Local News
24th July
Police: Meth is being moved in its liquid form in Fiji
METHAMPHETAMINE is also being moved in its liquid form in Fiji, revealed Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho. Brig-Gen Qiliho said the two main hard drugs that Fiji police were seizing were methamphetamine and cocaine “and...
CCF urges authorities to work swiftly with human rights body
THE Citizens’ Constitutional Forum (CCF) is urging the Fiji Corrections Service and the Fiji Police Force to work swiftly with the Fiji Human Rights and Anti- Discrimination Commission in combating human rights violations of torture or cruel and degrading treatment. CCF’s made this call after the alleged assault of a 20-year-old remand prisoner at the...
Police investigate woman’s death at her Suva home
THE man who is alleged to have murdered a woman at Service St in Suva had also attempted to take his own life, says Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro. Ms Naisoro said the suspect was the victim’s husband. She said police were still trying to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death of the woman. Read the...
Police deaths spark concerns
THE deaths of 17 police officers from January this year has sparked concern, says Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho. Speaking in Nadi on Monday, he said prioritising healthy lifestyle practices in the police force was something he was passionate about. Brig-Gen Qiliho met with International Association of Chiefs of Police president (IACP) Chief Paul Cell...
High Court allows time to finalise agreed facts in rape case
THE High Court in Suva has given both the defence and the State time to finalise agreed facts and pre-trial conference checklist in a case involving a grandfather accused of rape and sexual related offences. The accused is charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape...
23rd July
LTA: Bus drivers have right of way to re-enter carriageway
BUS drivers must be aware of the traffic regulation relating to when they pull away from bus stops, says the Land Transport Authority(LTA). In a statement released today, the authority stated that Traffic Regulations 13 (1) and 87 of the Land Transport (Traffic) Regulation 2000, stated the driver of a motor vehicle must give way...
Fiji’s inclusion in IACP will also benefit the region
COMMISISONER of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said Fiji’s inclusion as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) will also focus on enhancing Pacific law enforcement’s capabilities for the benefit of the region. Speaking to the president of the IACP, Chief Paul Cell, during their meeting today, he said this was in...
Warning of an instant $10k fine for illegal harvest of grouper fish
FIJI’S Ministry of Fisheries has warned that an instant fine of $10,000 will apply to those caught selling or harvesting the banned grouper fish species – kawakawa and donu. The warning follows reports that people continued to illegally harvest and sell the banned grouper fish. At present, the ministry has placed a ban on the...
IACP team visits Fiji as part of world tour
A CONTINGENCY from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) led by its president Chief Paul Cell is touring Fiji at present. Speaking during a meeting with the Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho in Nadi yesterday, Chief Cell said the reputation of the Fiji Police preceded itself as one of the predominant leading law...
Vuniwaqa meets India’s new High Commissioner to Fiji
MINISTER for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa today met the newly-appointed High Commissioner of India to Fiji, Padmaja. Mrs Vuniwaqa while thanking the Indian government for its assistance and support, also said the ministry had had a long ongoing friendship with India, especially in the facilitation of training for rural Fijian women as...
Indian scientists visit Fiji
A TEAM of Indian scientists is in the country meeting Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau. Fisheries officer Meli Raicebe said the visit from the Indian academics was a follow up to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier visit to Fiji. “The group of scientists are from the National Centre for Coastal Research for the Ministry...
Police: Woman allegedly murdered by spouse at their Suva home
POLICE have just removed the body of a woman who is alleged to have been murdered at her Service Street home in Suva this afternoon. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro while confirming the incident said the suspect is believed to have been the husband of the victim. She said the suspect was admitted at the CWM...
206 new Police recruits attend basic recruit course
A TOTAL of 206 new recruits for the Fiji Police Force have been reminded of their duty to serve by Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho. He highlighted this while officiating at the opening of the Basic Recruit course batch 02/19 at the Fiji Police Academy in Nasova today. He said from the moment they had...
Fiji loses successful singer songwriter
FIJI has lost her most successful singer, songwriter, producer and entertainer with the passing of Daniel Rae Costello. The 58-year-old Lautoka resident passed away in Australia yesterday. He is by far the most outstanding musician that Fiji has ever produced in terms of originality, consistency and he was a stickler for musical perfection at every...
Four homeless after fire destroys home
FOUR people are now homeless at Ratu Kadavulevu School in Tailevu after their home was destroyed in a fire yesterday. According to a statement from the National Fire Authority, the house was a teachers quarters. “Korovou Fire Station was alerted through a call at 4.06am about the fi re and the crew immediately responded,” the...
