Fijian rugby coach Elenoa Kunatuba is coaching the Tuvalu men’s 7s team in this weekend’s Oceania 7s tournament at the ANZ Stadium, Suva.

Speaking during a panel discussion of Women in Rugby and the Media Forum at the ANZ Stadium Lounge, the World Rugby Level 3 coach said taking up the job was a challenging one.

Kunatuba said despite being looked down as a women she kept on with her work and managed to convince them.

“The Tuvaluan Rugby chairman really put his foot down to support me,” she said.

“We had a tournament and I  conducted training for referees.

“I also controlled the first game and dished out yellow cards for infringements and there was pin drop silence. After the game they came to me and said this is the way it should be done.”

– Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

Feedback:  nikolai.ravai@fijisun.com.fj

Samoan men’s 7s coach Sir Gordon Tietjen is looking forward to reunite with his son, Paul who is the head coach of the Papua New Guinea women’s 7s team at the Oceania 7s tournament that gets underway at the ANZ Stadium, Suva on Friday.

“Yes, he (Paul) lives in Sydney with his partner and plays for an Australian team,” he said.

“He was my conditioning trainer with the Samoa rugby team last year.

“He is a physical education teacher and has been looking forward to coach a bigger team in the future.

“This is a good occasion for a small reunion in Fiji.”

The Samoans are in Pool D alongside Tonga, Tuvalu, and debutant Niue.

“Oceania is held at a good time this year, particularly two weeks before Dubai.

“So, this year is perfect for us and for other teams who are vying to make the Hong Kong and Sydney tournaments.”

Meanwhile, the highest placed teams in both the men and women’s grades, excluding the pre-qualified teams will qualify for the HSBC World Sevens Series leg in Hamilton, New Zealand and Sydney.”

– Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

Feedback:  nikolai.ravai@fijisun.com.fj

Major stakeholders have embarked on a two-week training in a bid to im­prove delivery of safe and qual­ity drinking water services for all Fijians. This training focuses on improvements in the analysis of water sources as well as laboratory practices in Fiji.

For the next two weeks, as as­signed by the Ministry of Com­merce of China representatives from ‘Power China Zhongnan Engi­neering Corporation Limited’ will be facilitating this training.

Personnel from Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), Ministry of Infra­structure and Transport (MoIT), Ministry of Health (MOH) as well as the Mineral Resources Depart­ment (MRD) will be part of this training.

Department of Water and Sewer­age Susana Pulini said it was great to see the Government of the Peo­ple’s Republic of China working closely together with the people of Fiji to help improve Water Source Analysis and Lab Practices.

The Fijian Government in its com­mitment to provide clean and safe drinking water has invested a lot in the water and wastewater sec­tor. In this financial year, Govern­ment has provided a total budget of $349.3 million to the Water Author­ity of Fiji. This is an increase of $42.4 million from the previous fi­nancial year.

A total of $102.8 million has been allocated towards operating costs while $246.5 million is targeted to­wards capital expenditure costs.

“We do applaud trainings as such. These types of trainings help us to understand, expand and share knowledge on the many proper practices to be undertaken such as working in laboratories and un­dertaking proper monitoring for efficient and effective delivery of services,” Ms Pulini said.

This training is brought to you un­der the framework of China’s 2018 – China Aid training programme.

This project is aimed to share the developing experience of China in water source analysis and laborato­ry practices with Fiji, as well as to explore industry engineering tech­nologies and to improve manage­ment capacity in water resources between the two countries.

Counsellor of Economic and Com­mercial Counsellor’s Office of the Chinese Embassy in Fiji Ms Li Zhi said Water was a precious resource for human survival.

“The Republic of Fiji is endowed with abundant water resources, which is also a social wealth of great value. Nowadays, in the Chi­nese market, we often see the “Fiji Water”, and the freshness and pu­rity of “Fiji Water” have delivered a good image to Chinese people,” Ms Li said.

“However, due to seasonal impact and spatial constraints, the water resources distribution in Fiji is not balanced yet, as some regions are in shortage of clean water, or even lack of water, imposing negative influence on Fiji’s social economy.

“The Fijian Government is tak­ing action to reverse the situation. For this purpose, the Chinese Gov­ernment decided to hold the “2018 Overseas Seminar on Water Source Analysis and Lab Practices for the Republic of Fiji” in Fiji, which is also the first bilateral seminar fo­cusing on water source analysis and lab practices.

“We hope to take it as an oppor­tunity to further push forward the China-Fiji exchanges and coop­eration on water resources protec­tion.”

Source: Ministry of Infrastruc­ture and Transport and the Chinese Embassy in Fiji

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

 New site at Ratu Sukuna Road, Nasese
More convenient shopping and parking

P Meghji Group of Companies has reopened in Suva, with its new rebranded

P Meghji Wine and Liquor shop at Ratu Sukuna Road, yesterday.

This is in view of the increasing demand from their loyal customers and  also to deliver prompt and speedy service to all its patrons.

