Thursday - Mar 25, 2004
Mar 25, 2004, 12:15

The tourist unit of the Fiji Police Force southern division was kept busy yesterday ensuring that tourists enjoyed their visit to the capital city without any hassles. Head of the Tourist Police Unit Inspector Maritino Qiolevu said they were responsible for the safety and security of all tourist who were in their jurisdiction. “We handle all tourist reports and we have received appreciation from tourists for helping them,” he said. IP Qiolevu said the unit’s role was to ensure that tourist were safe. (FT)

The Native Land Trust Board will soon be allowed to invest and lend landowner’s funds held in it’s trust. This follows the Cabinet approval on Tuesday. Prime Minister and Fijian Affairs Minister Laisenia Qarase received Cabinet approval to gazette the Native Land (Trust Funds Investments) Regulations 2004, which will allow the Government to expand the role of the board. A Cabinet Statement said Mr. Qarase had the power to do this Section 33 of the Native Lands Trust Act. The four main provisions of the legislation are the power to invest or lend, purpose to invest or lend, type of trust funds to be invested and the distribution of interest accrued. (FT)

Cabinet has approved changes to the shipping industry to improve service to maritime provinces. The decision follows a submission by Transport Minister Josefa Vosanibola, who outlined three plans as solutions to improve shipping services. He said shipping services to maritime provinces were beset with problems such as insufficient boats and poor working conditions for officers and crew. (FT)

Cabinet has approved strategies to alleviate staff shortage in the country’s health service. These strategies include further academic development for both doctors and nurses, and the contract extension for expatriate doctors. In his submission to Cabinet on the issue, the Minister for Health, Hon Solomone Naivalu, explained that medical staff shortage has been an on-going problem resulting mainly from doctors and nurses leaving the country for better opportunities abroad. (MOI)

Cabinet has approved broad strategies to address the country’s increasing squatter population in the urban areas. These include increased financial assistance to organisations involved in squatter development, and a partnership with the Native Land Trust Board (NLTB) on providing affordable lots for relocation. In a submission to Cabinet on the squatter settlement and resettlement programme, the Minister for Local Government, Housing, Squatter Settlement and Environment, Hon Mataiasi Ragigia, said squatter settlements or informal housing has become a major problem in Fiji. The Minister said that the greater Suva area has the highest number in squatter population with Nasinu dubbed as the Squatter Town. (MOI)


Cabinet will meet in Rotuma in September next year for the first time after MP Marieta Rigamoto proposed to the Rotuma Island Council last week. District officer Luke Moroivalu said the idea of hosting next year’s Cabinet meeting was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed. “We are thankful for the agreement made by council members in accepting the proposal and we look forward for the meeting next year,” said Mr Moroivalu. He said September would be the best time for the Cabinet meeting because it would give the islanders time to prepare. (FT)

Terrorism and national security were the critical issues police commissioners from the South West Pacific and South East Asia regions discussed at a one-week conference in New South Wales, Australia, last week. Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes said the conference acknowledged the critical and fundamental role of police in protecting and reassuring communities in relation to terrorism and other criminal threats. (FT)

The Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics recorded an increase in visitor arrivals for the month of February. Visitor arrivals for the month totaled 32,072 an increase of 5772 (21.7 per cent) over February 2003 figure of 26,350. In terms of numbers, this is a new record representing an increase of 6.7 per cent over the old record of 30,058 set in 2000. (DP)

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the Ministry of Tourism yesterday organized an Ovalau Island Tourism Workshop on the promotion of culture and heritage tourism development. This was the first time that such a kind of workshop was held for the people of Ovalau. Levuka has been recognized as a historical town in Fiji and it has maintained tourist resources to a certain extent for decades. (DP)

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