International stats agencies concerned over Naiqama dismissal
Two international statistics organisations have written to Fiji’s Prime Minister to express their concern over the dismissal of the Fiji statistician, Kemueli Naiqama, as CEO of the Fiji Bureau of Statistics from
Fiji’s Unaisi Bolatolu-Vuniwaqa, UNMISS Police Commissioner
Police Commissioner Unaisi Bolatolu-Vuniwaqa is a mother, a career woman and above all, a committed police officer. In her professional life, she’s shattered many a glass ceiling and she does so with empathy, grace
Fiji domestic tourists return to resorts
This past weekend, a number of resorts on Viti Levu opened to domestic tourists for the first time since the second wave of COVID-19 hit Fiji. It was a trial run before international borders reopen, with a small number
Fiji ready to welcome international tourists
Fiji tourism operators are deep in preparations to welcome international visitors back to the tourism-dependent nation. Fiji has announced the opening of borders to Australia, New Zealand, United States of America,
Countdown to COP26: Pacific Notes
“We face the most difficult questions — which islands to preserve, what happens when our people are forced to move against their will, how will we preserve our culture?” Marshall Islands President David Kabua
How satellite technologies can aid Fiji & other Pacific Island nations to access finance & build climate resilience?
#Countdown to COP26 Sepesa Curuki and his community are coming to terms with the prospect of climate change-related relocation from Cogea village on Fiji’s second largest island of Vanua Levu. Their village, which
Fiji’s Abdul Lateef – An Untold Story
The late Abdul Lateef, founder of Lateef & Lateef Lawyers in Suva, was uninterested when it was suggested that a book be written about him. A lifetime of service to country before his retirement in the late
American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa, Vanuatu remain on EU tax blacklist
Six Pacific Islands are on the EU tax blacklist, remaining listed an “non-cooperative”. They are American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Samoa and Vanuatu. The European Union blacklist was set up in 2017 to
View from the West: The COVID 360 shuffle
By Dennis Rounds Kava sessions in Western Fiji can be quite “intellectual” with discussions around the tanoa ranging from fishermen’s tales to “bush lawyer” arguments about politics, democracy and the economy.
Wish you were here: Tourism inches closer to relaunch
Just a few months ago, whether travellers to the Pacific would need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was still a matter of debate. But that discussion has moved as quickly as the Delta variant, and it now seems fait
He was lost in the system: Now he wants to change it
By Jason Jett Fiji Airways Flight 360 from Singapore arrived at Nadi International Airport before I did the morning of 18 July 2018. I lost that race by minutes, and found myself in a pre-pandemic, bustling hub where
From seaweed to spa
Nama Fiji is a business built on a Fijian delicacy more often associated with lunch than lotions, and the determination and energy of Debra Sadranu. Sadranu came to Fiji in the mid-1990s. A trained beauty therapist, she
Loloma Fiji: A labour of love
The makers of the Loloma skin care range liken the experience of unboxing its product to opening a husk to find a coconut inside, with its distinctive golden ball packaging resembling its key ingredient, coconut oil. It
Opinion: Does disallowing diversity data create an equitable Fiji?
The release of Fiji poverty data desegregated by ethnicity and religion by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics in its 2019-20 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), resulted in the firing of its CEO last week.
Pacific island leaders at the UN General Assembly call for solidarity on COVID-19 and climate change
Pacific Island leaders at the UN General Assembly on Saturday underlined the need for global solidarity, commitment and action to tackle COVID-19 and climate change, two crises which threaten sustainable development.
COVID behind Fiji economy’s ‘severe recession’, but ratings agency predicts economy to start recovering next year
COVID-related restrictions and a relatively large fiscal deficit has prompted S&P Global to lower its rating of the Fiji economy from BB-minus to B+, although it expects the Fiji economy to recover next year.
Former Fiji Stats Chief clarifies controversial Household Income and Expenditure Survey
I note that there has been much debate since the release of the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey on the Fiji Bureau of Statistics Website www.statsfiji.gov.fj. The Minister of Economy, Aiyaz Sayed
Fiji Kava recovering
ASX-listed Fiji Kava recorded a net loss after tax of A$3.39 million (US$2.4 million) the company’s FJ21 Annual Report reveals. It’s an improvement on Fiji Kava’s FY20 result and follows growth in revenue of 52%.
Kina’s acquisition of Westpac Pacific operations thwarted
Papua New Guinea’s Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) has rejected Kina Securities Limited’s proposal to buy out Westpac Bank’s PNG operations. The ICCC’s decision reflects its concerns about
UniFiji Student Wins Constitution Essay Competition
A student of the University of Fiji was one of three winners in a national essay competition marking Constitution Day. Avinal Chand, a fifth-year medical student of the University’s Umanand Prasad School of Medicine
Aingimea: USP ‘thriving’, won’t be drawn on Fiji parliamentary criticism
*This news item was updated at 5:20pm (Fiji time) Nauru’s President, Lionel Aingimea says the University of the South Pacific is thriving, despite Fiji not providing grant funding. When Islands Business asked
World Rugby welcomes Pacific teams to Super Pacific Rugby 2022
The Super Pacific Rugby format for 2022 has been confirmed with Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua making up an exciting 12-team line-up. The decision was made following a detailed financial, performance and commercial
Bainimarama condemns nuclear testing “atrocities”
Commemorating the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has spoken out about the health and environmental legacies of Cold War nuclear testing in the Pacific. As Pacific Islands