Author: TMC Palau

The Fiji Corrections Service has completed investigations into an alleged assault at the Lautoka Remand Centre. The investigation led to the suspension of six officers, including two senior officers, a junior officer who held a senior appointment in the Western Division, and three subordinate officers. FCS says the key suspect, Corrections Officer Constable Asaeli Sorovaki, has been charged by Police with assault. Sorovaki appeared in court this morning and was granted bail. He is expected to reappear next month but remains suspended from the Fiji Corrections Service.Article continues after advertisement The alleged victim, an Australian national and prisoner, has been…

The Magistrates’ Court will rule on Wednesday on FICAC’s application to amend the charges against former Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad. Prasad is charged with failing to comply with statutory disclosure requirements and of providing false information in a statutory declaration. The application was filed by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption on Friday, after the matter had already gone through its final pre-trial conference and was set for trial. In court today, FICAC submitted that the proposed amendments concern the dates and subsections of the charges, and would not change their nature or interpretation.Article continues after advertisement The defence…

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has announced that a review of his country’s security agreement with China has begun.Wale has said he was only permitted to read the 2022 agreement one day before an official meeting in Canberra in May this year, shortly after he was elected prime minister.Highlighting the lack of proper disclosure at the time of the agreement, when he was opposition leader, Wale told parliament this must never happen again.As such, he has called on the current opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare, who was prime minister at the time of the China agreement, to support the review.This…

Fiji Rugby CEO Koli Sewabu during a press conference this morning. The Fiji Rugby Union fully supports the decision to stage the Vodafone Deans Trophy and Weet-Bix Raluve Championship semi-finals across two different venues this weekend. FRU CEO Koli Sewabu says the decision is aimed at building excitement around the competitions, particularly by allowing schools from the Western and Central divisions to host and play matches on their respective turfs. He adds that the format will also contribute to the growth and development of the teams by providing them with greater exposure, rather than having all the semi-final matches played…

[File Photo] The man who allegedly abducted and assaulted the son of a military officer in May this year has been told to file a notice of alibi by the Magistrates Court this morning. Laisiasa Bavai is charged with one count of abduction with intent to subject a person to grievous harm and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm. Defence counsel, Simione Valenitabua, today also informed the court that Bavai was injured at the time of his arrest and that a formal report will be lodged with police. The matter has been adjourned to September 21.Article continues after…

[Photo: FILE] The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service’s push towards greater digitisation has come under scrutiny, with concerns raised over a significant reduction in spending on digital systems. The issue was raised during the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs’ review of the FRCS 2024–2025 Annual Report. Deputy Committee Chair Premila Kumar questioned a 48.2 percent reduction in expenditure on computer maintenance, software licences and other areas linked to digital transformation. Kumar says the reduction raises questions about whether enough funding is being provided to support FRCS’s digitisation priorities.Article continues after advertisement “So, if there is a reduction in the budget…

Months after sustaining a knee injury, a Fijian women’s national rugby team player is waiting for assistance to undergo surgery.Fijiana XV and Fijian Drua women flyhalf Salanieta Kinita ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of rugby’s most serious injuries, while playing for the national team at the 2026 Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship in April.But more than three months after her injury, Kinita, 24, is still wondering if the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) will assist her to get overseas for the much-needed treatment.FRU chief executive Koli Sewabau told RNZ Pacific that “arrangements have already been made” to send Kinita to…

[Photo: FILE] Scoring the winning try to book her team’s place in the Weet-Bix Raluve Championship semi-finals is a moment Lydia Waqairapoa will always remember. The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School sprinter crossed the try line just minutes before full-time to send her Under-18 side through to the next stage of the competition. Waqairapoa says reaching the semi-finals was no easy feat, crediting the hard work and commitment she and her teammates have put in over the past few weeks. The Taveuni lass also thanked her school for its continued support and for rallying behind the team since the beginning of…

[Photo: FILE] The lease renewal for sugar cane farmers in the Northern Division is progressing well when compared to those in Viti Levu. This was highlighted by iTaukei Land Trust Board Chief Executive Solomone Nata, after concerns were raised by farmers in Labasa, who say that the long-term solution for the ailing sugar industry is to resolve the land issues. Farmer Taiyab Hussein from Wailevu Sector says that if leases are given between 75 and 99 years, more farmers will be encouraged to continue cane farming. Speaking to the Parliamentary Special Committee on the Sugar Industry, Hussein stated that when…

[Photo: FILE] The shortage of public sector pharmacists may not simply be a matter of missing qualifications. Public consultations on the Pharmacy Act review are raising questions over whether low pay, poor working conditions, and resource shortages are driving professionals away from public health facilities. While the Health Ministry cites a high vacancy rate, pharmacist Joshila Lal points out that Fiji produces 25 to 30 pharmacy graduates each year, suggesting retention is the real issue.¤ “When people say shortage of pharmacists, it really bothers me. I think if government were to look at where the priority is and where equity…