By WATI TALEBULA

An inter-island ferry trip to Kadavu was delayed on Monday morning after an accident hampered offloading efforts on the MV Lomaiviti Princess One.

A truck being offloaded from the vessel fell on the ramp of the vessel, apparently because of its weight.

The ferry was berthing in Suva from an overnight trip from Vanua Levu when the accident happened.

The accident has sparked a call for stringent checks on vehicle loading weight when loading or offloading.

Full details in Tuesday’s Fiji Sun newspaper. 

Passnegers and onlookers at Port Mua-i-Walu after the accident this morning. Photo: SUPPLIED

By LOSALINI RASOQOSOQO

Students and parents who still owe fees and levies to their respective schools have been requested to pay their dues to avoid any difficulty in accessing results from school.
The Minister for Education, Filipe Bole, has made this plea as the ministry announced that the results of the Fiji Seventh Form Examination and the Fiji School Leaving Certificate Examination would be released soon.
It has been revealed that the results for those in Form Seven are expected to be released by the end of the month.
The Ministry of Education says that it would be released on Tuesday, December 31.
Mr Bole said 6898 students from 158 centres sat the examination.
He has advised students and principals who wish to collect their results in person to visit the Ministry of Education Examination Office at 9.00am on or after December 31.
As for the Fiji School Leaving Certificate Examination, Mr Bole said the result should be known as early as January 14, 2014.
About 12,386 students sat for the examination in the 166 centres.
Students and principals are also advised that they can collect their respective results from the Examination office at Selbourne Street at 9am of the same morning.
Students are advised to accept the results positively and make meaningful decisions.

By AQELA SUSU

Blood donors will now have access to a new Blood Services Centre in Suva.
This follows the opening of the refurbished National Blood Services Centre at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital yesterday by Bank South Pacific Fiji country manager, Kevin McCarthy.
In conjunction with the Bank South Pacific, the Fiji National Blood Services is now able to offer more services after the bank’s help.
National Blood and Ambulance Services manager, Josefa Bolaqace, said the newly-refurbished centre provided a new scope of work for the blood services.
”The refurbishment is a partnership with Bank South Pacific, whereby they gave $10,000 for maintenance work at the centre,” he said.
“Before we can only do recruiting, but now the centre will be able do screening, production and distribution of blood to laboratories, blood banks and hospitals.”
Mr Bolaqace said their services would now have more impact on people who come to the centre.
“The centre should be the friendliest and hospitable place and now we have it with the newly-refurbished centre,” he said.
“It should also be able to give the highest satisfaction environment to our blood donors.”
Meanwhile, among the first donors to donate blood at the newly refurbished centre was Minister for Health, Dr Neil Sharma.

BSP’s country manager Kevin McCarthy (left), and the Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma open the refurblished Blood Services Centre at the CWM hospital in Suva yesterday. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI

The President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, paid a surprise visit to patients at the Wainibokasi and Nausori Hospital yesterday.
This is part of the Head of State’s Christmas and New Year visits to hospital, special homes and correctional facilities to wish each individual there good wishes during this festive season.
Patients were happy to see the President take time out from his busy schedule to visit and wish them all a speedy recovery.
Staff nurses at the Maternity Unit of the Nausori Hospital said it was a pleasant surprise for them and their patients.
Ratu Epeli will also visit the Naboro and Korovou Corrections facility, other special homes, St Giles Hospital the CWM Hospital, and Suva Private Hospital this week.

The President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, visits patients at Nausori Hospital. Photo: MINFO NEWS

PS PSC Parmesh Chand (left) with Vanuatu Education Minister Hon. Bob Loughman

By LOSALINI RASOQOSOQO

The Vanuatu Government maintains it still needs the experience of Fijian teachers.
And it has brushed aside claims by the teachers’ union in Vanuatu that volunteer teachers from Fiji were not welcome.
Vanuatu’s Minister for Education Bob Loughman, who is in Fiji, said Vanuatu was standing by its deal in recruiting retired teachers from Fiji, as signed in a memorandum of agreement with the Fijian Government.
“The deal will be honoured. Vanuatu needs Fijian teachers as there is a need to fill the gap in the senior cycle of education,” Mr Loughman said.
He said the row in Vanuatu between the teachers’ union was an internal matter and it would be addressed soon.
“It is not an open issue and it will be addressed by the Government,” Mr Loughman said.
He told the Fiji Sun that the Government was going to increase the number of teachers from Fiji in the next three years.
He paid a courtesy call at the Public Service Commission’s headquarters yesterday accompanied by Vanuatu’s Acting High Commissioner to Fiji, Richard Olul.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Government will be responsible for the airfares of the retired schoolteachers and their allowances will be jointly paid by both governments.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, signed the agreement on December 12, 2013 in Vila.
Vanuatu became the first country in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to sign the volunteer service agreement which will see the engagement of experienced teachers from Fiji to teach in Vanuatu.
The Fiji Volunteer Scheme is becoming increasingly popular both locally and in the neighbouring Pacific island countries.
It is helping to build capacity both in the industry sector and in the public service sector in the hosting organisations/ countries. It simultaneously provides Fiji an opportunity to respond and assist those seeking assistance given our human resource capacity and experiences.
The Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has granted a two and half fold increase in the 2014 Budget for the scheme. This is to allow it to achieve maximum impact and results for all stakeholders.