25,000 new burial plots
THE Nasinu Cemetery in Davuilevu has been extended to accommodate 25,000 new burial plots, confirms Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Commander Francis Kean. With the increasing number of deaths in Fiji, he said there was an urgent need to extend the two major cemeteries in Nasinu and Suva. “In many cases we have diverted several requests...
Fiji Corrections probe alleged assault of remand prisoner
THE Fiji Corrections Service is investigating the alleged assault of a remand prisoner at the Suva Remand Centre two weeks ago. The issue came to light after the victim’s father Atunaisa Moceica raised concerns on his son’s status after he noticed visible injuries to his body. FCS Commissioner Commander Francis Kean said it would be interesting...
Fences for correctional facilities built with poisonous content
THE Fiji Corrections Service has built poisonous content barbed wires on certain fences of correction facilities to prevent prisoners from escaping. This has been highlighted by FCS Commissioner Commander Fancis Kean during a tour of corrections facilities yesterday. He said they were also working on putting up strong measures to prevent prisoners from sneaking in...
Prisoners resort to self-inflicted rape
TWO prisoners have died as a result of inserting gadgets such as mobile phones in their body cavities, confirms the Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Commander Francis Kean. Speaking to journalists at the Suva Remand Centre yesterday, he said convicts and remand prisoners would go to extreme lengths and undertake huge risks in their attempts to...
Case based on ‘deception’
THE lawyer of a pastor who allegedly raped five women in his church was yesterday told that the prosecution’s case is based on the fact that the complainants in this case had consented to sex but the accused had gained their consent through deception. High Court judge Justice Daniel Goundar told defence counsel Tobia Ravuniwai...
Parents urged to take responsibility
STOP blaming everyone else and take responsibility of your children’s behaviour. This was the message from Education Minister Rosy Akbar to parents during the commissioning of the $3.2 million refurbishment of Penang Sangam Primary and Penang Sangam High School, Rakiraki, last week. “Parents play a very important role in the education system,” she said. “We...
Wrecked vessel to be sunk
WORK has begun to remove the derelict vessel MV Gotta Go Fiji from the Lautoka waterfront, a ship cited as an eyesore and environmental concern by Sugar City residents for some years now. Experts from Dive Centre Fiji have been working on trying to patch holes in the vessel for the past few months in...
Special school suffers loss in fire
FOUR classrooms, a recreational room and library were destroyed during a fire at the Ba School for Special Education yesterday. A witness at the scene, Ratu Nacani Sitima, said the blaze broke out about 9am. “The fire spread very quickly and people in neighbouring properties began to take precautions in case the fire spread,” the...
Transition, growth for town
THE transition period currently being experienced in Labasa Town has prompted the Labasa Chamber of Commerce to actively involve members in modernising their shops and outlets. Such transition, chamber president Satish Kumar said, would see an entrepreneurship and economic boom. The soon to be developed $3.5 million arena, he said, was also a great move...
Truckies expect drop in income
CANE lorry operators are expecting plummeted income this season after the restricted gross weight of 16.5 tonnes enforced by the Land Transport Authority. While no drivers have been issued fine tickets of $1000 for overweight, secretary of the Labasa Lorry Operators Association Mohammed Idrish described the drop in income as drastic. “Our operators who used...
Ministry tight-lipped on closed park’s status
THE Local Government Ministry remains quiet about the status of the closed Subrail Park which has seen the relocation of sporting activities out of the Labasa Town area. The park’s main ground that has three pavilions has been closed to the public for about four months with no trace of work carried out at the...
50 workers escape fire unharmed, safe
FIFTY staff of a local bus manufacturing company managed to escape a fire when it engulfed their building at Walu Bay in Suva yesterday. Police officers were at the scene around 8am with officials from St John Ambulance while more than 20 firefighters were trying to extinguish the fire at PA Lal Holdings Ltd. An...
Bulk water fire tanker responds
THE National Fire Authority (NFA) for the first time used its brand new 20,000 litres bulk water fire tanker to extinguish fi re that broke out at a warehouse belonging to PA Lal Holdings Ltd in Suva yesterday. According to a statement from the authority, the crew responded immediately after they were alerted through a...
Buses up in flames; Millions in losses incurred
THE P A Lal Holdings Ltd is believed to have incurred millions of dollars in losses in a fire that destroyed buses that were still under manufacture at its warehouse in Sonoma St at Walu Bay, Suva, yesterday. Nine buses were destroyed in the fire, each cost about $200,000, while the tourist coach bus cost around...
Infrastructure audit
“Education Minister: We need to plan for the future” THE Ministry of Education is undertaking a study of all schools in the country to determine the strength and stability of infrastructure of buildings and classrooms. Education Minister Rosy Akbar made the comment while delivering her keynote address at the commissioning of the $3.2 million upgrade...
