The Fiji Times

Archive of treasures

Just as the minutes and hours of time go by, the ink used to pen thoughts on paper will gradually fade and disappear into obscurity. And when that happens, it leaves gaps in history, if not for the sacred few whose task is to document events of importance for future generations. That is one reason...

Back in history: From a village to town

An article in The Fiji Times on July 2, 1977, brought back the good old memories of Labasa Town in the early 1920s when it was still at the development stages. The town was a village at that time, with earth road having deep side drains. During the spring tide, you could fish in the...

Honey industry struggles

A boom in beekeeping in the Pacific has helped improve yield and quality for more than 30 per cent of the country’s pollination-dependent crops, but it comes at an inopportune time as Fiji grapples with a varroa mite invasion and adverse weather events. It has presented beekeepers in the Pacific nation with a dilemma. There...

Solar power for water

Solar Fiji has been growing steadily as a result of the reliability of its products for off-grid areas in the country. Company director Joe Baravi said they had recorded an increase in the demand for solar power. “Yes, there has been an increasing demand of solar power for off-grid and grid-tied commercial and residential clients....

Locals learn from celebrity chef

Local chefs at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort and the Fiji Marriot Resort Momi Bay got a chance to learn from Australian celebrity chef Matt Moran who, over two days, showcased his wide-ranging talents in fine dining. The restaurateur was a guest at the two Sheraton Resorts property where local and international guests...

Ratu Epenisa leads Bau delegation to present reguregu to late Ratu Epeli Ganilau

A delegation from the chiefly island of Bau led by Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, na Turaga na Vunivalu na Tui Kaba, presented their i-reguregu to the family of the late chief, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, at the Government training centre in Suva this afternoon. The delegation was received by Ratu Epeli’s eldest son, Ratu Penaia Kamisese Tuivanuavou...

Stand tall, PM tells new recruits

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka witnessed the passing-out parade of about 40 new Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) personnel, including nine women, at the Naboro Corrections Facility last week. He said over the past 10 weeks, the graduates had learnt many aspects of training, including English proficiency, psychological assessment, institution orientation, medical testing and fitness. “Stand tall,...

Women share stories and journey

More than 200 participants gathered to participate in the Women Invigorating the Nation (WIN) convention 2023 in Suva last Friday. Guest speakers included Assistant Minister for Housing Lenora Qereqeretabua and Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Sashi Kiran as well as various entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) vice-chairman Sharyne Fong said the...

Workshop to enhance professionalism

Fijians and visitors to our shores deserve police officers who are professional, calm, and collected with their approach, says Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew. Speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day Fiji Police Annual Consultative Workshop in Suva, he told senior police managers that there were times when the Fiji Police Force...

Online violence – Technology-facilitated abuse

Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali says some women have become suicidal as a result of continued technology-facilitated abuse. Ms Ali was one of the speakers at the two-day Women Invigorating the Nation (WIN) Convention held at the Grand Pacific Hotel over the weekend. “It’s good to see what’s out there because we learn...

Catch of the day

When Shaiyad Ali left his home at 2am on Saturday to go fishing, he didn’t imagine he’d haul in the biggest catch of his life. The 47-year-old panel beater from Navua, who usually fishes as a pastime, caught a kavu in Pacific Harbour. He said he had to use every technique he had learnt just...

First lady praises WIN convention participants

First Lady Filomena Katonivere has thanked the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) for the positive and influential impacts they made in the lives of women entrepreneurs in Fiji, in the formal and informal sectors. Speaking during the closing dinner of the two-day 2023 Women Invigorating the Nation (WIN) convention at the Grand Pacific Hotel on...

Shandil: Unacceptable – Consumer Council of Fiji excluded from WAF ideation session

“Straight up unacceptable.” This was the sentiment expressed by the Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) after being left out of deliberations carried out by Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) during the organisation’s Water Sector Strategy 2050 ideation session last week. In a statement, CCoF chief executive officer Seema Shandil said as the country’s largest consumer...

Infant survives 10-hour surgery

Ten-month-old Farida Hussein, according to her parents is a “miracle child”. At birth baby Farida was diagnosed with microcephaly — a birth defect where the baby’s head is smaller than expected in comparison with babies of the same age. She was also diagnosed with occipital encephalocele, a congenital malformation of the brain that has a...

