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Fiji News
FijiFirst ‘reneged’ on promise
The FijiFirst Government has reneged on promise it made to the International Labour Organization (ILO) regarding striking Vatukoula Gold Mine workers.
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FIJI Trades Union Congress national secretary Felix Anthony said this at a rally at the Fijian Teachers Association hall on Thursday last week.
“The ILO recognises the striking workers in Vatukoula as the longest running strike in the world,” he said.
“And this government, at the ILO, made promises, made commitments – that it was going to come back home and settle this strike with the workers.
“Well, they’ve come back home a few times since and nothing has happened. “Those workers are still in limbo, many have actually died. And, again, this remains unresolved.”
Mr Anthony said the striking Vatukoula workers were still waiting for “some kind of settlement or compensation.”
“But it’s not happening and it’s not going to happen with this government, if this government were to stay on.
“We’ve talked about the right to strike, while the law says that we do have a right to strike, but there are other laws like the internal security decree that disallows any form of action.
“We saw that during the termination of CAAF workers, where the police were all over the place.
“In fact, stopping workers from even sitting down having some grog, stopping workers from even sitting in the office at FTUC.
“Now that doesn’t happen in a democracy.”
Williams: strong democratic governance vital to region
STRONG democratic governance in Pacific nations is vital to the region navigating the triple challenges articulated by Pacific Islands Forum leaders – the existential threat of climate change, long-term recovery from COVID-19 and strategic contest.
Australian High Commission chargé d’affaires John Williams said this to members of the Fijian legal fraternity at the 24th Attorney-General’s Conference in Nadi on Friday.
He said for those reasons, they would be looking to have a deeper impact with their governance programs and engagement in the region.
Mr Williams said Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had commissioned a parliamentary inquiry, managed by the Australian Federal Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, to look at how they could better promote democracy and the international rules-based order in the region.
He said the inquiry would not only cover Australia’s aid program, but their political, economic and security partnerships across the region.
“Here in Fiji, we’re looking forward to building on our governance work, including aid programs supporting the national Parliament, media capacity and electoral administration. It’s been a vibrant and prosperous period of late for AustraliaFiji relations.
Our two governments are, I believe, working together more closely and effectively than we ever have before.”
Gollings’ men face hosts in cape town
AFTER a dismal performance by the Fiji mens 7s team in Dubai over the weekend, Ben Gollings will have a tough task to prepare his side which is pooled with hosts South Africa this week.
South Africa won the Dubai title for the fourth straight time defeating Ireland 21-5 in the final yesterday.
Fiji, South Africa, France and Canada are in Group A of the Cape Town 7s. In Pool B Dubai tournament finalist Ireland will face Samoa, Uruguay and Japan.
New Zealand will lead Pool C with Argentina, Kenya and Spain Pool D will see USA, HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series defending champion Australia, Great Britain and Uganda battling out for a position in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, the Saiasi Fuli-coached Fijiana side is pooled with New Zealand, Great Britain and Brazil. Dubai 7s champion and series winner Australia is in Pool A with Ireland, Spain and hosts South Africa. USA is in Pool C with France, Canada and Japan. 44 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, December, 2022
FVF to select players in sanctioned tourney
THE Fiji Volleyball Federation is using their sanctioned tournaments to select players who are eligible to represent Fiji in the Pacific Games next year.
With the successful completion of their Fiji Women’s Crisis Center National Club Volleyball Championship, FVF has selected players who had played well. President Kemueli Naiqama said they had noted a few players, who had performed well with expectation to be part of the national squad.
“We will then inform their associations where they will form elite teams to be based at the west and the central division,” he said.
“We will have coaches to train them as we prepare for the South Pacific Games next year. “This is not only the opportunity for players, we also have our sanctioned tournaments next year like the Vulaca for the Central and the Western rally for the West. “We have the East West challenge and the final one will be the Easter games. So these tournament, we will be using them to select players.
“There is a lot of opportunities for our players to showcase their talents and to be recognised. We want them to use this tournaments.”
Defence given time to respond
THE defence in the case of accused murderer Samuel Naicker has been given time to respond to the State’s proposed facts.
In August this year, Mr Naicker pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, where he was alleged to have strangled a 17-year-old boy at a house in Makoi in June.
The matter was called for pre-trial conference before High Court judge Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull, in the High Court at Suva last week.
State prosecutor Zenith Zunaid told the court the State was awaiting a response on its proposed facts.
The Legal Aid lawyer, appearing on instructions of the officer in carriage in the matter, Krishneel Chang, said she confirmed receipt of the proposed facts and sought 14 days to respond.
Mr Zunaid clarified there might have been a delay in the response because Mr Naicker was admitted at Twomey Hospital at Tamavua with tuberculosis.
He said the State was relying on partial admissions in Mr Naicker’s caution interview and the evidence of his sister and mother, as the accused allegedly made confessions to them.
Mr Naicker’s bail application was also called before Justice Bull.
The defence counsel asked if the bail hearing could be vacated and the defence given seven days to file a supplementary affidavit in the bail application.
Justice Bull granted the defence’s application. The bail application will be called for hearing on January 16, 2023, while the substantive file will be called for further pre-trial conference on February 9.
Family loses house to fire
A Nacovi, Nadi family lost their entire four-bedroom property to a fire on Saturday night.
The homeowner, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the fire happened a little after 8pm and his grandmother was alone at home at the time of the incident.
“But no one got hurt and everyone is safe,” the homeowner said.
When this newspaper visited the scene yesterday, family members and neighbours were cleaning the remains of the fire which engulfed the $250,000 home.
Data released by the National Fire Authority (NFA) indicated that as of September this year, 84 structural fires were recorded in the country.
NFA chief executive Puamau Sowane shared that since January this year to August, 84 structural fire incidents have been recorded compared with 74 structural fire incidents same period last year.
The Western Division recorded 41 fires while 31 occurred in the Central/ Eastern Division and 12 in the Northern Division.
Mr Sowane said the increase in residential fires was of great concern to the NFA.
Federation of indian communities of Queensland - community cup cricket Match
THE Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland in association with the Bangladesh Association in Brisbane, assisted in conducting the Community Cup Cricket Match between an Indian XI vs Bangla XI on 20th November at Valley District Cricket Club.
The aim was to create harmony between the Indian and Bangladeshi communities through cricket as a sport.
Mr Sathish Rajenderan from Brisbane Super Kings Cricket Club Inc and Mr John Stimpson and Mr Ashutosh Misra from Queensland Cricket were instrumental in organising this game.
Cr Angela Owen, Councillor for Calamvale Ward, attended the match to cheer on the teams and
cr AngElA owEn, councillor for cAlAmvAlE wArd, AttEndEd thE mAtch to chEEr on thE tEAms And PrEsEntEd thE troPhy to indiAn xi on thEir win.
presented the trophy to Indian XI on their win.
The stage is now set for a bigger tournament next year.
—Seema Chauhan
Public Relations Officer, FICQ
THE Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland hosted a Women’s and Men’s Well-being session in Brisbane on 12th November 2022.
The event focused on a gender-based approach to mental health. The guest speakers included Dr Abha Chikarsal, General Practitioner, who presented on women’s health and emphasised the importance of monitoring women’s health through means such as regular cervical screening; Dr Dev Kawol, General Practitioner, talked about mental health and men’s health issues along with a captivating presentation, and Emeritus Professor David Kavanagh, who shared his knowledge of general mental health and well-being.
The event was wellreceived, with active participation by the attendees. FICQ aims to host more well-being sessions next year.
—Seema Chauhan
Public Relations Officer, FICQ
