Fiji @ 50: Losing the arts is to lose our soul
The arts have clearly shaped Fiji’s trajectory these last 50 years but have the arts and our creative industries been afforded agency to flourish and continue their critical role in nation-building and nurturing? Have
One year to go: A game of hope for people in the Blue Pacific
Four years ago, the tiny Pacific island country of Fiji won its very first Olympic medal, a gold, when it stormed its way through rugby’s debut year at the XXVI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was a win for
Food Revolutionaries
The founder of the Pacific Island Food Revolution says the campaign’s work on changing food choices in the Pacific region is “super relevant” in the current global coronavirus pandemic. “Our project is about
Poetry anthology gives voice to human rights
“My voice does matter, someone will listen, we can make a change whether to write poems or not. What you do matters.” That was the message of Tongan student, Anna Jane Vea, at the launch of a book of
Fashion incubation centre encourages entrepreneurship
“It is people, their skills and abilities who will rebuild our economy post COVID-19,” Fiji’s Minster for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa told attendees at the launch of a Fashion
Westpac won’t speculate on Pacific sale
Westpac says it will not respond to speculation in Australian media this week that it is on the verge of selling its Pacific businesses. A Westpac Fiji spokesperson says the Bank “is currently undertaking strategic
Fiji welcomes World Bank business ranking review
The Fiji government has welcomed the World Bank’s decision to pause publication of its 2021 Doing Business Report. In a statement released last week, The World Bank said a number of irregularities had been reported
“You sir are muddying the process once again,” Nauru President tells USP’s Thompson
Nauru’s President says moves by University of the South Pacific’s Pro-Chancellor to schedule an Executive Council meeting today “seems very much like an attempt at undermining [the USP] Council or usurping the
Jobless numbers soar in Fiji
Unscripted and unplanned, Fijians have returned quietly to the land and the sea over the past months as the impacts of job losses brought about by the COVID19 pandemic began to bite. In the tourism belts of Nadi and
Fiji tourism prepares for a COVID-safe future
As Fiji’s largest foreign exchange earner pre-COVID-19, the tourism and hospitality sectors went into free fall when international borders closed due to the spread of the pandemic, and the nation entered into lock
A rebel and a traditionalist: Apisai Vuniyayawa Tora 1934-2020
Apisai Tora, a scion of the old guard of Fiji’s politicians, who dominated Fiji’s political stage for almost five decades, passed away on August 6. Variously described as a political maverick, a chameleon and a
Bula Force will not be forgotten
The ‘Bula Force’ has been awarded the Australian Chief of Defence Force Commendation Medal for their service during the catastrophic bushfires which ravaged Australia earlier this year. Australia’s High
Fiji inks first loan deal with China-led infrastructure bank
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced its very first loan approval for Fiji last week, making Fiji the first country in the Pacific region to access financing from the China-led multilateral
Fiji Kava signs China deal
Fiji Kava hopes to make inroads into the Chinese market with the signing of an exclusive distribution contract with Pumate Shanghai, which seeks to generate $8 million in revenue within its first three years. The
Fiji pension funds are secure, says FNPF boss
Fiji’s workers’ pension fund, the Fiji National Provident Fund has reiterated that members funds are well protected and that the Fund has the capacity to meet partial withdrawals for members who have lost work
Fiji inks first loan deal with AIIB worth US$50million
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced its very first loan approval for Fiji last week, making Fiji the first country in the Pacific region to access financing from the China-led multilateral
Real Life Heroes recognised for their selfless efforts
“These real life heroes deserve our gratitude every single day,” were the words of Fiji’s Minister of Rural & Maritime Development & Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu at World Humanitarian
Remember Hiroshima…and the Pacific
In Japan, they’re called hibakusha – the survivors of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, and the bombing of Nagasaki three days later. Seventy-five years on, the survivors remember those days, and
Yachtie calls on Aust, NZ to set up Blue Lanes
The skipper of a yacht that has just been cleared under Fiji’s ‘Blue Lane’ program says Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific island nations should follow Fiji’s lead and create an easy pathway for yachts to
F$25m price tag for Beachcomber Island Resort
One of Fiji’s oldest island resorts is now on the market. Beachcomber Island Resort in the Mamanuca islands in Western Viti Levu was chalked onto the “For Sale” list by Bayleys Real Estate this week with a price
Fiji budget ‘lacks compassion’ says NGOs
As the 2020-21 Fiji Budget debate has commenced in parliament, a number of community organisations have expressed their concern about what they describe as the lack of compassion in the Budget. “It’s not only
Adapting remittances to the new normal—the case of Fiji
Remittance flow falling victim to the COVID-19 pandemic was anybody’s guess. It was only a matter of time before this realisation would hit global economies, and drastically, in most cases. It was not
Back to farming Fiji goes
Fresh from a 10-day tour of Viti Levu – Fiji’s main island – our July cover story shares what we saw as Fijians adjust to the economic and social shocks brought about by the COVID19 pandemic. Employees of