P Meghji Group specialises in wholesale, P Meghji Food Service which sells food service items, spirits and wines to hotels, resorts and supermarkets throughout Fiji.

P Meghji Group retail branch that is trading as P Meghji Wine and Liquor not only sells liquor but healthy, organic food and other specialty goods, considering the importance of health for the people of Fiji.

P Meghji Group general manager sales and marketing Shyam Meghji said: “P Meghji Wine and Liquor shop caters for the expatriate and local market, who want good wine and liquor and speciality food products that are healthy and organic.

“We invested close to $200,000 with the shop fit outs.”

He said the location was chosen because it is more strategic in the sense that its free from the heavy traffic in the city and provides convenient shopping and parking for people.

The P Meghji Wine and Liquor shop in Suva will employ seven staff and a manager.

It will open from Monday to Wednesday from 9am to 7pm, Thursday and Saturday from 9am to 9pm.

Plans

P Meghji Group will open another new supermarket trading as Fresh Choice Supermarket at Garden City Raiwai, where its previous P Meghji Wine and Liquor shop was located.

Close to $2.5 million of investment is being made to the new supermarket that is expected to open soon.

Currently, P Meghji group has established retail shops in Lautoka, Martintar (Nadi) and Suva.

“We will have its own coffee roasting machine whereby people could have a variety blend of coffee inside supermarket,

“An investment of $300,000 will be made to our bakery equipment which will be bought from Vanrooy out of Australia.

“This will ensure that our bakery provides specialty breads, gluten free options, pastries, scones, muffins and everything will be baked fresh throughout the day.

“The meat store will be managed by South Pacific Butchery.

“Our target market is people looking for good quality products at an affordable price.”

The company is expected to remodel all their outlets in the western division from January next year.

Feedback:  maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj

Twenty-three people yesterday signed up with the New Farmers Scheme which comes under the $2 million Budget that was geared to getting more people into cane farming and increasing the yied.

Director of Sugar, Sanjay Kumar said this was the first time that they had rolled out the new farmer’s assistance scheme.

“The idea here is to encourage more people to come and do sugarcane farming and to address our declining number of farmers and also to also encourage new cane farmers to the industry,” Mr Kumar said.

“Through this new farmer’s assistance scheme, Government will be covering the costs towards the Ministry of Lands towards the offer to the new farmer for a piece of land.

“Not only that, Government will also be paying for the weedicide and fertiliser costs.

“Currently the Government is paying 56 per cent so basically for every bag of 45kg of fertiliser, Government is paying $25.59.

“So for two hectares, you will not pay back any cost for fertiliser cost for the first round of planting only, but next year then we will roll out into the normal assistance and you will be required to pay as the other farmers are expected to pay.”

Of the 23 new farmers, 10 are from Labasa, two from Lautoka, six from Rarawai and five are from Penang Mill area.

Four new women join

Mr Kumar said the four new women cane farmers was a good indication that females were also taking an interest in the sugar industry as this industry still is dominated by males.

He said once the new farmers signed the agreement; payment would be made directly to either iTaukei Land Trust Board or the Lands Department.

Two farmer co-operatives were also assisted by the Government yesterday to purchase new mechanical harvesters for cane harvesting.

The Rarawai/Penang Cane Producers Association and the Lautoka Cane Producers Association signed their grant assistance and would be assisted with $90,000 each for the purchase.

Feedback:  charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj

Two women were among the 23 new cane farmers who signed their grant agreements with the Ministry of Sugar in Lautoka yesterday.

The two, Malti Devi of Cuvu, Nadroga and Saheedan of Talaiya, Ba were two determined women who signed up to become cane farmers.

Ms Devi, 57, had been tending to her husband’s farm for many years but the thought of her children growing up and having something to fall back on drove her to get her own farm.

Ms Devi’s husband, Sudhu Prasad, of Cuvu, Sigatoka, has a farm-share arrangement with his brother Kasi Ram.

Ms Devi said she had worked on this farm for years and when she heard Government was assisting new farmers, she thought of the future of her children.

“I wanted to get this farm because when my husband is no longer here, my children will have nothing to fall back on. At least with this farm, which is 15 acres with a projected output of around 300 tonnes of sugar cane, it can be there for the children when we are not here.

“I am so grateful to this Government in providing this opportunity as the future of our children is secure now.”

Atunaisa Livanalagi, 36, of Tagitagi in Tavua left the banking industry and has called on young Fijians who have idle land belonging to their family to utilise it for farming.

“There are too many young people in the urban areas as the Government has provided a chance for them to make a life for themselves. I worked in Suva for the past 16 years at ANZ Bank. I saw that we have a potential to come and do farming.

“Working at the bank I have to leave home and go but for farming I stay where I will work and this my new farm in Tagitagi.”

Mr Livanalagi said he had 32 acres of land and was looking to produce from 80 to 100 tonnes of sugar cane each season.

“That’s my aim. I was brought up in the farms by my grandmother and uncle and since they are gone I decided to take up farming.