Ram ‘very proud’

Miss Fiji and 2023 Teen Face of Beauty International (FOBI) first runner-up Gitali Ram hopes to bring the Miss Universe crown to Fiji in the future. The 18-year-old former Xavier College student competed against contestants from 27 countries in the teen FOBI pageant held in the Philippines recently. “I am very proud because Fiji has...

Festival of great significance in the Hindu calendar – Tiwari

The Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha has conveyed its best wishes to all Hindus as they mark the auspicious occasion of Ram Naumi this week. Sabha’s national general secretary Krishneel Tiwari said the festival held a great significance in the Hindu calendar and wished everyone a blessed Ram Naumi. “This year, Ram Naumi, along with...

Digital payments made easy

Tourism Fiji has partnered with one of the most popular Chinese mobile payment and digital wallet service application company, WeChat Pay. Speaking during the launch of the partnership last Friday night, Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka said the return of the Chinese market post pandemic would mean an increase in the demand...

‘TELS debts will be forgiven’

Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS) debts will be forgiven. Deputy Prime Minister and Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Viliame Gavoka reiterated this while answering questions from The Fiji Times regarding this issue. In its first meeting on January 17, Cabinet had considered a submission from Education Minister Aseri Radrodro and agreed for more time...

Biman fires back at Chaudhry

Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry should not condemn the consultative and dialogue process undertaken by the Government for the upcoming National Economic Summit. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad said this in response to comments made by Mr Chaudhry at the Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA) annual general meeting on Saturday....

60-year-old has no plans of slowing down

For more than 40 years, Tavaita Valerau has been motivating and empowering women. The 60-year-old from Navutulevu Village in Serua has been doing this as a member of a nongovernmental organisation the Soqosoqo Vakamarama. Along the way she has learnt a lot through the many workshops she has attended. Last week, Ms Valerau attended an...

Empowering women for environmental change

Safaira Tagivuni believes women can do wonders in any field if they are encouraged, empowered, and well trained. And perhaps most important of all – they have to be given every opportunity to achieve their full potential. It was because of this very reason, Ms Tagivuni formed a non-governmental organisation known as Grace Trifam Ministry...

‘Lack in full, active board of visitors’

Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu has revealed that 15 hospitals across the country lack both full and active board of visitors. Speaking at a British High Commission fundraising event for the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Dr Atonio stated the ministry is advertising for board of visitors applications as part of their plan to improve health...

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 southeast wind flow prevails over the group. Meanwhile, a weak trough of low pressure is expected to approach from the north and affect the northern and eastern...

‘Laws not very strict’

As the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) gears up to celebrate its 70th anniversary, strengthening laws on animal rights and animal protection is a key focus for the organisation. Speaking to this newspaper, SPCA clinic and shelter manager Shaneel Narayan said one of the reasons why there was an increase in...

Call for countrywide de-sexing campaign

To curb the issue of stray dogs, there needs to be a countrywide education, awareness and de-sexing campaign, says Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) clinic and shelter manager Shaneel Narayan. He said along with the Ministry of Agriculture, local councils and SPCA had been conducting outreach programs in various communities across...

Managing depressions

Bula Fiji! Welcome to my new column where I will be sharing insights and practical strategies on mind wellness, selfcare, and self-awareness. The mind is a complex structure. We exist as mind-body-spirit beings and often our wellness emphasis is purely on the physical body. Our minds also go through changes in health. So today, I...

The journal of Lockerby the sandalwood trader

Written records show that the earliest people who interacted with indigenous Fijians in early Fiji may have been sandalwood traders. They spent several months in Bua, on the coast of western Vanua Levu in the early 19th century, before the arrival of Wesleyan missionaries in the 1830s. The discovery of sandalwood, while accidental, led to...

Until death do us part

A crucial aspect of relationships is knowing each other’s preferences. Such as a person’s favourite food, movie, pet, colour and dislikes. For sweethearts, Lice Ragigia, 29, and her husband, Siveniasi Rasaqiwa, 31, it was a bit different. Siveniasi was more interested in knowing his partner’s mental wellbeing. This interest of the groom gave Lice the...

The giving tree

Some of you may have read this apparently simple story by Shel Silverstein. But it is much more than just a simple story. My wife used to read it to our daughters. Once there was a tree. And she loved a little boy. Every day the boy would come and gather her leaves, make them...

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