Anish Chand

Opposition MP Jone Usamate has urged the Government to better align education and scholarship funding with Fiji’s workforce needs, warning that increasing investment is not delivering the outcomes the country requires. Speaking during debate on the Budget Consequential Bills in Parliament yesterday, Usamate said the Opposition’s role was to provide constructive criticism in the national […]

The Project Steering Committee overseeing Fiji’s proposed new National Tertiary Hospital has received the Preliminary Master Plan for the project, marking another milestone in planning for the country’s future healthcare infrastructure. The committee met under the chairmanship of Permanent Secretary for Strategic Planning Peni Sikivou, with representatives from the Australian High Commission also in attendance. […]

PACIFIC leaders should show the same level of concern over nuclear contamination and military threats in the region as they do over China’s growing presence in the Pacific. Responding to China’s testing of a nuclear-capable long-range missile in the Pacific last week, Pacific Network on Globalization (PANG) coordinator Joey Tau said the incident should prompt […]

The Flying Fijians let a 17-7 halftime advantage slip as Scotland produced a dominant second-half comeback to claim a 33-17 victory in their Nations Championship clash. Scotland opened the scoring through Jonny Gray in the 13th minute before Fiji responded with three unanswered tries. Captain Tevita Ikanivere crossed in the 15th minute, Selestino Ravutaumada added […]

The Electoral Commission has revealed it was forced to communicate through a private Viber group and hold meetings outside the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) during a period without a substantive chairperson, describing the arrangement as unsustainable. The disclosure is contained in the Commission’s response to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence report tabled […]

The Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics is seeking applications for the position of Government Statistician to lead the Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBoS). According to the vacancy advertisement, the successful candidate will oversee the production and publication of Fiji’s official economic, social, household, population census and housing statistics, while providing strategic leadership […]

The Fiji Police Force has warned that transnational criminals, wanted persons and individuals travelling on stolen passports could enter Fiji through maritime routes without being detected by international security systems. The warning is contained in the Fiji Police Force’s response to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence’s review of its 2021-2022 Annual Report, […]

PACIFIC Network on Globalization (PANG) coordinator Joey Tau says China’s recent missile test reflects the increasingly contested nature of the Pacific, where major powers are competing for influence through military, security and economic partnerships. Speaking to The Fiji Times, Mr Tau said China’s missile launch should not be viewed in isolation, but as part of […]

A childhood spent working in Fiji’s sugarcane fields has come full circle for Fijian researcher Mesu Tora, who is now leading scientific research into the health of the very soils that sustained his family for generations. Tora, whose story has been highlighted by Bioprotection Aotearoa, says his journey into science began with advice from his […]

Opposition MP Premila Kumar has criticised the Government’s Tertiary Scholarships and Loan Services (TSLS) Budget Consequential Bill, warning it removes Parliament’s oversight of scholarship funding and concentrates too much authority in the hands of the Minister and TSLS. Speaking during debate on the Bill on Friday, Kumar said the legislation’s most significant change was the […]