Repeka Nasiko

MUNICIPAL councils will be required to submit periodic operational and maintenance reports for donated equipment. In Parliament last week, Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa said this was part of the ministry’s efforts to strengthen accountability measures for councils that will soon be receiving equipment worth $12.5million. “The Ministry of Local Government fully recognised that in […]

LOCAL Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa says Government is working towards establishing waste sorting centres. “That is one of the desires of not only the ministry, but for the Government,” said Mr Nalumisa in Parliament last week. “At the moment we are trying to assist the councils in the collection of all solid wastes.” He said […]

Cane lorry drivers will not be able to operate their vehicles under the current rates. Fiji Cane Lorries Rarawai Association president Atish Kumar says drivers have not been given any chance to recover from May’s fuel increase before another hike was announced this week. “It is increase after increase and if we are not given […]

Every resource diverted to addressing the threats of the illicit drug trade is one less investment in education, infrastructure, and opportunity for Fijians. Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel pointed this out while opening the 28th Annual Conference of the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) at the Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort in Natadola. He said this was why […]

SOLE traders or individuals who own multiple properties or vehicles will soon have to explain how they purchased their assets to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services. FRCS CEO Udit Singh said this would be done under the Asset Declaration policy that will be introduced in 2027. “Every sole trader that owns assets will have […]

Fiji Pine Trust chairman Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure believes the mahogany industry had a long history of governance issues because of “dirty politicians”. While welcoming the passing of the Mahogany Industry Bill by Parliament, Ratu Rakuita said the legislation would ensure proper governance of an industry that, with good leadership and accountability mechanisms, would benefit Fijians […]

GONE turaga bale na Tui Nayau Ratu Tevita Mara has criticised the recent State of the Fijian Economy Dialogue in Suva labelling it as a “talkfest” rather than a platform that generated real solutions. Ratu Tevita said the forum was a steady undermining of the Coalition Government dressed up as a civic dialogue. “Let me […]

Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu has expressed concern over Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s recent comments implying that Government is considering whether the next general election should proceed. In a statement, Mr Seruiratu said it was simply unrealistic to believe that major constitutional amendments, electoral reforms and parliamentary processes could be completed before the general […]

THE criminal organisations Fiji faces are not village-level operators, says Minister for Foreign Affairs Sakiasi Ditoka. Mr Ditoka said some commentators seemed to think that policing Fiji’s borders was as simple as sending out patrol boats and waiting for the drug traffickers to appear. “Fiji sits in the middle of a vast ocean network connecting […]

THE window to act on Fiji’s drug crisis is closing, says Tui Nayau Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara. While sending out a warning to Government that if it continued to neglect communities facing the drug crisis, Ratu Tevita called for the urgent convening of the National Security Council to discuss and agree on an immediate response. […]