024 National Budget. Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad confirmed this while holding public consultations in Vanua Levu. This, he said, they deserved it because they had contributed to nation-building during their years of employment. He...
High cost hinders North growth
THE high cartage and freight cost has hindered developments and business growth on Vanua Levu. Labasa Chamber of Commerce president Satish Kumar said while the North had great potential, policies that existed within government departments such as restricted cartage weight on roads prevented many from investing. “We need factories to cater for employment, but the...
Reforming key sectors a focus for Government
GOVERNMENT is focused on reforming key sectors of the economy. While signing a direct funding arrangement with the Australian government in Suva on Wednesday, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad said they were also strengthening their budget processes. “We are focused on the key sectors of the economy in terms of...
Private sector ‘engine of growth’
A HEALTHY and vibrant private sector is key to growing any economy. While appearing on The Fiji Times online news platform The Lens@177 this week, University of the South Pacific (USP) senior lecturer in economics Dr Neelesh Gounder said the private sector was really the “engine of growth” in any economy. It was also where...
Single VAT rate vital
FROM an economic perspective, it’s efficient to have a single VAT rate, says University of the South Pacific (USP) senior lecturer in economics Dr Neelesh Gounder. Speaking on The Fiji Times’ online news platform The Lens@177 this week, Dr Gounder said having such a system would also ensure the collection was relatively easy. “Efficiency is...
Committee suggests Government review WRT
THE Fiscal Review Committee is recommending that the Government explore reviewing the Water Resource Tax (WRT) that was introduced in 2009. WRT is imposed on “any business extracting water in its natural state” where a “business” extracts 10,000,000 litres of water or more in a month, that person or business is required to pay WRT...
Reviving the economy: Fiscal Review Committee recommends 12.5-15pc VAT increase
THE Fiscal Review Committee has recommended that Value Added Tax (VAT) be increased between 12.5 per cent and 15 per cent with no zero-rating on essential items and that corporate tax be increased to 25 per cent, with some relief for corporate small to medium enterprises. The Committee states an increase in VAT will rake...
Student calls for clean-up initiative
SAINT Joseph’s Secondary School student Latina Fatiaki has called on Government to introduce an initiative that will compel all citizens to engage in an ongoing nationwide clean-up campaign. The Year 11 student said random clean-up campaigns — including the ones organised for Environment Week and World Oceans Day — had a little impact on the...
‘416 men diagnosed with prostate cancer’
A TOTAL of 416 men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the past seven years, which averages to 60 Fijian men being afflicted with the disease annually. Minister for Health Dr Atonio Lalabalavu highlighted this during the handover of the Transperineal Ultrasound Machine donated by Extra Supermarket to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital’s Urology...
Government concerned with party. Prasad: FijiFirst enacted Act, was not complying with its provisions
ACTING Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad says Government is concerned that the FijiFirst party — which had enacted the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013 — was not complying with its provisions. FijiFirst could be deregistered if it does not submit the party’s audited financial account within a subscribed period. Prof Prasad...
Call for one VAT: Fiscal Review Committee
THE Coalition Government appointed Fiscal Review Committee has recommended that value added tax (VAT) be removed from the list of essential items and that a single VAT between 12.5 per cent and 15 per cent be considered by the Government. In their report released yesterday, the committee states this new VAT regime will bring $370...
Committee delivers report to Finance Minister
The Fiscal Review Committee has delivered its report to the Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad. Prof Biman said he promised at the time of the Committee’s appointment in March this year that the Report would be released to the public upon its delivery. “This is being done today (June 8, 2023),” Prof Biman said....
From the Editor-in-Chief’s desk: Your June 9 briefing
Bula There is so much hype hanging on the big game this weekend when the Fijian Drua take on the might of the champion Crusaders in Christchurch, New Zealand. We hope to bring you some great coverage of that historic clash. On the front page for Friday, June 9, we have a picture and story...
‘Sustainable and resilient private sector’
The Coalition Government envisions a sustainable and resilient private sector to deliver economic transformation. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga noted this in his address to participants at the 2023 Breakfast Session-2nd Productivity talks held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva yesterday. “It is most important that the Coalition Government works in genuine...
Reduce interest on town, city rates, says Reddy
Reduca interest on town and city rates. This was a 2023-2024 National Budget submission made by Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association president Narayan Reddy who believed that some residents could not pay off their fees because of the interest charged by municipal councils. “Government has given us time to pay off our rates and even...
What’s happening today!
Bula vinaka everyone. Here is another edition of some basic information you may need to know for today. First, here is your weather forecast for today: Weather A trough of low pressure with associated showers and rain is expected to affect the group till later today. Forecast to midnight tomorrow for the Fiji group: Occasional...
8th June
Beyond prison walls
For 20 odd years, Samuela Civo saw the prison as his safety net and home. He was first convicted as a 14-year-old in 1977. From that time until 1992, he escaped twice from the Naboro Maximum Prison and was slapped prison sentences for a variety of offences including theft, aggravated robbery and burglary. But those...
Blessed with music | Chand’s rise to musical stardom
Music truly runs in Prunal Prasheel Chand’s family and he believes this gift is a blessing. The 27-year-old, who released an album titled Small world, big dreams in 2019, says his love for music developed from childhood. The logistics manager at Thuderstruck Pte Ltd from Waituri, Nausori, said he was motivated whenever he saw his...
Back in history | Untidy at the lines | National jumpers fail to impress selectors
If there was anything lacking at the 1984 East rugby trials at the National Stadium in Suva, it was the failure of the jumpers in the lineouts to take clean two-handed catches. An article in The Fiji Times on March 11 that year said there were attempts by national reps Koli Rakoroi and Lewis Politini,...
Culture shock in Canberra
Traveling overseas for the first time as a young undergraduate at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) was both exciting and nerve-racking. Getting selected to attend the 2023 ANU-UPNG Partnership Summer School Program at the Australian National University (ANU) Crawford School of Public Policy in Canberra, Australia, exceeded my expectations. While the program provided...
Resort phases out single use plastics
Joining the tourism industry’s environmentally conscious move, Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa is slowly phasing out the use of plastic within the resort property. The sustainability program launched by resort this year aims to remove the use of single use plastic bottles from resort’s guest rooms and public areas. According to the resort, since...
Sustainable tourism
Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa are strengthening their sustainability initiatives to mark World Environment Day celebrations this week. The programs were designed for holidaymakers getting a chance to participate in the preservation of the resort’s environment. According to the hotel, the programs include the Coral Reef Restoration program, on-site herb garden at the Spa...
