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My maiden journey on the Uto ni Yalo
I remember getting an adrenaline rush every time I went to sea as a kid. I think it stems from the excitement of the boat trips to Vanua Levu, made many times over the school...
Captain Erskine cruise through the Fiji Islands
Part 2 During Havannah’s skipper, Captain John Elphinstone Erskine’s cruise around the Fiji Islands in the 1800s, he had the opportunity to witness the local customs and traditions including a visit to Ratu Seru Cakobau. An account of this cruise was published by Erskine in 1853 in a journal titled Journal of a Cruise Among...
The Queen of Rock | Where Tina Turner spent her peaceful final years with Erwin Bach
Tina Turner died Wednesday at a home that had long been a refuge for the legendary singer. The Queen of Rock, who died at age 83 on May 24 after a long illness, her publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed in a statement, had left behind the spotlight — and the US — for a life at...
Marriage breakups
Bula Fiji! Thank you for taking time out to read Bula Vakasaama, a column dedicated to enlightening readers about practical strategies for optimal mental health and mind wellness. Today’s topic is how to reclaim your life through self-care when going through a break-up, separation, or divorce. Relationships begin, they evolve, and sometimes they dissolve. We...
Bau Island’s historic Vatanitawake
One of the historical physical structures that remains on Bau Island today used to be the tallest in the village skyline of olden day Fiji. It is called Vatanitawake. According to the Fiji Museum, the original Vatanitawake on the island was most probably a bure kalou or spirit house, used by Bauan chiefs, including Ratu...
The Samoan tatau
The traditional Samoan tattoo goes by many names, it’s called the tatau, malofie and known colloquially as the pe’a, while the traditional female tattoo is known as the malu. It holds deep cultural and historical significance in the Samoan culture. It is a traditional form of body art that has been practiced for centuries and...
The Life and legacy of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna
I must thank the Coalition government of Mr Sitiveni Rabuka for reviving the Ratu Sukuna Day so that we can celebrate the life and achievements of Fiji’s greatest leader and statesman. Because Ratu Sukuna died in 1958, 65 years ago, coupled with the fact that the previous Bainimarama government removed the commemoration of Ratu Sukuna...
Training crucial for fishing crew members
Fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world and it is important that people are well trained before joining a fishing vessel crew. Fiji Maritime Academy (FMA) lecturer Captain Charles Pickering shared this while highlighting some of the challenges in the fishing industry during the FMA deckhand fishing graduation in Suva on...
Love always finds a way
If it’s meant to be, love will always find its way back. That is how Siwanjali Prasad and Shivishneel Narayan found their way back to each other and fell in love. Siwanjali and Shivishneel went to the same high school. In actual fact, they hardly talked to each other civically and often ended up fighting...
Look Back | A little bit of Fiji in Essex
The Fiji Times on June 4, 1968 wrote an article on an exhibition of Fijian village life, crafts, foods and other Fiji island attractions in Essex, England. The article stated this was staged by Mr and Mrs Stuart Boardman at a church hall and all proceeds of about £100 were sent to the Pacific Theological...
The down side of hanging out
Regular hangouts can take the form of shop frontages, bus shelters, ruined buildings, sidewalks, dark corners, public toilets, sports grounds, bean carts, city kiosks and pavements. Nowadays, these “go to places” where young people like to “hang out” can easily become dens of troublemakers, petty thieves and potential hardcore criminals. There’s no problem with people...
Plea for improvement of marketing opportunities for fishermen and farmers
Government should improve marketing opportunities for fishermen and farmers living along the coastal villages of Macuata. Villagers made this plea to Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Professor Biman Prasad during the budget consultation at Korotubu Village. Many concerns raised surrounded this issue of lack of marketing opportunities they have faced iver the past years....
Resort Cruise ‘new era of fashion’
The category was Resort Cruise, the theme was a new era of fashion. The lights flickered to life, the speakers roared, and the models came strutting down the runway to open Fiji Fashion Week 2023, on Friday, June 2, with the Resort Cruise show. Resort and cruise wear is a sect of fashion design specific...
Aspen maintains services are free
Aspen Medical has maintained that services offered at the Lautoka and Ba public hospitals are free to all Fijian citizens. Responding to comments made by general practitioner Dr Mukesh Bhagat’s claims that a patient was charged more than $46,000 at Lautoka Hospital, the company explained that the patient was not a Fijian citizen. Aspen Medical’s...
‘Seek help for abuse’
A Vanua Levu woman who lost her twin sister after she was allegedly assaulted by her husband is pleading with women to seek help if they are being abused and battered. Anisi Dalitabua said she was still unable to come to terms with the loss of her twin sister Anaseini Vereivalu who was allegedly assaulted...
