The Fiji Times

Police investigate alleged sacrilege

Police are investigating the alleged sacrilege of the Nav Durga Mandir Ramayan Mandali in Baulevu, Nausori yesterday. This was confirmed by police spokesman Wame Bautolu. He said a complaint about the alleged incident was lodged with police. “From police, we are just confirming that there was a break-in the said temple and investigation continues,” Mr...

Injunction application denied

An application for an injunction to stop the late Minister for Forestry Osea Naiqamu’s funeral tomorrow has been thrown out by the High Court in Lautoka. The application was filed by Mohammed Azeem Khan, who used to lease a portion of land owned by Mr Naiqamu’s landowning unit, before Justice Anare Tuilevuka yesterday. Now living...

Brawl death treated as homicide

Police are now treating the death of a man in Nausori Town last weekend as homicide. This has been confirmed by police spokesman Wame Bautolu yesterday. “The case of the man found lying unconscious in Nausori on Saturday night, after the post mortem, we are treating the case as homicide,” he said. In an earlier...

Parents urged to seek guidance

Education Minister Premila Kumar says it will not be safe for children with underlying conditions such as asthma and diabetes to return to school. “So we have advised parents to get some guidance or clearance from the medical doctors,” she said. “Please note that the Ministry of Education, we are not health experts and we...

Counsellors provide services to patients

Ten counsellors from Empower Pacific provided face-to-face counselling to 173 Fijians in COVID-19 trauma wards in Fiji’s three major hospitals from July to December last year. Chief executive officer Patrick Morgam said the patients agreed to be counselled and were referred to them by the Ministry of Health. “When our counsellors go in to conduct...

Seismic activity: 5.9 magnitude earthquake recorded in Yasawa region

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded this afternoon in the Yasawa region. The Seismology Unit of the Mineral Resources department said the earthquake occurred at 4.16pm. It was recorded 79km North from Lautoka, 18km Northwest from Yaqeta Village in Yasawa, and 188km Northwest from Suva. The unit said the seismic activity occurred at a shallow...

5401 Fijians seek assistance

A total of 5401 Fijians accessed the Empower Pacific counselling services from April to December last year because they needed counselling assistance, guidance and basic support services. Chief executive officer Patrick Morgam said 700 individuals who called the 5626 toll-free line needed counselling support while more than 1500 needed social work assistance. “These were referred...

Fiji prepares to deploy personnel and supplies to devastated Tonga

Eleven containers packed with food and non-food items are ready for deployment to Tonga. Disaster Management Minister Inia Seruiratu said a team comprising 15 personnel will leave for Tonga tomorrow to deliver the items. “It will be a contact-less deployment, everything will be discarded at the wharf because we are strictly adhering to the COVID...

Family in shock over man’s death

A family in Nakasi is trying to come to terms with the death of their father, Steven Sachin Singh, following the discovery of his body under a bridge in Toga, Rewa on Wednesday morning. His wife, Priya Devi Prasad, said the last time she spoke to her husband was on Tuesday at 11am. “We had...

Family and friends lay Naiqamu to rest

What hurts the most is dad won’t be here to witness the birth of my first son. These were the emotional words of a devastated Ameniasi Navodre Naiqamu while speaking earlier today at the funeral of his father, late former Minister for Forestry Osea Naiqamu who was laid to rest at his home in Nawaicoba,...

‘Improve search procedures’

The families of three fishermen who were reported missing in Labasa early this month have pleaded with police to improve search procedures. The three fishermen had gone out fishing near Vorovoro Island on January 6 and were reported missing. One of them, Josefa Bainiua’s died and his body was found floating near Nukutatava. Peni Qalo,...

Gaps found in COVID cases data, says Kumar

Gaps were found in COVID-19 cases data when school teachers were taken onboard to assist with data verification work, says Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Premila Kumar during a tour of schools in Nadogo, Macuata yesterday. She said teachers did a better job in data verification through their assistance in analysing COVID-19 cases. She...

‘Need for more awareness’

Healthy eating is a lifestyle out of reach for low-income families and even those who can afford it fail to practise it because of the lack of awareness on these issues, says Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry. He was responding to a statement from the Health Ministry on the increasing number of non-communicable diseases...

Ministry: Choose healthier lifestyles

More than 80 per cent of deaths in Fiji are attributed to non-communicable diseases, according to the Health Ministry. Between 30 and 40 per cent were premature deaths. The ministry stated it recorded 5858 non-communicable-disease-related deaths annually. “Both involve building up the good habits of exercise and a healthy diet, and good attendance to medical...

