Author: TMC Palau

[Photo: Supplied] The Sugar Industry Ministry does not have a tracking system to gauge how much sugar stock is left in supermarket bulk. Sugar Industry Minister Tomasi Tunabuna says he does not understand why supermarkets are complaining about running low on sugar or not being supplied with new stock. He states that three weeks ago, he requested a team from his Ministry to take a stock account of what is available. He says he made this request because they do not have a tracking system to monitor remaining supermarket inventory or check whether retailers are hoarding stock.Article continues after advertisement…

[Photo: File] The Land Transport Authority has stepped in to issue temporary permits and approved additional routes to enable transport providers to assist students travelling to and from school in Taveuni. This is after the bus companies temporarily suspended student bus services on the island, as they are unhappy about the disparity in student fare rates when compared to the mainland. Permanent Secretary for Education, Navin Raj says they worked closely with LTA, Heads of Schools, transport providers and other relevant stakeholders to ensure students continue to access education safely. The Ministry also welcomed the willingness of additional transport providers…

Fiji’s government is working on a ‘Diaspora Policy’ focused on ensuring Fijians around the globe play a key role in the country’s economic development.The country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Sakiasi Ditoka has just been to New Zealand, where he met with investors and the Fijian business diaspora.Ditoka told RNZ Pacific the increasing interest from the diaspora across New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Europe is positive for the island nation.He said every effort is being made to ensure that interests are safeguarded and served for the mutual benefit of Fiji and her diaspora investors.He also confirmed…

[Photo: NIKHIL AIYUSH KUMAR] The state has filed a Nolle Prosequi against two of the three men charged with attempted murder of a police officer at a checkpoint in Laqere in April this year. Dominiko Tabao and Jone Rakatia appeared before Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere this morning. The state was represented by Bhavna Kantaria. The judge told the duo that they have been discharged and the bail conditions do not apply to them anymore.Article continues after advertisement However, the duo was warned that they can be charged again for the same matter. Tabao and Rakatia each faced one count of…

Sugar Industry Minister Tomasi Tunabuna confirmed that the Fiji Sugar Corporation maintains a consistent sugar supply to supermarkets, despite reports of widespread shelf shortages. FBC News spoke with several retailers, resellers, and sugar-dependent businesses who reported limited availability yesterday. Visits to Suva supermarkets also confirmed empty shelves. However, Tunabuna stressed that regular deliveries, including truckloads sent to distributors for retail supply, continue as normal, noting a recent shipment left Lautoka for Suva on Saturday.Article continues after advertisement He suggested the bottleneck lies at the retail level, where some supermarkets may be restricting customer purchases. Tunabuna called on retailers directly to…

[Photo: FILE] Nasinu’s push to become a city is gaining momentum as new investments and developments are transforming the country’s biggest municipality. Nasinu Town Council Chief Executive Felix Magnus says they are working to develop the local economy as they work towards becoming a city by 2030. “We want to grow Nasinu’s local economy. As I mentioned, Nasinu Town Council has a plan for 2030 to become a city. So we have two of the components that can make us into a city, or turn us into a city. We have the infrastructure; we have the population. What we don’t…

Vanuatu’s weather service has declared a meteorological drought for some northern parts of the country.This applies to Torba province, and parts of Sanma, Penama and Malampa provinces.The Vanuatu Meteorology and Hydro-meteorological Services (VMHS) said a meteorological drought is the first stage of drought, and happens when rainfall has been significantly below the long-term average for an extended period.The areas have recorded significantly below-average rainfall over the past three months.It said it serves as an early warning that, if dry conditions continue, more serious impacts, such as agricultural drought, may develop.VMHS emphasised that occasional rainfall events can still happen during El…

[Photo: FILE] The man questioned over an alleged social media post threatening to remove Fiji’s Constitution or burn the Capital city has been released as police continue their investigation. Police confirmed this morning that the suspect’s interview has been suspended while investigators await the outcome of an analysis being conducted by the Digital Forensics team. The individual, believed to be in his 50s, was taken in for questioning by investigators from the Cybercrime Division over the weekend at the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters after allegedly posting the threat on social media. Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu warns that police will take…

[Photo: PECELI NAVITICOKO] The temporary suspension of school bus services on Taveuni has disrupted travel for hundreds of students, as bus operators press for student fare rates to be aligned with those in Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. Operators insist they are not seeking a fare increase but are calling for equal fare rates, saying the current pricing does not reflect the higher cost of operating on the island. The disruption comes at a critical time, with the Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (LANA) examinations set to begin tomorrow, forcing parents and communities to organise alternative transport for students. Taveuni Transport…

In my career as a jobbing consultant, I thought I had become reasonably adroit at predicting what “sensitivities” a draft report could elicit and prepare myself accordingly for the salvo from the official managing the project in question. Yet nothing prepared me for the volcanic reaction to one draft report wherein I made what I thought a relatively innocuous observation about the importance of developing some parameters around what project merchandising was seeking to communicate. Pens, pins, notebooks, polo shirts, knitted bags, a tropical shirt of such nylon properties that it was best not to be downwind from a smoker…