“I would like to thank Government and the Prime Minister for coming up with this kind of initiatives.”

“It really helps us a lot, for the new farmers, especially for the funding and the grant that we have received today.        “We just need to encourage the youths to step forward and come and do farming because there is a lot of potential that we can get from farming.

“Especially the unemployed, there is a lot of vacant land in our mataqali.

“This is a good time to get in to farming while Government is assisting.”

Feedback:  charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj

Lies, statistics

Arvind Mani , Nadi

FBC TV’s 4 The Record programme last night was a comedy of errors by National Federation Party stooge,  Kamal Iyer.

A stooge is “a person who is forced or paid by someone in authority to do an unpleasant or secret job for them.”

In this context the “someone in authority” is Biman Prasad who declined to attend.

Mr Iyer was obviously unprepared and, consequently, quite nervous. He seemed like a sacrificial lamb sent to the slaughterhouse than a candidate promoting his party’s manifesto.

He was unintentionally entertaining and barely enlightening.

I think die-hard NFP supporters were cringing and wringing their hands at his dismal performance and those sitting on the fence would now lean towards FijiFirst because the only thing Mr Iyer was consistent about was the inconsistency of his party’s stand on many issues.

They have three different figures on minimum wage and Mr Iyer made the lame excuse that he cannot speak for the other candidates, just the leader!

I was very disappointed at his lack of professionalism – he used the word ‘bullshit’ twice and kept talking over the general secretary of FijiFirst Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. It would have been a gracious gesture if he had apologised for using a profanity twice and the hosts should have taken him to task for it.

He also needs to have a better understanding of the English language.

When Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had once accused Mr Prasad in Parliament of political impotence because of his soft stance on egregious comments made by some Opposition Parliamentarian, Mr Iyer construed that as physical impotence.

As to how Mr Sayed-Khaiyum would have known that is beyond me.

Mr Iyer also used a rather interesting phrase – the General Secretary of FijiFirst was ‘lying through the skin of his teeth’. The correct expression is ‘lying through his teeth’.

As my high school English teacher taught us, “By the skin of one’s teeth” means nearly or barely as in the sentence, He escaped from the lion by the skin of his teeth.  I would like to think that our politicians can speak better English than the clown in the White House.

Mr Iyer came up with some wild figures (he made the accusation that two hardware store owners made $70 million from Cyclone Winston).

He made claims the NFP can convert the TELS loan into grants, pay $100 per tonne for sugar cane and $5 as minimum wage. When he was asked repeatedly where the money was going to come from, he had no clue.

And it would have been better if Mr Iyer was addressed as Mr Iyer and not just Kamal by Indra Singh.

The other host, Geraldine Sen has this very obnoxious habit of interrupting the guests when they are talking for which she has been chastised by previous guests but has not learnt her lesson.

Perhaps it is time for a new host who has good active listening skills.

Both the hosts need to show respect, control the tone of the debate and maintain a sense of decorum.

I long for the days when politicians were statesmen, had charisma and dignity, when they were eloquent and witty and you looked forward to be dazzled by their brilliance and not baffled by their BS as is so common these days.

Which reminds me of what Will Rogers said so wisely: “Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a politician but I repeat myself.”

Rabuka’s reef

Simon Hazelman, Savusavu

Sitiveni Rabuka’s reasoning and analogy for returning to politics is an absolutely hilarious joke! (FS04/11)

To say that he came back because he felt Fiji had hit a reef and that he needed to get it off the reef and into safe harbor is nothing more than a parable told horribly wrong!

One has got to be gullible, naive, soft and pliable to believe that nonsense!

Unbelievable!

Rabuka’s thesis

Gyan Prasad, Nasinu

Everybody talks about A-G’s thesis with all sorts of interpretations despite not having read a single word of the thesis.

Why doesn’t anyone talk about Rabuka’s thesis? The irony of it all is that it was submitted to Indian supervisors.

Campaigns

Shariff Shah, Savusavu

While other parties are promising what cannot possibly be achieved, the FijiFirst is going around with their normal daily lives and talking from a realistic stand point.

If the FFP is so desperate to win this year’s election they too can lie and make outrageous claims such as :

– bringing back the GCC

– $10/hr as minimum wages

– unlimited loading on our roads without exemptions

– zero vat on 25 or so basic food items and the list goes on.

But what FFP has done cannot be matched. And that is a fact.

No amount of lies or racial discrimination can prove otherwise.

To all FF candidates who are standing for the November 14 General Election, please refrain from pointing fingers or even mentioning about other parties.

It’s just not worth it. Don’t waste your valuable time and effort in doing so.

It is clear as daylight that FFP is going to win. You are gaining tremendous support day by day.

Firecrackers

Dhirendra Prasad, Lautoka

Diwali is the only time when we had the opportunity to play with firecrackers.

Then what is the fuss about it now. The adults of today had their time of fun. It does not mean they deprive the young of today to enjoy Diwali with thunder and lightning (firecrackers).