BY TALEBULA KATE

The case of former senior technical assistant in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Filimoni Cakobau, who is charged with seven counts of abuse of office -related charges, has had his case adjourned to January, 2014.
Barbara Malimali, who represented Cakobau in court yesterday, had filed a submission for a no case to answer.
The matter was called before Magistrate Sufia Hamza.
Cakobau, 31, had pleaded guilty to two counts of accepting an advantage, three counts of abuse of office, a count of falsification of documents and a count of conspiracy to defeat justice and interfering with prosecution witnesses.
The alleged offences took place between June and December of 2012.
The case has been adjourned to January 20, next year for prosecution to file their submissions in reply.

BY TALEBULA KATE

Seven former employees of the Public Works Department and a company director pleaded not guilty to fraud-related charges at the Suva Magistrates Court.
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) is charging them with causing a loss and obtaining financial advantage.
Taniela Railala, Tavenisa Tavaga, Ana Laqere, Amelia Vunisa, Losalini Toroca, Laisa Halafi, Vaciseva Laqai and Shelveen Kumar appeared before Magistrate Chaitanya Lakshman.
All of the accused pleaded not guilty to all six counts except for the 9th accused, Sunil Devendra Raj, who was not present in court.
Railala, Tavaga, Laqere, Vunisa, Toroca, and Halafi are charged with causing a loss while Kumar, Raj and Halafi are charged with one count of obtaining financial advantage each.
The seven former PWD workers were alleged to have dishonestly caused a loss to the PWD by falsely facilitating the process of payments to Phoenix Hardware Engineering and General Supplies Limited knowing that the loss will occur or a substantial risk of loss will occur. Kumar and Raj are alleged to have caused payments to be made to Phoenix Hardware Engineering and General Supplies Limited and as a result of that conduct obtained a financial advantage amounting to more than $276,000.
Halafi on the other hand is alleged to have engaged in a conduct namely falsely facilitating the process of payments to Phoenix Hardware Engineering and General Supplies Limited and as a result obtained a financial advantage amounting to $46,500.  The alleged corrupt dealings are said to have occurred between June and August of 2010.
The case has been adjourned to January next year for mention.

By AQELA SUSU

While many would be found in the comfort of their homes with Christmas just a day away, wheelbarrow boys are sweating it out to give their families the best Christmas treat.
At 52, Jone Vakasa, the president of the Wheelbarrow Boys Association, also plies the busy streets of Suva with a wheelbarrow to earn money.
He started off on this job six years ago after an injury while working as a carpenter at the President’s residence.
With only a year of secondary education (Form Three) Mr Vakasa has never let that deter him from providing the best for his family.
Whatever small earnings he makes per day he is always grateful that he has something to take back to his family.
“I have been a wheelbarrow boy for over six years now and it has been very challenging. I also face difficulties, being the president of the association and looking after the 90 wheelbarrow boys with licences,” Mr Vakasa said.
Meanwhile, Turuva Qi, 50 of Vaturua Nakelo, Tailevu, said the job was a great way of earning money for his family, especially this Christmas season.

Back from left: Wheelbarrow boys: Jesoni Delailomaloma, Waqabaca Rika, Lino Tereketi. Front: Malakai Waqavonovono, Jone Vakasa and Niko Rakavono take a break at the Suva Municipal market yesterday. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI

