Saturday - Monday Jan 19, 2004
Jan 19, 2004, 22:50

The Fiji High Commission in India was officially opened on January 2 this year, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy secretary Ross Ligairi. He said the office, situated on Diplomatic Enclave, in New Delhi, had two staff members who look after the office operations. (FT)

Police officers serving in three different peacekeeping missions abroad will earn $3million annually in allowances. Commissioner Andrew Hughes said he would propose to the Government that if 100 officers were deployed to peacekeeping duties, the force needed an increase in the establishment of 105 regular officers to offset the numbers deployed overseas. (FT)

Fijians serving with Global Risk Strategies in Iraq have been commended for their professionalism and hard work in helping Iraq change their currency. An American official at the head of Operation Ice, Hugh Taint III said the Iraq Central Bank scored a big victory with the end of the operation. Meanwhile, 74 soldiers arrived in Nadi last night while another 74 who were supposed to have arrived on Sunday have been delayed in Sydney and will leave for Fiji on Monday. (FT)

Members of the Fijian Teachers Association were yesterday informed that concerns have been raised on the safety of school buildings in rural areas. Teachers at yesterday’s annual general meeting of the association were concerned that some schools in rural areas were not safe. Another issue raised was leave without pay for people on maternity leave, especially for those going on maternity leave for the third time. Association president Tevita Koroi believed it should be given full pay irrespective of the number of children a teacher may have. (DP)

Vatukoula demands the apology of Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudary and Felix Anthony of the Fiji Trade Union Congress for disregarding the plight of members of the Fiji Mine Workers Union who have been on strike for the past 13 years. Minister for Information, Communications and Media Relations, Simione Kaitani said in 1992 when Mr Chaudary was the general secretary of the FTUC, he betrayed the workers by dumping them, their families and their struggle. (DP)

Students from poor backgrounds will receive help from the Government this year as part of its poverty alleviation strategies. Low income was identified through a survey carried out last year as the cause of children dropping out from as early as Class Eight. But yesterday, the Ministry of Education, through the Fiji Council of Social Services, confirmed that students would be assisted. (FS)

Sunday - January 18, 2004

The Fiji Labour Party proved its critics wrong by winning the by-election for the vacant Tavua Open seat in the first count as it predicted. Immediately after being declared the new Member of Parliament for the constituency at about 4.30am yesterday, Labour candidate, Damodar Nair said the result proved the party’s popularity. (FT)

Nine police officers assigned for overseas peacekeeping duties have been dropped because of medical reasons. Deputy Commissioner Moses Driver told those who failed the medical examination not to be discouraged. “Your health is foremost,” he said. “The doctors have certified that there are certain duties in which you won’t be able to participate under current health conditions.” (FT)

Fiji will be represented at a race relations meeting with 16 other countries in New Zealand next month. Race relations watchdogs from 17 countries will meet in New Zealand under United Nations auspices next month to discuss racial issues throughout the world, it was announced yesterday. (FT)

The election process within the country continues to improve as officials prepare for the 2006 general elections. Supervisor of Elections Semesa Karavaki said despite a few problems at the Tavua by-elections held on Friday, officials gained a lot of experience that would ease the process during the general elections in two years time. (FT)

Sixty-eight strikes took place between 2000 and 2003. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations yesterday. A senior officer said of the 68 strikes, 25 were legal and 43 illegal. The officer said the strikes had a great impact on the economy because many working hours were lost due to the lack of manpower. “The strikes both legal and illegal had a drastic affect on the economy,” the officer said. (DP)

An executive director of the International Kava Executive Council (IKEC), Doctor Joerg Gruenwald of Germany, will visit kava-growing states in the Pacific. According to Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo, the first co-chair of IKEC, the social and economic significance of the bans in the kava exports to Europe and other non-European Union countries and its impact on poverty alleviation in the region would be highlighted at meetings scheduled to take place at the Forum Secretariat beginning tomorrow. (FS)

Fiji sounded a warning to the high-flying Australians with a classy 4-1 victory over neighbours Solomon Islands at Marconi Stadium on Friday night. A second-half brace to skipper Veresa Toma and a goal apiece to Thomas Vulivuli and Luke Vidovi was enough to see the Fijians over the line against a Solomons side that played with a lot of heart, but lacked the technical nous to really trouble their opponents. (FS)

Monday - January 19, 2004

Fiji could earn up to $6million a year if an additional police peacekeeping mission is set up next year. Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes said the United Nations Security Council was looking into the possibility of sending troops to Ivory Coast in Africa. A report from the UN secretary general Kofi Annan to the Security Council on the mission was sent to Mr Hughes. (FT)

The only legal authority who can grant tenure on native land in Fiji is the Native Land Trust Board. Board general manager Kalivati Bakani made the comment in reaction to growing concerns by members of the public over evictions in squatter settlements around the country. (FT)

Moves are underway to set up a committee to investigate allegations of corruption within the Fisheries Ministry. This was revealed yesterday by Fisheries Minister Konisi Yabaki, who said the Attorney General had been asked to study the legal aspects of setting up the committee. As soon as the A-G’s Office gives the green light, the matter will be referred to the Public Service Commission to appoint a team to look into reports of corruption. (FT)

A new intelligence unit has been set up to combat money laundering. The Financial Intelligence Unit, based at the Reserve Bank, is part of a worldwide effort to prevent criminal from using other countries to turn the proceeds of crime into “clean” money. It is also feared that terrorists could be busing smaller economies to channel funding for their activities. The FIU is Fiji’s response to a UN request for its members to scrutinize criminal activities in their countries, particularly money-laundering and the funding of terrorist activities. (FS)

Fiji’s first ever shipment of its own breed of sheep is now ready for Samoa. The Ministry of Agriculture acting chief executive officer Samisoni Ulitu confirmed the export deal. Mr Ulitu also brushed aside Samoa’s agriculture chief executive, Seumanutafa Malaki’s claim that Fiji had been holding back on negotiations to import a trial shipment from here. He said the only delay had been because the Ministry of Agriculture had not received approval from the Samoa Cabinet. (FS)

Forty-four government employees have been surcharged more than $66,000 by the Finance Ministry’s Vehicle Control Unit for their involvement in accidents of government vehicles last year. The unit’s administration officer, Bashir Ali, said the offenders were surcharged their respective amounts after investigations found they were at fault. Mr Ali said the unit received 44 complaints concerning government employees who misused government-owned vehicles last year. (DP)

Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America top the list of countries whose citizens are illegal immigrants in Fiji and breaching visa conditions. Director of Immigration Joseph Browne said the department assessed 210 cases and immigration officers traced and tracked them down. He said a breakdown of specific numbers and nationality could not be made because he was still verifying the figures. (DP)

Police are awaiting a report by New Zealand policemen who were in the country in November last year to investigate the coup of 2000. Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes said yesterday he had yet to receive a report from the NZ lawmen. The New Zealand officers reviewed coup files and will make recommendations to the commissioner on whether more work needs to be done. (DP)

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