Of course, the adults of today need to be responsible for their safety and security.

Stop complaining about firecrackers and let everyone enjoy this Diwali. Firecrackers have been part of Diwali for centuries and will continue to be as such.

Just as our young ones are able to tolerate us, we as adults should also be able to tolerate them as well under our guidance.

Remember, Diwali does not belong to any one organisation. Everyone can enjoy within its principles of love and peace with purity of heart.

There is no Diwali without firecrackers. Quietness has never been Diwali and will never be. Happy Diwali to all. Celebrate with caution.

Roundabout rights

Vijay Naidu, Suva

The extremely busy roundabout at the junction of Ratu Dovi and Nokonoko Roads in Laucala Beach poses very serious risks to pedestrians trying to cross to go to either the Centre Point complex or to the Vivras Plaza.

Dozens of workers risk life and limb as they cross the road on their way to work each morning and when they finish work each afternoon.

The never-ending traffic comprising all kinds of vehicles including enormous 16-wheeler trucks.

These vehicles do not even bother to slow down as a courtesy to each other.

Pedestrians appear to have no place in this maelstrom when as citizens of the country their interests and safety should also be given serious consideration.

Such a consideration would include options such as traffic lights and/or pedestrian crossing close to the roundabout itself, or best of all an overpass pedestrian bridge.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

Filimoni Drotini hopes the next government will give more assistance for people with disabilities.

The 34-year-old Suva-based construction worker is mute, but this did not deter him from casting his vote at the Serua Village pre-polling station yesterday.

The first-time voter took leave from work and left Suva for his village at about 8am yesterday just to make his vote count.

The Fiji Sun team interviewing him wrote down questions on paper and he responded in writing.

One of the elder villagers, Verenaisi Qara, 83, said she was grateful to God that she lived long enough to cast her vote.

“I don’t know if I will live to vote again in the next election, but I thank the Lord for today,” she said.

“Let us hope that whoever wins this election, would continue with the good work.”

Setareki Qio,63, was the first person to cast his vote at the pre-polling venue.

He said the pre-polling process this year was fast and efficient and he managed to cast his vote within five minutes.

“I thank the current government for the developments that it has done. It has set the standard high for future governments,” Mr Qio said.

“It has shown good governance and leadership skills.”

21-year-old Joseva Robanakadavu, a second-year Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of the South Pacific, also cast his vote for the first time yesterday.

He spoke highly of the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS), which enabled his parents to send him to university.

He said previously it was difficult for his parents to sponsor his older sister’s tertiary education because of financial constraints.

His father is a farmer and his mother works at a hotel.

He hopes that whatever government takes power will continue with the TELS initiative. Edited by Epineri Vula

Feedback: selita.bolanavanua@fijisun.com.fj

DIWALI POLL BID FAILS

One political party decided they would push the Fijian Election Office to keep pre-polling open on the day a sizeable population celebrates Diwali. That political party forgot the areas where pre-polling happens do not have a lot of Hindus. Egg on its face?

REALITY CHECK FOR TANYA

Tanya Waqanika needs to understand journalists who do turn out to cover their campaign meetings, actually record the meetings. Her rant against Fiji Sun claiming that she was misquoted, surprisingly, only on social media and not through any official channel is another example of what is wrong with fly by night politicians like her.

The two journalists she lashed out against in fact have the recording of the campaign night, a whole one hour and eight minutes long recording where she was heard very clearly making claims about the judiciary and expat Judges. Perhaps she did not like being called out by the Chief Justice Anthony Gates who set the record straight on how the Judicial Services Commission and not Government appoints judges.

REHABILITATION PLAN?

SODELPA manifesto calls for a review of natural disaster and rehabilitation. Will this mean they will go back to the policy whereby houses only in villages would be rebuilt by Government following any natural disaster?

Voreqe Bainimarama had changed this policy and stated that every Fijian affected would be assisted.

NO SMOKING – SERIOUSLY?

This local passenger ship has a warning painted in big letters which says: “Strictly no Smoking”. As you go up the stairs, you see a big orange drum cut out and used as a makeshift ashtray.

1. SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka lied that under his SVT Government, the average growth rate was 4.3 per cent. It was only 2.3 per cent.

2.“Mr Rabuka lied about the highest growth rate of 8.4 per cent in 1998. The actual growth rate for 1998 was 1.3 per cent.

3. He talks about Government debt rising to 50.4 per cent. This is not correct. Debt is actually 47 per cent and if we exclude the expenditures associated with TCW, it would be around 42 per cent.

4. Mr Rabuka talks about Contigent liabilities. All Fijian Governments including SVT and SDL provided guarantees to statutory corporations. However, it was under Rabuka that we lost NBF that tax payers have paid almost 1/2 billion dollars..

5. Mr Rabuka talks about debt doubling in the past 12 years. Rabuka is misleading people that $1m debt in 1970 or 1987 is the same as $1 million in 2018. The debt at the end of 2006 in today’s value is almost $8 billion dollars and hence 3 times more than what we have taken in the past 12 years.

