The Fiji Times

Hard work pays off for Sigatoka vegetable farmer

The establishment of export business Kumar’s Exports was the result of years of hard work for Sigatoka farmer Mohit Kumar. The export facility was commissioned by Minister for Agriculture Dr Mahendra Reddy last weekend. Mr Kumar said he had been farming for 20 years before opening up the export business. He said his community of...

Boost for businesses – Chamber says easing of restrictions a positive move for economic stability

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions by Government has resulted in a boost for businesses in Lautoka, with more people returning to work but under COVID-19 safety measures. This, according to Lautoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Pyara Singh. He said the move was positive to bringing back stability in Fiji’s economy. “We’re definitely on...

Kava seller notes increase in customers

Mohammed Mufid has seen the financial benefit of running a kava business that led him to switch from farming to selling kava at the Lautoka market. Being the family’s breadwinner, he said he had to find other means of income. “Now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased, hopefully, this will benefit my business,” the 23-year-old resident...

Training to boost disaster readiness

A five-day Disaster Risk Reduction Training that ended on Friday in Balekinaga Village, Bureivanua, Ra is expected to boost disaster readiness for villagers. Conducted by Partners in Community Development Fiji (PCDF), the training was aimed at preventing and reducing existing disaster risk and managing residual risk, all of which contributed to strengthening resilience. “The training...

Bainivalu’s love for flowers

Finding the ideal contrast, trimming it and designing the flowers in a way that allows people to perfectly express their emotions is what Sainimili Bainivalu does every day. The 61-year-old said fresh, colourful and mesmerising flowers had always attracted her attention. Originally from Naruwai, Bua, she is the first florist in her family. “During my...

‘Rural women play vital role’

Women living in rural areas continue to face challenges because of gender- based stereotypes and discrimination that deny them equitable access to opportunities, resources, assets and services. This, according to Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar. She highlighted this during the commemoration of Rural Women’s Day last week. “On October 15th, the...

Back in History: Doubleday sculpts Ratu Sukuna’s statue

The sculptor who made Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna’s statue that still stands outside the Government Buildings was John Doubleday. The story about his work was published in The Fiji Times on February 4, 1977. Mr Doubleday was putting the final polish on his larger than life bronze statue of one of Fiji’s well-known leaders and...

Woman farmer calls for positive mindset

The owner of Kaybee’s Farm, Katarina Senabu Baleisuva, was among farmers devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She operates an aquaculture farm in Sauniwaqa agricultural subdivision in Nakasi outside Suva. As part of her message on International Rural Women’s Day on October 15, she called on women across the country to have a positive mindset during...

Our actions, our future

This year’s World Food Day was celebrated with the theme – “Our Actions are our Future”, emphasising the fact that our food choices not only affect our health but the health of the planet as well. With more and more people consuming processed foods for various reasons ranging from convenience factors, easy accessibility, low costs...

Reddy reminds exporters to uphold standards

Minister for Agriculture, Waterways, and Environment Dr Mahendra Reddy says it is imperative for export businesses to ensure biosecurity compliance and standards are upheld. He said it was abundantly clear that all bilateral quarantine agreements needed to be followed by players along the export value-chain locally so as not to compromise mutually agreed terms, adding...

Back in History: New $4m Parliament

The Fiji Times published on September 6, 1973 that a parliamentary committee had recommended a new Parliament building in Suva that would cost about $4 million. It also suggested for an international design competition for the project. The committee recommended a site on Battery Hill at the corner of Vuya Rd and Sukuna Rd. Its...

Youth involvement – A-G urges young Fijians to understand climate change impact

Young Fijians need to understand the impact of climate change, says Minister for Economy and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. While speaking during a mangrove replanting program at Namoli Village in Lautoka over the weekend, he said Fiji’s main focus was adaptation which youths played a major role in. “We’ve made a commitment that by 2050, that...

Political crises in Vanuatu and Samoa – Tells us about their past and future

In recent months, both Vanuatu and Samoa have endured political crises. To a casual observer in Canberra or Wellington, their travails might seem part of a common political malaise that affects much of the Pacific. This isn’t the case though. The polities of the Pacific have similarities, but they differ in important ways: different dynamics,...

Ali: Men facing challenges should get help

Men need to seek psychological counselling if they find themselves in a challenging situation affecting them mentally during this COVID-19 pandemic, says Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) coordinator Shamima Ali. She made this statement in response to statistics released by Lifeline Fiji that there were 47 suicide cases recorded between January and July this year,...