By SHEIK DEAN

Lorraine Lui had to break open the window upstairs to save her children from a fire before she made her way out of the pub.
Lui’s sister-in-law and her baby were not so lucky.
Pub manager/shareholder, Naomi Kolinisau, 41, and her eight-year-old daughter are admitted at the Sigatoka Hospital, however the daughter was later transferred to the Lautoka Hospital.
“When we woke up, the stairway was on fire and the only way out was the window,’’ Ms Lui told the Fiji Sun.
A tourist hang-out, Natavora Waters Pub, in Korolevu, Coral Coast, was destroyed in an early morning blaze yesterday.
The pub was the first stage of the Natavora Waters Villa and has only three accommodation units and a restaurant situated on the property.
“We came from Labasa to spend our Christmas with my sister-in-law but fate has taken our Christmas enjoyment away. It was a lucky escape for us.
“We are praying to God to help my sister-in-law and her daughter to recover,’’ Ms Lui said.
The fire is believed to have started from one of the bedrooms at the pub in the early hours of Monday morning at around 8am.
Mrs Kolinisau’s mother, Halala Vicka, said she was having morning prayers when she heard Naomi and her husband having a dispute.
“We ran outside as fast as we could and were unsuccessful in saving any of our belongings. Now my daughter and my granddaughter are in the hospital fighting for their lives,’’ Ms Vicka said.
The mother tearfully described seeing her daughter on a bed with fire all around and how they managed to escape.
The pub and restaurant was opened by Attorney-General and Minister for Tourism, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in October 2010.

Firefighters at the Natavora Waters Pub in Korolevu, Coral Coast, yesterday. Photo: SHEIK DEANEmotional mother Halala Vicka (front) is comforted by her daughter-in-law Lorraine Lui (back). Photo: SHEIK DEAN

By ANA SOVARAKI

Forbes Magazine has listed the Lau group of islands as one of the top 12 World’s Most Beautiful Places.
The listing has been described by the president of the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association, Dixon Seeto, as good recognition for Fiji.
According to the Forbes website, a group of pro-globetrotters came up with a collection of oft-surprising picks in the attempt to narrow down the most beautiful spots on the planet.
Colombia Broadcasting System News Travel Editor, Peter Greenberg, who was among the four experts Forbes queried for input, chose the Lau Archipelago for its “mind-blowing array of marine life and a gentle, carefree vibe.”
Mr Seeto said the listing drew favourable awareness for Fiji as an attractive and pristine part of the world.
“This, in promotional dollar terms, is worth millions of dollars,” he said.
The Lau Group outshone other famous places like the capital city of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and Mount Everest of Nepal.

Bay of Islands in Vanuabalavu Island in the Lau Group. Photo: Courtesy of the official website of TOURISM FIJI

By MAIKA BOLATIKI

It will be Christmas with a difference for Fijian soldiers, doctors and nurses serving with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights.
For those only used to Fiji’s warm weather it is the first time they are experiencing the festive season surrounded by snow and cold snaps.
“It’s cold but beautiful. The snow is falling and it looks like it will be a white Christmas,” said a Fijian soldier.
Reports from Golan said Mount Hermon was covered with 50cm to 1 metre of snow. That means the Fijian camps are also covered with snow. They are between 20km to 30km below the mountain.
Winter arrived late to the Golan but locals are predicting it will be one of the coldest at its height  next month when temperatures  can plunge to zero. Temperatures have fallen below 10.
News agency AAP reported that Israel was hit by considerable rainfall early last Friday morning, with snow fall reported in Mount Hermon as well as in all of the Golan Heights.
Weather forecasting firm Meteo Tech says Tel Aviv experienced 22mm of rain in just over an hour, with Safed seeing 40mm and the Golan Heights reporting 36mm of rain.
From the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa,  Army Radio said 87mm of rain were registered.  It said it was  another chilly, but beautiful, outcome of the stormy night was snow, falling fast and thick all over the Golan Heights and Mt Hermon, where Army Radio said over a metre of snow was reported.
The stormy weather isn’t expected to leave Israel, with forecasters expecting a wet and cold weekend, as storms drift toward the country’s centre and south.

A Fijian soldier braving the cold and snow. in the Golan Heights. Photo: FACEBOOK/MAIKALI RASUWAKIFijian peacekeeping soldiers in the Golan Heights brave the cold and snow. Photo: FACEBOOK/MAIKALI RASUWAKI

By WATI TALEBULA

The heat of the day on the day before Christmas did not deter a young boy from selling balloons to the passers-by.
At 17, Mohammad Fazir is already doing what he can to earn money and support his family. He is hoping to earn a few extra dollars to help his parents during the festive season and also with school expenses next year.
“I earn $10 a day selling balloons to help my mother buy things for my siblings and me next year. I try my best to sell all the balloons so that I can get my wages and go home,” Mohammad said.
He acknowledged his stepfather for supporting him, especially after his father left his mother while she was still pregnant with him. The struggles his family had faced inspired him to work towards his dream of becoming an accountant.
“My stepfather has been helping me and I am really grateful for that as I will be able to achieve my dreams of becoming an accountant.
I come from a struggling family and that has really taught me a lot on how valuable money is and that is why I have chosen this career.
Mohammad advised people not to get carried away with holiday spending and keep the new school year in mind.

Balloons anyone…Mohammad Fazir, 17, selling balloons at the Suva bus stand yesterday. Photo: RONALD KUMAR.