6. Under Mr Rabuka, the income tax threshold was less than $5000. We have increased to $30,000.

7. Under Mr Rabuka, total FNPF contribution was 14 per cent but only 12 per cent went to workers account as the balance of 2 per cent went to pension buffer fund. The FFP has raised FNPF contribution to 18 per cent. That is 50 per cent more.

8. It was Mr Rabuka’s actions in 1987 that led to two devaluations amounting to around 33 per cent and another 20 per cent when he was PM in 1998. This means, Mr Rabuka caused the Fiji dollar to lose more than half its value and we are paying the high price of it till today.
9. Only under Prime Minister Bainimarama has Fiji recorded nine consecutive years of economic growth despite the highest number of natural disasters and difficult global economic conditions with record commodity prices and Global Financial Crisis.

FijiFirst leader and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama easily won the debate with Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday

The debate hosted by Mala Qaqacava on FBC Radio Fiji One, was also televised live.

Mr Bainimarama was clear in his response to questions about various issues. He corrected a lot of misconceptions.

In the exchanges with Mr Rabuka, Mr Bainimarama hit the right notes. It was obvious he went to the debate well prepared.

He kept it simple and straight to the point with his explanations.

Mr Rabuka, on the other hand, used flowery language, obviously to appeal to typical instincts of ordinary iTaukei.

In the process he lost the main points of his message.

These were some of the issues discussed:

Secularism
Mr Bainimarama said the constitutional provision provided people with the freedom to practise their own religion.

Mr Rabuka said secularism should not be written in the Constitution.

He said it was being practised before and there was no need for it to be written.

He was asked about the perception of Muslim prominence and influence and claims by some SODELPA politicians that people could not pray to Jesus Christ now.

Mr Rabuka said he disagreed and he had had instructed all candidates to preach from the manifesto.

Mr Rabuka said secularism had empowered Muslims to come out into the open and wear their religious garb.

Before secularism, Muslims would only dress up after a pilgrimage to Mecca. They would carry on as normal with their prayers.

Mr Rabuka said the change should not stop people from practising their normal religious observance and practices.

Mr Bainimarama said the perception about the Muslims was because his deputy, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, was a Muslim.

He said this was the kind of religious intolerance and bigotry that secularism tried to eliminate.

Fijian as a common name

Mr Bainimarama said the common name would unite all races in Fiji. He said the 2013 Constitution removed discrimination and treated everyone equal before the law.

Mr Rabuka said he had no problem with Fijian as a common name. In fact, he said he first mooteed it in 1987 and it created differences as it was doing now.

But he said we should move forward with it because it would be a retrograde step to go back.

Land Bank
Listeners asked questions about the Land Bank.

One said iTaukei landowners would lose control of their land after they gave it to the Land Bank to lease out.

Some SODELPA politicians were claiming this, he said.

But, Mr Bainimarama said the Land Bank was set up to get idle land developed with the lease money going to the landowners.

He said at least 60 per cent of the landowners needed to sign before their land could go to the Land Bank. He said it was a contract in the same way when land was administered by the iTaukei Land Trust Board. And it was up to landowners to decide the term of the lease.
Edited by Epineri Vula
Feedback: nemani.delaibatiki@fijisun.com.fj

READ more here: Rabuka Versus Fact

The equal dis­tribution of lease money among landowning units introduced by the FijiFirst Government has been a blessing for the iTaukei community, says the iTaukei Lands Trust Board.

TLTB general manager Tevita Kuruvakadua says there has been much support among landowners for the new system because, among other things, it has brought about gender equality.

He made the comments after sev­eral landowners expressed support for the new lease distribution sys­tem.

62-year-old Sela Ratu, Turaga Ni Mataqali (landowning unit leader) at Tawa, Naseyani Village in Ra said: “Under the FijiFirst Govern­ment the lease money is equally distributed which is a good thing.”

Previously, he said, the children used to suffer, but the new lease dis­tribution was good for their educa­tion

“This enables them to further their education to university level,” he said.

Mataqali Nawavatu landowner of Kalabu Josaia Drole said equal lease distribution was good, but it was up to the individuals on how to wisely use their share.

37-year-old Seru Bilivanua of the Naulu­karoa clan in Kalabu said their money was in trust and they used it for their business.

The comments come as Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Sitiveni Rabuka has repeatedly remarked on the campaign trail ahead of next week’s general election that he intends to revert the lease distribution system to the old way of heads of clans and tribes taking the lion’s share of payouts if his party is voted into govern­ment.

Mr Kuruvakadua said since July 2015 TLTB had already distributed a total of $174m to an average of 51,366 individual members (over 18 years) of various landowning units (ya­vusa, mataqali and tokatoka) .

He said in addition TLTB invested $32.5m for 39,834 landowning unit (LOU) members below 18 years (minors) in various invest­ment institutions.

“These funds will be with the institutions and will be released to them once they turn 18 years,” Mr Kuruvakadua said.

