Saturday - Monday Apr 18, 2005
Apr 18, 2005, 10:30

The Government is working on legislations to activate the incorporation of customary laws and re-establish the Fijian court system, said Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. A five-member committee led by Attorney General Qoriniasi Bale has been tasked to do this. Mr Qarase said the reintroduction of the Fijian court system was a very important issue which the Government was determined to address. He said the Solicitor General was handling the proposed legislation. (FT)

Education is the best way to erase religious intolerance and ensure lasting peace and stability in Fiji, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase believes. Speaking at the opening of the Dilkusha Methodist High School annual bazaar in Nausori Town yesterday, Mr Qarase said students should learn how to treat and look upon each other with care and concern. (FT)

Former Lands Minister Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu will serve his extramural punishment sweeping and raking the Cathedral Parish compound in central Suva, starting Monday. Father Iosefo Tuvere of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish has been assigned by the Prisons Department to supervise Lalabalavu when he serves his extramural punishment. Speaking from Taveuni yesterday, Prisons Northern supervisor Sairusi Gauna said Ratu Josefa Dimuri would serve his extramural punishment at the Ministry of Agriculture office in Labasa. (FT)

Opposition politicians’ reaction towards Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s release from prison drew the ire of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who countered that these politicians lived in glasshouses. Mr Qarase said members of the opposition “are led by a man who has been convicted by the Suva magistrate’s court for causing the death of a person”. “Mr (Mahendra) Chaudhry himself was convicted sometime back for manslaughter and he was released from prison only three days after serving his sentence on a CSO (Compulsory Supervision Order),” Mr Qarase said. (FT)

A workshop has provided Auditor-Generals in the South Pacific the opportunity to learn from each other’s experience in applying auditing standards. The workshop, which officially ended on Thursday in Nadi, has provided the Auditor-Generals the chance to learn how to deal with common problems like fraud and corruption. (FT)

Students of 40 schools around the country will soon have access to computers after a charitable organization donated 100 computers yesterday. The Fiji Yaadein Vision Association, with assistance from its sister branch in Sydney, Australia made the donation. (FT)

Low income earners could easily have access to quality medical treatment with the establishment of the new Fiji National Provident Fund medical scheme. And the scheme will also look after their immediate family members. The FNPF board has approved the scheme but further consultations will be carried out with all stakeholders. (FS)

Sunday – April 17, 2005

Telecom Fiji Limited issued voluntary redundancy package letters to all its 1500 employees last Friday. The package – to management right down to cleaners – offers to buy out unfinished contracts. The company is baiting permanent workers with equally general packages. Telecom is offering its permanent workers the equivalent of just below two years of income. (ST)

Government has admitted its investment in Fiji Television Limited has a bearing when it screens applications for new commercial television companies wanting to set up in Fiji. Minister for Information Doctor Ahmed Ali said this after he was accused by TV2 Fiji, a company seeking to establish a free to air TV service in the country, of remaining silent on its licence application. (ST)

Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola is adamant investors will not be threatened by the outcome of recent court cases because decisions were exercised legally. Mr Tavola yesterday said people would continue to invest in Fiji if the law was exercised fully. (ST)

Monday – April 18, 2005

Airports Fiji Limited is currently in the process of streamlining operations within the aviation sector to ensure more efficiency and profitability. This is part of the Public Sector Reforms in the Aviation Sector, which continue to take place under the guidance of the Public Enterprise Reform team. (FT)

India’s new High Commissioner to Fiji, Ajay Singh has told the international media he will do his best to strengthen India’s ties with Fiji to keep the historical link which the two countries share, alive. (DP)

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau will today decide on whether convicted Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu will be allowed to sit in the Lower House. (DP)

Remittances from Fijians who migrate overseas and send money back home have outstripped the island’s export income from gold and fish. A report by academic Professor Stewart Firth says the remittances are becoming almost as important as sugar. (FS)

In Sports…
World champion Fiji allowed victory out of the bag and England through to the final of the Singapore Sevens last night with a last-minute try. But national rugby sevens team officials vented their anger at referee Gary Wise, saying he ruled on double standards and gave the English the crucial freekick that led to the try which edged Fiji out in the semi-final, 12-14. (FS)

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