Suppressed rainfall poses risk to crops
Suppressed rainfall as a result of an El Niño event later this year can affect a wide range of crops and water systems across the country. The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) said Fiji would receive more than 80 per cent of its annual rainfall during the wet season, from November to April. “However, due to...
Landslide shocks residents
The recent torrential downpour caused a major landslide yesterday on Lady Narain Drive, Wairua Rd in Tamavua. Resident Chantelle Choo said she was at home with her family and heard a loud noise outside. “At 2pm we all came outside and saw massive rocks falling to the roadside,” she said. “We are all safe and...
Designer goes for secondhand
You are a fool if you do fashion and don’t buy clothes in secondhand clothes shops. This was what renowned Australian fashion designer Nicholas Huxley said about pretentious fashionistas who look down on buying secondhand clothes. Mr Huxley, who ran Australia’s top fashion design school – the Fashion Design Studio – was one of a...
Generating revenue | Minister urges councils to step up, says they have become lazy
Municipal councils have become lazy in generating revenue, says Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad. While speaking at a national budget consultation in Nadi, Prof Prasad said councils would soon be given back their local government status to run their own cities and towns. “One of the things that has happened is everything has been...
Bid to protect the ocean | KOICA Fiji organises cleanup campaign
In a bid to protect the ocean, KOICA Fiji organised a cleanup campaign yesterday at the foreshore along the sea wall in Suva. Country director Kapchae Ra said the organisation was focusing on environmental issues in Fiji. “We have technical cooperations like training programs,” Mr Ra said. “And usually we are focusing on environmental issues...
PM makes first official visit to Samoa
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made his first official visit to Samoa this week to be part of the country’s 61st independence anniversary celebrations in Apia, Samoa. Speaking at a bilateral meeting with Samoan PM Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, he said it was an opportune time to reflect on their journey as an independent, sovereign country and...
Heart of the matter
It is impossible to properly tackle climate crisis without recognising the need for climate justice at the very heart of everything we do, says Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh. He expressed the sentiment while officiating at the official opening of the Educators for Climate Justice and Just Transition Conference in Lautoka last week. Mr Singh...
Panels for three green markets
Three rain harvesting and solar panel market projects in the Levuka, Savusavu and Nakasi markets are expected to be completed by the end of this year. This was recently confirmed by Ministry of Local Government senior administration officer Usaia Korodrau while delivering the ministry’s 2018-2019 annual report before the Standing Committee on Social Affairs. He...
Stakeholders raise issue on ‘inferior’ materials
Subpar hardware and building materials entering the country remains one of the biggest challenges for the construction industry. During a recent consultation on updates to Fiji’s National Building Code in Suva, stakeholders raised the issue of “inferior” materials that often found its way into the market. According to Satish Narayan, a lecturer in Occupational Health...
What’s happening today!
Bula vinaka everyone. Here is another edition of some basic information you may need to know for today. First, here is your weather forecast for today: Weather A trough of low pressure with clouds and showers affects the group till later today. Meanwhile, the moist east to southeasterly winds prevail over the country. Forecast to...
3rd June
Outstanding Fijian
The famous adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ aptly describes the journey of Leith Tabualase Wilson – a young Fijian who scooped the most outstanding soldier award after completing his three months recruitment with the Australian Defence Force. The former Marist Brothers High School student was awarded the Baird, VC, MG award...
183 years on | CWMH consultant surgeon resigns
The Fiji Times reported on the front page of its May 25, 1978 issue, the resignation of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital’s highly qualified consultant surgeon, Deo Dutt Sharma. In a letter of resignation to the Public Service Commission, he said since joining the hospital staff in 1971, he noticed things which necessarily arose out...
Board lists priorities
THE Public Rental Board (PRB) is driving up initiatives to tackle its lengthening waiting list of low-income individuals hoping for the board’s assistance in securing housing. PRB board chair Isikeli Navuda said that while the waiting list was a priority concern for the board, the real numbers may be found to be lower upon assessing...
Launch of Vibe Collection | Unveiling the exclusive RAAVI
Invited dignitaries, glitterati and the elite corporate exuded the French Riviera vibe against the enchanting backdrop of Novotel Suva Lami Bay. Twilight silhouettes, stunning colour palettes and a sterling runway performance by the Mata Dance Fiji set the perfect scene for the launch of RAAVI: Where lifestyle meets luxury with a socio eco-conscious vision. “RAAVI”...
153 years on | Bulk loading at Malau port
T HE Fiji Times of May 9, 1978 reported on the progress of a multimillion dollar bulk sugar loading project at Malau, 8 miles from Labasa Mill. The project, which was close to completion, was to cater for the year’s cane crushing season. For almost 90 years, sugar from Labasa used to be hauled to...
