Fiji

No referendum on flag - Fiji PM

Bainimarama was responding to a question in Parliament by Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa who asked whether the Fijian Government would consider a referendum given the overwhelming negative reaction to the plans to change the Fiji flag.

“Thank you Madam Speaker, the simple answer is no!” said Bainimarama.

Fiji ready to host 2023 games

Delana who is currently in Papua New Guinea for the Pacific Games was asked of Fiji's intention to bid for the 2023 games, 20-years after the last one held in Suva.

Delana said there was no decision on the matter yet.

“The Pacific Games Council committee has not said anything on that yet,” he said.

“We are ready to host. The next Pacific Games is Tonga, after that the PGC will decide on 2023.”

Delana said there was a lot to learn from the host nation as they had proven everybody wrong by having world-class facilities done in time for the games.

Athletics Fiji pays for all its expenses

According to the national federation, they do not want their athletes to worry about raising money but concentrate on performance only.

Each athlete was levied $1650 and sports such as touch rugby did not make the cut while volleyball was rescued in the last minute.

Athletics Fiji development officer Joseph Rodan Junior explained was hey did it.

“In the era or amateurism that most minor sports fall under, the biggest challenge for any federation is financial support.

"The linkage between agriculture and tourism is important": Renato Mele

In his opening address, Mele emphasized the important linkage between agriculture and tourism.

“The two productive sectors agriculture and tourism seem to offer the best opportunities for inclusive economic growth in the region and therefore the promotion of the linkages between the two can contribute to creating improved economic opportunities, build resilience in rural communities and enhance sustainable development in both sectors”, Renato Mele said.

Fiji Government looks to refinance US $250m Bond

Finance Permanent Secretary Filimone Waqabaca says talks have been held with various international financial institutions to work out the best solution.

“The payment next year will be in full, it will probably be a rollover depending on the arrangement that we will agree on now, so it will be a, we will have to roll over or do another float in order to repay that, but part of it will probably be taken from our funds that we have been keeping aside to help in the funding aspect of it as well.”

Education shocker

Dr Mahendra Reddy warned that teachers would be demoted to clerks within the ministry if they became a liability to the school system.

There are more than 8000 teachers around the country.

In an interview, Dr Reddy said the underperforming teachers had Monday sick leaves, affairs with students, did not cover classes and were behind schedule.

He gave an example of how some schools were way ahead in terms of the curriculum coverage.

IMF lauds Fiji's efforts for its approach in disaster risk management

The IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department director, Changyong Rhee, says he has continued to work very closely with the Fijian government in this area and was happy to note that inroads have been made through the national budget and other key policies to achieve this.  
 

We back MSG Peace-Keeping: Fijian PM Bainimarama

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama confirmed this to the Fiji Sun. He suggested Black Rock in Nadi as the best place to train the proposed peacekeeping force.
 
Bainimarama said this had been a topic discussed by the MSG Police Commissioners. The MSG Police Commissioners met in Honiara last month.
 
The Prime Minister said if this issue was brought up at the meeting in Honiara this week, Fiji would support it.
 

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes off Fiji coast

The seismic movement was recorded 56km north-east of Ndoi Island, according to the US Geological Survey.

It is believed no tsunami alert has been issued.

The quake struck around 417km south-east of Suva, the capital.

A Geoscience Australia spokesman said quakes were common in the area.

"Earthquakes of this magnitude are not at all unusual in that part of the world, and it was very, very deep so it's something unlikely to have any impact on the surface," he said.

IMF, Fiji to co-host a High-Level Dialogue to Discuss Resilience to Natural Disasters in the Pacific

The Dialogue “Enhancing Macroeconomic Resilience to Natural Disasters in the Pacific Islands” will build on previous conferences held in Samoa and Vanuatu and recent IMF analytical work on this topic. It will bring together leading policymakers from 13 Pacific Island nations, as well as representatives from regional development partners, international financial organizations and think tanks.