“Out of the 39,834 under 18 minors’ ac­counts, 20,812 are male members and 19,022 are female members.”

The TLTB general manager said this invest­ed minor funds were an important source of funds for minors to empower them to start up new opportunities when they turn 18 – either to further their studies or to start up a new business or to expand to other available op­portunities that require seed funds to further their dreams in life.

This, he said, would relieve a lot of burdens for parents and guardians because there was something in store for minors when they turned 18.

Apart from this, Mr Kuruvakadua said, the equal lease distribution option introduced by this Government in 2011, which was effec­tively implemented in 2015. had been a bless­ing for the iTaukei Community in a number of ways.

These were:

• It has taken away a lot of LOU dis­putes among mataqali members. Previously there used to be a lot of complaints and dis­putes, this has dramatically improved after the introduction of this lease distribution mode;
• It has strengthened the leadership within the landowning unit (LOU) for them to encourage their members to become more visionary and to spend their monies wisely. Now the parents are beginning to see fair distribution of lease monies and are en­couraging their children and members (in particular the minors) to plan for their fu­ture;
• This has also encouraged a cul­ture of savings and investments with the iTaukei communities where the distribu­tion mode encourages the need for iTaukei individuals to think along those lines, rather than the previous culture of spend­ing it all;
• It has solved a lot of fairness in treating female LOU members with digni­ty and respect. Most female LOU members have praised this equal distribution mode because this is the first time most of them are receiving lease monies. Some of them by virtue of their status of being LOU members and landowners have never had a share of lease monies in their lifetime and with this mode some say it has really worked well for them and shows that their status as females and being mothers in a family are respected;
• It has also promoted gender equality;
• The introduction of this equal distribution mode has also led to the dig­itising of the Vola ni Kawa Bula that has brought about efficiencies in accessing this information to all iTaukei institutions and fast tracked a lot of services;
• It has also enabled leaders within the LOU and parents for all families receiv­ing their lease monies to think more stra­tegically and commercially to guide and empower their LOU members to think dif­ferently;
• The TLTB anticipates a lot of positive vibes and impact to most iTaukei families in the years to come because most children when they turn 18 years will be able to further their education in higher institutions, which will lead to a more edu­cated iTaukei generation;
• The TLTB anticipates that once this process matures more iTaukei will be engaged in small micro businesses to add to other small micro business grants from Government to pursue their various busi­ness ventures and become entrepreneurs for a better living;
• It has also improved on cleaning up the Vola ni Kawa Bula – registering the unregistered LOU members and also delet­ing LOU members that have passed on so that they all get access to lease monies; and

Meanwhile, the implementation phase Mr Kuruvakadua said had been delayed because of the enhancement of the TLTB IT systems and the digitisation of the Vola ni Kawa Bula through the iTaukei Lands Commission.

Edited by Epineri Vula

Feedback: maikab@fijisun.com.fj

Twenty-five-year-old Lo­peti Jerome is grateful to the Fiji Corrections Service and the Ministry of Education for giving him an opportunity to learn a trade.

He hopes to use this new trade he’s learned to earn him an in­come when he is released.

Mr Jerome is among inmates at Nasinu Vocational Centre, which was launched in an of­ficial declaration ceremony yesterday.

“This centre is a big help to me, especially for when I start my own family and I need to have a job,” Mr Jerome said.

He said the skills he has learned from the welding and fabrication workshop would be beneficial in the community that he will live in.

“We have a car at home that I used to drive, but I did not know anything about engines and this centre has enabled me to learn more about it.”

Mr Jerome is hoping to get some hands-on work experi­ence and receive his certificate before he is released so that he can further his studies at uni­versity.

Permanent Secretary for Edu­cation Alison Burchell said it was important for people to acknowledge that there was a need to keep children in the schooling system.

She said sometimes teachers needed to adapt their teaching styles to suit the needs of the student.

“In some instances where they are way ahead and they get bored we lose those chil­dren, students and we have too many students unfortunately dropping out of school,” Ms Burchell said.

“And as a result of that I am very happy with this partner­ship to ensure that we look after those children who have dropped out of school.”

She said as members of soci­ety, people needed to change the way they viewed each other so that they become more sup­portive of youths.

“At the end of the way we re­ally want more people to be employed because we do not want people to be in poverty so part of that door that edu­cation holds the key to is get­ting people out of poverty,” Ms Burchell said.

“Because if people are in pov­erty they are much more likely to get involved in criminal ac­tivities.”

She said poverty sometimes forced people to do things that they would not do in an ideal world.

FCS Commissioner Francis Kean thanked the Education Ministry and the Fiji Higher Education Commission for their support in getting the in­structors qualified in order for them to deliver.

“It is a very important train­ing. A skill for life and a skill that will hopefully, as the inten­tion behind all our rehabilita­tion programmes within the Fiji Corrections Service is, to reduce or not to make another social statistic.”

