Traffic accidents continue to be a concern for Police

TRAFFIC accidents continue to be of great concern for the Fiji Police Force.

Chief Operations Officer (COO) Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Livai Driu says the attitude of some drivers is often, that they adhere to road rules where police are conducting traffic operations.

He said once they pass, they continue with dangerous driving habits such as speeding and careless driving which he claims are the two causes of accidents and fatalities.

“Every day we are booking hundreds of drivers for speeding. Some of them drive well above the national speed limit getting caught driving above 100km/PH. These are very dangerous habits that lead to accidents and fatalities,” ACP Driu

Mr Whippy said that the ministry had already secured local markets for the youths to sell their products once their businesses started running.

“The first market being GPH (Grand Pacific Hotel), this is the second one for Vision Investments where their first order is for 20

“That is apart from other orders that we receive on a daily basis. “We have plans for the Vision Group, GPH and also, we have plans for export to our Pacific island nations.” said.

Mr Mahogany said this initiative would be taken out to the other 13 plantations around the country.

He said police are aware of chat groups that share information of police officers’ whereabouts during traffic operations but says such alert groups will only lead to more dangerous driving behavior and loss of life on Fiji’s roads.

“The road death toll currently stands at 31 compared to 9 for the same period last year which is alarming. Police cannot be everywhere which is why we issue the advisories on road safety and hope that they will be taken seriously and adhered to at all times”.

SyDNey (Reuters) – A decision not to light up the sails of the Sydney Opera House to mark the coronation of King Charles was a cost saving measure, a spokesperson for the state government of New South Wales said on Saturday.

Across Australia, where King Charles is head of state, the role of the monarchy is controversial. The country held a referendum in 1999 on becoming a republic with 55% of voters opposed, while more recent polls have shown varying levels of support.

While many public buildings and monuments, including Parliament House in the capital Canberra, will be illuminated in royal purple on Saturday night to mark the coronation, the Sydney Opera House, lit up last year to commemorate the death of Queen Elizabeth II, will not be among them.

“The New South Wales Government believe it has struck the right balance in terms of meeting community expectations on commemorating the occasion while being mindful of public expense,” the government spokesperson said.

On Sunday, celebrations at Parliament House are set to include Australian military personnel firing off a 21-gun salute, and an Australian air force fly-past.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in London for the coronation, has said he will take the oath of allegiance to King Charles at the ceremony, despite being a republican.

“I want to see an Australian as Australia’s head of state … That doesn’t mean that you can not have respect for the institution, which is the system of government that we have”, Albanese told state broadcaster ABC on Friday.

In addition to Australia, King Charles is head of state in New Zealand and 12 other Commonwealth realms outside the United Kingdom, although the role is largely ceremonial.