The Australian Government has committed US$16 million to a new fund to combat malaria in the Asia Pacific region. The government says the new Regional Malaria and Other Communicable Disease Threats Trust Fund, established by the Asian Development Bank, will tackle the disease, which is preventable and has very high social and economic costs. The…
A 100 per cent Fijian-owned commercial bank was launched last week. Home Finance Company Bank also unveiled its branding in a spirit of excitement and with great hope for the future. “It is our bank, the people’s bank, and I am delighted as Prime Minister to be here on this historic occasion and to share…
An initial investment of $4 million will take place at the new Vuda Hideaway Resort, a fifteen-minute drive from the Nadi International Airport. The resort is the second investment of the Fijian Teachers Union — Co-operative Thrift And Credit Ltd’s (FTU-CTCL) engagement in the tourism sector. During the ground breaking ceremony, board chairman Agni Deo…
TAX exemption for local businesses is a way to encourage the grassroots to engage in small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has stressed. O’Neill said this during presentation of the draft SME policy and master plan by consultant Esther Igo on behalf of Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry last week, to members of…
THE small-to-medium enterprise (SME) is an important economic sector that needs further support, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said. During the presentation of the draft SME policy and master plan to members of parliament last week, O’Neill told Minister for Trade commerce and Industry Richard Maru that he was fully supporting the initiative. He said the…
Law is now taught at all the three major universities in Fiji. Until 2008, students were only able to study law at the University of the South Pacific (USP). Then, largely as a result of initiatives driven by retired Justice Devendra Pathik, the University of Fiji (UniFiji) opened the doors of its own Law School…
AS many as 51 students from 12 schools in Lautoka are spreading peace and goodwill in the community. The project, an initiative of NGO Live and Learn’s environmental education, involves students spending two days beautifying Lautoka Hospital’s children’s ward. They also painted the veranda and tables and helped with the installation of a peace garden.…
THE Secretariat of the Pacific Community has stepped in to assist the Ministry of Health in the continuing campaign against the dengue fever epidemic. The organisation has purchased insecticides to carry out mosquito control intervention for the next three months. “This financial support from SPC is an unusual response related to the specific nature of…
AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited the Pacific state of Fiji last Friday and Saturday, promising steps to drop sanctions against its military government as part of efforts to “normalise” diplomatic relations between the two countries. Canberra imposed various sanctions after the Fijian military, led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama, seized power in 2006. The Australian…
GRIFFITH University and the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 30th January 2014 at the Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia to consolidate a framework for long-term collaboration and partnership between the organisations. The purpose of the MoU is to provide clear direction to the agreed activities and to strengthen…