Support for businesses – BLP’s adaptation grant provides hope for SMEs

It has been nearly two years since Fiji’s business economy has been fighting a ruthless battle to survive this global pandemic and to sustain their businesses. COVID-19 has forced many businesses to step out of their comfort zone of operations and discover alternative ways of generating income and attracting customers without the casual walk-in service....

E-commerce package for small businesses

A collaboration between Westpac Fiji and Fiji SME Business Owners Network will see the launch of a new e-commerce package that will make it easier for small businesses to understand the financial security required as well as the end-to-end setup processes to access the online payment service. A statement from Westpac Fiji yesterday said the...

Boost for border protection

The introduction of new trace detection device at our international borders is a timely boost for Fiji’s border security system as Fiji prepares for reopening of its international borders. Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) board chairman Mahmood Khan made the statement at their FRCS office in Nadi yesterday to acknowledge the assistance from the...

New road to village described as ‘mana’

A village elder of Nakida Village in the district of Nagonenicolo deep in the interior of Naitasiri will soon see his dream to have a road constructed up to his village become a reality. The construction of a new road linking the village to Nawaisomo Rd was still underway. Semi Senokonoko said they had been...

Hospital receives pulse oximeters

The Labasa Hospital received five pulse oximeters last month to help healthcare professionals to monitor oxygen levels in patients. This was made possible through a partnership between Pundit Ram Asre and the Budhia Charitable Foundation with Cure Kids Fiji to provide access to diagnostic equipment in the fight against COVID-19. A statement read Cure Kids...

Fijian soldiers deployed to Sinai

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces has deployed 170 soldiers for peacekeeping duties in Sinai, Egypt under the Multinational Force and Observers last weekend. In a statement from the RFMF, the soldiers were led by Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment Batt 40 Lieutenant Colonel Atunaisa Vakatale. They left onboard a Royal Australian Air...

Khan shortlisted for ICC top job

Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Nazhat Shameem Khan is vying for the position of Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). She has been shortlisted amongt five others for the $F415,000 salary position that will be based in The Hague, Netherlands. As many as 177 candidates had applied for the position...

Bucalevu commemorates 100 years in existence

Bucalevu Secondary School’s survival of the past 100 years was celebrated today in Taveuni. Old scholars were joined by Ministry of Education officials at the village hall in Somosomo to mark the achievement. In opening the celebration, Divisional Education officer North Iliseva Volai said those who have gone through the school have been blessed to...

State given six weeks to file affidavit in ‘no jab, no job’ case

The High Court in Suva has given the State six weeks to file its affidavit in the application made by the Fijian Teachers Association seeking a Constitutional Redress against Government’s “no jab, no job” policy. Chief Justice Kamal Kumar said given that there were other applications pending in court challenging the same policy, it would...

16 people now in custody for Nakelo attack

Fourteen men and two women are in police custody for their alleged involvement in a violent attack at Nakelo Landing in Tailevu earlier this week. Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro said investigations were continuing at this point to identify all the people involved. “We are doing our best effort to ensure that we bring these people...

‘Ratoon crop reduces output’

Ratoon sugarcane crops stand on Fiji soil at an average of 12 years. This according to Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) chief executive officer Professor Santiago Mahimairaja. Prof Mahimairaja said he had also been informed that there were many places in the sugarcane belt areas in Fiji “where we have 40 to 50 years...

‘80pc soil in cane belts acidic’

More than 80 per cent of soils in Fiji’s cane belt areas is acidic, says Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) chief executive officer Professor Santiago Mahimairaja. Prof Mahimairaja said the acidic nature of the soils were affecting sugarcane production. “The pH values are very, very low, ranging between 3 and 5 pH in cane...

Winner keeps up with Times

Growing up on the island of Taveuni, Donald Campbell said he was aware of what was happening around the country because of The Fiji Times. Mr Campbell was among the 10 winners of The Fiji Times 152nd anniversary promotion September draw. He said he was caught by surprise when informed about the win. “I could...

Be ready for the next ‘hit’ – 192 earthquakes so far this year

Fiji has so far recorded 192 earthquakes this year, ranging from shallow to deep depth but they did not pose much threat to our local waters. Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources permanent secretary Dr Raijeli Taga said the seismic activities were the results of the major ongoing movement of plate boundary and seismic movement...

146 COVID cases over three days

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services recorded 146 new COVID-19 cases between October 16 to 18. This, according to ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong. “Since the last update, we have recorded a total of 146 new cases, of which 85 new cases were recorded on 16/10/2021; 39 new cases on 17/10/2021, and 22...

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COVID-19 Fiji: 64 cases recorded in the last 48-hours