Edited by Epineri Vula

Feedback: fonua.talei@fijisun.com.fj

A mother’s letters which had words of motivation put a student on track, which eventually saw him take the dux award.

Pita Lomani of Lomary Second­ary School was caught up with peer pressure that he fell behind in his revision for some time.

But his mother’s constant push to keep him on track paid off after he won the top award during the school prizegiving yesterday.

“I got too involved in peer pressure that I forgot to study and that’s when my mother used to give me words of motivation, which encouraged me to study,” the 18-year-old said.

Pita is from Culanuku, Serua. He stays with a teacher near school so that he can attend school every day.

“One thing I always keep in mind is that I have to study hard to make my parents proud because they sent me to stay away from them with all the trust that I will do the right things and will not disappoint them,” he said.

Pita received the prize for scoring the highest in all subjects, except for English.

“I also took agriculture, chemistry, biology, English and Maths so I am planning to enter medicine, but I like doing Maths also so it ends up with me making a tough decision.

“My mum used to wish me luck every day by writing me a note and gives it to a friend to pass it on to me,” he said.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Feedback: swashna.chand@fijisun.com.fj

Edward Rounds saved up his pocket allowance mon­ey to buy stationery for his exam.

The Year 11 student won the progressive prize for his stream at the Lomary Secondary School prizegiving ceremony yesterday.

“I always used to save my mon­ey for stationery so that I do not pressure my parents to buy my school things,” he said.

“I used to reduce my parents’ load by handling my school sta­tionery and I am very sure now that my parents must be so proud of me.”

Mr Rounds said that the thing which motivated him was that government made education free.

“There are people out there in the country who do not have ac­cess to education because of fi­nancial problems.

“We are lucky to have TELS so that everyone can study and have a better job.”

He said that his English marks used to be bad but he worked so hard to have good marks to make his parents proud because they sacrificed a lot for his siblings.

“I progressed so much that I got the fourth highest in English and second highest in Geography and History,” he said.

“I used to be below average stu­dent but encouragement from my parents helped me get through.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Feedback: swashna.chand@fijisun.com.fj

Miriama Lagi, a Year 7 student of Rishikul Pri­mary School in Nadera, shared just what Diwali meant for her.

“Culture should be celebrated and shared and it is festivals like Diwali that bring communities together as one,” she said.

The 12-year-old was dressed in a lovely sari.

“We should share our culture and knowledge with others.

“We should also understand and respect each other’s culture and celebrations like this help us to appreciate different cultures and their traditions.”

In the spirit of festivity and in­clusivity that Diwali is known for, Rishikul Primary School also invited teachers and students of the Fiji School for the Blind to participate in the celebrations.

Head teacher Kamal Lal said that the Diwali celebrations hold a lot of significance for the school and the presence of the students from the Fiji School for the Blind added to the joy of the occasion.

“This festival also teaches us to show love, kindness and compas­sion towards others and particu­larly to those members of the so­ciety who are disadvantaged,” he added.

Meanwhile, at Rishikul Nadera Primary School headteacher said that culture lived on across gen­erations through children and should be celebrated

Rajendra Prasad: “This is a mul­tiracial school and we had chil­dren of all ethnic backgrounds come to school dressed up in tra­ditional Indian wear to partici­pate in the celebrations.

“Festivals such as Diwali are a celebration of culture and through this we are able to im­part good morals and discipline, so it is important that we teach our children about it from a young age.”

Meresini Daguvoli, who has been teaching at Rishikul Nadera Primary for the past seven years, said she was well-accustomed with the culture since she helps organise the event every year.

“Diwali is also about forgive­ness and starting things afresh,” she said.

“We live in a multiracial coun­try so we should live together in harmony, put aside our differ­ences and accept each other,” she added.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Feedback: neelam.prasad@fijisun.com.fj

Students of Saint Augustine Public School in Labasa were amazed to see Year 5 students perform a drama that depicted the start of the Diwali cel­ebrations.

School headteacher Sese Matarugu, said the school recognises the impor­tance of celebrating all religious functions.

Special Administrator of Labasa and Savusa­vu Town Council Vijay Chand told 430 students that Diwali signified many things.

“Among which tolerance and unity are two very important aspects in our society and letting values enshrined this begin at school and it is an inte­gral part of nation build­ing,” Mr Chand said.

“This school was set up in 1937 and by establish­ment becomes one of the oldest educational centres in Labasa.

“It has produced some outstanding scholars who are holding executives po­sitions in private and pub­lic sector.”

“Having said these words I encourage the students to never forget the significance of Diwali and at the same time fulfil the purpose of attending school.”

Anischal Mudaliar, a Year 5 student who played the role of Lord Rama in the drama, said: “My classmates and I have learnt that Diwali sym­bolises the spiritual victo­ry of light over darkness, good over evil and knowl­edge over ignorance.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

shratikan@fijisun.com.fj

Diwali is the festival of lights and we must bring out the goodness of light from with­in ourselves.

