In a bid to facilitate the return of non-citizens who are descendants of communities in Fiji, the Coalition Government has approved the tabling of the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2023 during next month’s Parliament sitting. This...
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, his ministerial Cabinet, and all members of Parliament will be subject to a reduction in travel allowances. The decision was finalised in Cabinet this week after the scale of allowances provided to Parliamentarians was brought under heavy scrutiny. In a post-Cabinet statement, Mr Rabuka confirmed the reduction would be implemented in...
A number of legislation focusing on the welfare of the iTaukei are outdated and in serious need of a review. Justice Alipate Qetaki highlighted this while speaking as a panelist during a public lecture on the life and legacy of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna at the University of Fiji’s Samabula campus on Thursday. He said...
The People’s Alliance, Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) and suspended FijiFirst have submitted its sources of funds to the Fijian Elections Office (FEO). The other suspended parties; We Unite, All People’s, and New Generation have yet to submit the same. FEO also confirmed that the parties suspended for breaching Sections 23 and 26 of the...
Parliament should be made up of politicians who receive the highest votes and not by those who ride on the coattails of their party leader. This was the consensus of speakers during a public lecture on the life and legacy of the late statesman, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, organised at the University of Fiji’s Samabula...
Social welfare assistance is provided by governments to individuals and families in need. This assistance aims to help individuals meet their basic needs, overcome financial difficulties, and improve their overall wellbeing. Governments design these programs to provide a safety net and help individuals and families overcome temporary or long-term challenges they may face. These safety...
Minority communities will have no voice in Cabinet or Parliament if the present voting system is maintained. Renowned academic and former permanent secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Joji Kotobalavu said if the status quo continued, the iTaukei dominance in the House and Government would be further entrenched. He said this while reiterating the views...
Renowned academic Professor Steven Ratuva believes that iTaukei youths should be part of Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meetings because most of the social issues in Fiji directly affects them. Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, the University of Canterbury pro-vice chancellor said gender inclusion and the participation of youths needed to be part of the...
Key members of suspended parties are believed to be working round the clock to finalise copies of their annual financial statements and sources of funds to the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) before the deadline. Suspended We Unite Fiji leader Ruveni Nadalo said their general secretary and treasurer were working on the financial report before it...
The role of the Great Council of Chiefs should primarily be to lead the economic development of the indigenous people and deliver them out of poverty. Unity Fiji party leader Savenaca Narube said this in response to a call by former permanent secretary and academic Jioji Kotobalavu that the GCC and not the military, should...
The ultimate responsibility for the security and wellbeing of the people rests with the elected government in a democratic country, says Fiji Labour Party leader and former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry. He was responding to the call by former permanent secretary and academic Jioji Kotobalavu that the role be delegated to the Great Council of...