MEET THE MENTOR NEELAM MAHARAJ: BUSINESSWOMAN AND MENTOR
Businesswoman Neelam Maharaj is a mentor with South Pacific Business Developments’ Fiji Bloom program. With her sister Neelma, she has built up three businesses from scratch learning many valuable business lessons
Near horizons: Vunilagi’s community literacy efforts
Our children are valuable and we have the responsibility to ensure that they are educated; that they have the basic needs to go through school.” That’s the firmly-held belief of Vunilagi Book Club founder
The Low-down on USP
In drawing to conclude ‘What Is to Become of USP?’ (see Islands Business August 2020), I acquiesced to the prospect that the University may already be undergoing transition from a ‘public good’ to a ‘club
Fiji’s Ministry of Health works closely with local Disabled Persons Organisations
Following recent lobbying efforts for disability inclusion within the Fijian Government’s COVID-19 response, Organisations of persons with disabilities in Fiji has forged partnership with the Ministry of Health to map
From our archives: Bartering for Betterment
Barter for Better Fiji celebrates its one year anniversary today. The group has 193,300 members and is still hosting trades. In December 2020 we profiled Marlene Dutta as part of our 2020 People of the Year series.
“We are certain there are more cases out there”: Dr Fong
Fiji has a new case of COVID-19, and Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Health says “we are certain there are more cases out there.” The new case is the daughter of the Nadi hotel worker working at a quarantine hotel,
Opinion: Environmental protection and government’s failures
Last month the Suva Magistrates Court found the developers of a resort site on Fiji’s Malolo Islands guilty of undertaking development without an approved Environmental Impact Assessment Report. That development
Fiji Business Briefs: Fiji Kava, Thunderstruck, FijCare and more
Thunderstruck mining company is discussing a joint venture arrangement with a shortlist of companies for its Rama copper and gold prospect. A company statement also says significant work is underway to prepare for a
SPBD Releases TC Yasa Loans
South Pacific Business Development Fiji has launched its TC Yasa Rehabilitation Loan Programme, with 361 loans totalling $1.22 million processed in the first release. The loans were handed over in Labasa and Savusavu in
Things fall apart
I was only two years old when Nigerian author Chinua Achebe published his novel, Things Fall Apart, in 1958. Achebe’s novel focused on the struggles, chaos and bewilderment which are the consequences of a culture on
The art of listening
At the celebration of Sir Michael Somare’s life at Suva’s Sacred Heart cathedral this month, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong spoke about the willingness to listen as one of the Grand Chief’s defining characteristics.
Mountains of hydro trouble
Mountain communities in Fiji are thwarting plans by the country’s power monopoly to build a multi-million hydro power plant. The people of Nubu and Cawanisa say Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) only has itself to blame
From tree to bar to table
Kokomana is a small artisan ‘tree-to-bar’ chocolate maker and social enterprise run by Richard and Anne Markham in Savusavu, northern Fiji. The operation produces about 100 bars of high-quality chocolate
Can mining dig Fiji out of COVID hole?
Fiji’s minerals sector is tipped to lead its post-COVID economic recovery, with gold production expected to strengthen later this year and interest in gold prospecting on the rise. “The mining sector
Woman Dairy farmer benefits from Agriculture programme
Reducing Fiji’s dairy import bill is one of the key focuses of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Dairy Industry Support programme. Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ritesh Dass said the programme was designed to help
Karyon Organic: The Key to Soil Health & Fertility
Farmers all around the world experience the same problem; over time, their crop yield slowly drops, the amount of fertiliser they need to use (as well as the amount of money they must spend) goes up, and their crops
FNPF to sell EFL shares
Barely a year after it bought a 20 percent stake in Energy Fiji Ltd (EFL), the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) is in the process of selling it. While details have yet to be announced, Islands
Tuvatu gold prospect could be Fiji’s next Vatukoula: MRD
The Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji’s Western Viti Levu is likely to be the country’s next big gold gig, potentially rivalling the size of the neighbouring Vatukoula Gold Mine, the only active gold mine
Fiji’s PS Konrote resigns
The most senior civil servant in Fiji’s Ministry of Economy, Makereta Konrote, has resigned from the post. Konrote’s resignation comes at a critical time, as Fiji’s Minister of Economy remains in Singapore for
Fiji Business briefs: Pasifika Heartbeat, trade expos
Fiji’s Minister for Economy says there will no civil service pay cuts. Speaking from Singapore during an online budget consultation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the government’s wage bill is $1.1 billion (US$500
Filipino seafarers’ fate to be discussed today
Officials from Fiji’s Labour and Immigration departments and Goundar Shipping are reportedly meeting today to discuss the status of three Filipino seamen who claim they have been abandoned by their employer, and are
Fiji business briefs: Reserve Bank outlook, Fiji TV, childcare opportunity costs
The Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor says Fiji could see a marginal economic recovery if borders open towards the end of the year. Ariff Ali says economic recovery will depend on fiscal support provided by the government
Oh, the wonder of it all
Here in the West, I sometimes suffer from an occasional “mental lightening” shock – even on a perfect sunny day. Most often, the source of my mental distress is from “new Fiji’s” seat of power, Suva. In