This was the message from La­basa and Savusavu Town Councils special administrator Vijay Chand to more than 1000 vendors at the La­basa Municipal Market on Monday.

“Vendors spend most of their time trading in the market and it is very important that they work in unity and as a family,” Mr Chand said.

“When I say family, it also means we should not forget those who once worked under this roof and are in heavenly place now.

Labasa Market Vendors Associa­tion secretary Mareta Tagivakatini said: “We have been commemorat­ing Diwali celebration since 2014 and we have been also celebrating other religious function including other national events.

“This year we gave away two prizes, best dressed male and best dressed female.”

The winners were Sher Ali (Mun­na) of Tuatua, Labasa. Munna has been a market vendor for 54 years and Salote Vesoka, a market atten­dant for a year originally from Vu­nivutu.

The duo said they wanted it to be a special celebration by wearing the traditional Indian costume to share the joy with those who would celebrate Diwali and show their re­spect.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj

We can beat Scots at Murrayfield: Waisea Nayacalevu

It’s important for us to nail some results against tier one teams away from home: John McKee

I  see them as similar to Brazilian football. They have the best natural rugby players- Gregor Townsend

France-based Waisea Nayacalevu believes the John McKee coached Fiji Airways Flying Fijians have what it takes to defeat Scotland on Sunday.

And McKee believes his men scoring their first away win against the Scots at Murrayfield will be a good build up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Unavailable for selection  due to injury, the Deuba, Serua native and playing for Stade Francais in the Top 14 competition, arrived for a break yesterday.

“It’s going to be a good matchup and Scotland is a very good team.  But the Flying Fijians can beat them at Murrayfield,” he said.

“Scotland is a very structured team so we need to be patient and do what we do best. Just do their best and make our country proud.”

First Away Win Target

McKee is predicting a crackerjack on Sunday.

He told The Scotsman “We approach every Test match with the belief that we can win the game.

“We have had successes over Scotland at home but it’s important for us to nail some results against tier one teams away from home because [to achieve] success in the World Cup… we are going to have to beat tier one teams away from Fiji.

“Scotland will certainly try to play an up-tempo game against us. There are two teams with a positive attitude to play, it makes for an exciting game.”

Fiji the Brazil of rugby: Townsend

Blood, sweat, toil and tears was all Gregor Townsend was promising his players after the Scotland coach warned that things were not going to get any easier after his side finished second best in Cardiff losing 21-10  to Wales over the weekend.

Townsend told The Scotsman;

“I believe they are becoming a major threat.

“I really believe – and I hope it’s not in the next couple of weeks – that they can beat any team in the world on their day. “They could have a brilliant World Cup. I see them as similar to Brazilian football. They have the best natural rugby players. “We are used to thinking of Fiji’s strength lying in their back division but the likes of 130kgs winger Nemani Naholo won’t be involved because he is injured. Bordeaux’s Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova of Toulon are both class acts who will crush any would-be tackler who doesn’t get their technique
spot on but, perhaps for the first time in their history, Fiji can boast several world-class forwards.

Racing’s Leone Nakarawa is a known quantity from his time spent in Glasgow, and Edinburgh fans understand the danger posed by No.8 
Viliame Mata with the ball in hand.”

Townsend insisted there were others. “We know that Leone Nakawara was voted the best player in Europe last year. “Peceli Yato, they just call him Yato I think, is a backrow at Clermont and must be one of the best back-row forwards in the world. “And then the backline are all outstanding. I don’t think Niko [Matawalu] is in the squad and he scored three tries on Friday night, which shows you what kind of strength they have. “They’ve got really good coaches. It’s a huge challenge.”

Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  waisean@fijisun.com.fj

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s head coach Gareth Baber believes Kalione Nasoko has the quality of a leader.

This was after Baber chose the Waya Levu, Yasawa native to lead the team at Oceania 7s Championship which starts at the ANZ Stadium on Friday.

“The boys have been preparing from pre-season building up to this tournament,”Baber said.

“Kali is one of my trusted leaders in the group. “I want Kali to lead them this weekend. Seremaia Tuwai did a great job last season. This is the opportunity to bring in Kali and Paula Dranisinukula. Last season there were people who questioned Tuwai’s captaincy and I want him to one of the players in the team.”

Baber was impressed with the work rate of the new players.

“They have worked hard having quality fitness scores.

“ Beniamino Vota played well, strong around  the tackle. Batinisavu Uluiyata worked hard and this is an opportunity for them to put their hands up for the new World Sevens Series,” he said.

“This weekend we will take nothing for granted. Last year was a tough battle and   the boys playing in front of the home crowd will be a boost for them.”

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s squad: Kalione Nasoko ©, Josua Vakurinabili, Apenisa Cakaubalavu, Beniamino Vota

Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Waisea Nacuqu

Seremaia Tuwai, Napolioni Ratu, Ilikena Vuduolo, Filimoni Botitu, Alasio Naduva

Batinisavu Uluiyata, Vatemo Ravouvou.

Edited by Osea Bola

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