Feature: Reminiscing the good days at Nasova

Having undergone seven months of training together has forged a solid bond between strangers to make them close friends. Fourteen police personnel who had started their career with the Fiji Police Force in 1982 reunited after 40 years in Makoi to reminisce and to simply catch up after four decades. Happiness purely filled the room as these retired police friends gathered, with joy being...

Datt: Born to serve

Bissun Datt is an exemplary community worker who believes he was born to serve. Mr Datt has given 52 years of his life towards community service. He served in various positions at the district level. His two most notable positions that he held over the years were that of an advisory councillor and Justice of...

Rabuka on NCDs

Budget allocations on national security in weak economies could be impacted if cases of non-communicable diseases continue to rise, says The People’s Alliance party leader Sitiveni Rabuka. Mr Rabuka was responding to a statement from the Health Ministry on the increasing number of non-communicable diseases recorded annually in Fiji. “NCDs is not, by itself, a...

Financial burden eased on parents

Parents of secondary school students in Ba will be to save money on purchasing disposable face coverings each day after Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar handed over masks and hand sanitizers to all the students within the district of Ba yesterday. Thousands of face masks were delivered by Ms Akbar to...

Study: Deaths among fully immunised adults low

The analysis of the first 91 deaths in the vaccine eligible population during this third wave has revealed that fully vaccinated adults have an almost 15 times lower rate of death from COVID-19 than unvaccinated adults, says Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong. He said this was comparable to rates seen overseas, which was...

Chaudhry: Poor cannot afford healthy living

Healthy living is a lifestyle that’s out of reach for low income families and even those who can afford it fail to practise it because of the lack of awareness on these issues, says Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry. He was responding to a statement from the Health Ministry on the increasing number of...

Consultation on new Savusavu market

Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar, held a consultation at the Cakaudrove Provincial Administrator’s Office with the Savusavu market vendors and Savusavu business community on the new proposed Municipal Market in Savusavu. The Fijian Government, through the Ministry of Local Government, which is the leading agent, is working in partnership with UNWOMEN in delivering this...

Local company donates towards Tongan recovery support

Bula Outsourcing, a Suva based company established last year, has come forward to support Fiji’s efforts in providing relief and humanitarian assistance to Tonga, in light of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and the subsequent tsunami. In the true spirit of our Pacific Vuvale, Bula Outsourcing has generated a cash donation with the hope...

Kalgin Global Logistics unveil new logo

Freight and logistics company Total Logistics Solutions (Fiji) Pte Ltd (TLS) was established in Suva in October, 2014 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kalgin International Freight Services, Australia & NZ. The company unveiled its new logo as it changed its name to Kalgin Global Logistics (Fiji) Pte Ltd in Suva yesterday. Kalgin Global Logistics...

Ba River dredging commenced

A dredging project in the Ba River has increased efforts to safeguard the township of Ba and the neighbouring communities from flooding. The dredging works will mitigate flooding with an increased amount of water discharge capacity that would benefit the business sectors in Ba town and sugarcane, crop and livestock farms along the river. A...

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 Occasional showers and isolated thunderstorms over Yasawa and Mamanuca group, northern Viti Levu, eastern-interior Viti Levu, western Viti Levu, western-interior Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Qamea, Cikobia...

From the Editor-in Chief’s desk: Your January 28 briefing

Bula Here are some headlines that made The Fiji Times’ edition for Friday, January 28. HEADLINES PAGE 1 HEALTHY living is a lifestyle that’s out of reach for low income families and even those who can afford it fail to practise it because of the lack of awareness on these issues, says Fiji Labour Party...

Body discovery shocks villagers

The discovery of a body near a culvert at the Toga bridge in Rewa has left nearby villagers in shock. Muana villager Toni Vereadali said it was shocking and disturbing to encounter an incident as such. He said he was on his way to work when he discovered the body. Mr Vereadali said it was...

Minister reiterates ban on gas for fishing

Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau has reiterated that the use of gas for diving purposes is only allowed for recreational activities. His comment comes after reports of recent deaths of divers on Vanua Levu who used gas while deep sea diving. The cases happened towards the end of last year. Mr Koroilavesau said no divers...

Town council to upgrade hot springs facilities

Facilities at the Namaka Hot Springs will be upgraded to attract tourists and rake in more income for the Savusavu Town Council. The works will include the construction of three wood-and-straw huts and a safe walkway. Council chief executive Seema Dutt said the project would cost $46,000. “Locals will not be stopped from visiting the...

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