Victims still on recovery mode

By RAEVENN BREEN

Three young tots who were  victims of an alleged stabbing incident are still in a critical condition at the Lautoka Hospital.
The three, a pair of twins aged five and a child aged three, were allegedly attacked by murder accused, Priya Darshani, who is currently being held at Suva Women’s Corrections Centre.
One of the twins has managed to open her eyes and show signs of stability, according to Police spokesperson, Naina Raiyawa.
“Officials at the hospital have confirmed that one of the twins who were victims to the alleged stabbing is nearing stability,” she said.
“However, having said that, the other two victims are in critical condition and the other twin sustained slash wounds to her neck and currently uses a tube to breathe.”
Darshani faced the Magistrates Court of Lautoka last Saturday during a special hearing charged with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
Magistrate Peni Dalituicama, said that she was charged with indictable and serious offences which were out of the jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court.
She will be facing the High Court on the January 24, 2014.

By FARISHA AHMED

While families are shopping food, gifts and other items for this festive season, some families are also taking time out to do back-to-school shopping.
Although, it is a long way before school reopens next year, Akata Dumaru from Suvavou, Lami, decided to shop for her children’s school uniforms.
“During back-to-school, it usually gets overcrowded and sometimes the prices are not as expected,” Mrs Dumaru said.
The mother-of-six was out with her children to avoid the last minute rush.
“It is better to shop for school items now with sales and discount prices,” she said.
“Despite a massive sale during back-to- school time, sometimes the prices of uniforms, stationery and sandals are expensive than what it is now.
“I have decided to start buying whatever I could whenever I come to town since I have six children and all of them are at school.”
She said the family already did their Christmas shopping last week and hence decided to shop for school with the remaining money that her husband gave her.
Meanwhile, as school is set to re-open next month, students who sat the Fiji Seventh Form Examination can expect their results on December 31, 2013.
The Education Ministry says students and principals can collect their results in person from the Examination Office on Selbourne Street, Suva at 9:00am on or after December 31.
The results for the Fiji School Leaving Certificate Examination should be known as early as January 14.

Joana Tagilolo (right), of M. Bhagwan Store assists Jone Boa with a new school uniform yesterday. Photo: RONALD KUMAR

BY WATI TALEBULA

Hundreds of people from the highlands of Viti Levu flocked to the capital city yesterday to do their final Christmas shopping.
Among the crowd was Elena Dolo, who came all the way from Nakavika village, in Namosi.
“I came this morning to do my shopping and I spent $300 for Christmas and groceries are expensive,” she said.
She said even though supermarkets advertise lower prices of their items, actually it did not decrease.
“They decrease the prices of items and increase other items and it is like no sale at all.”
Luisa Sigarara of Mataso, Ra, said this year people were celebrating Christmas in a big way.
“This year is the first time I see people really celebrating Christmas because today Suva is so full.”
She said what mattered was people coming together to celebrate Christmas.
“Christmas is about meeting with family and it is also about forgiving others for all the wrongs they have done to you,” she said.
The two wished everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Elena Dolo of Namosi with her Christmas shopping in Suva waiting to return to her village for a special family Christmas celebration. Photo: RONALD KUMAR

By JYOTI PRATIBHA, West Editor

HERE COMES
WAILOALOA

A lot seems to be having at Wailoaloa Beach, on Nadi Bay. Once the domain of locals, it is increasingly attracting tourism development..
The growing Fantasy Island integrated resort complex is the biggest on the beach. More commercial property is being developed. Rumour has it that a substantial resort is now going to be constructed down Wailoaloa way.

SUPERMARKET
SURPRISING

New player in the highly competitive world of supermarkets has entered Nadi and if word on the street is to be believed, these guys are giving the old hands a run for their money.
ACC Quantum Supermarket is attracting numbers with some of their out-of-the-box thinking.

HEALTH
WATCH

The Health Department officials need to make rounds to some eateries in the Western Division. The name of one raising some eyebrows will surprise.

By ROSI DOVIVERATA

University of Fiji’s new law professor and former Solomon Islands Attorney-General, Julian Moti QC, is to receive compensation from the Solomons Government for his unlawful deportation from the country.
This deportation was orchestrated by the Australian Government but ruled unlawful by Australia’s highest court. Australian authorities were threatened by Professor Moti’s role in the Solomon Islands and his legal scrutiny of the Australian-run Regional Assistance Mission there.
Solomon Island Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo has told Parliament in Honiara the Government will settle the outstanding legal matter next year.
The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) reported the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday.
Prime Minister Lilo said that the deportation of Mr Moti from the country has been ruled by the Australian High Court as unlawful.
Mr Lilo said the Government anticipates the compensation be made next year, the SIBC report said.
Professor Moti is an international and constitutional law expert. He was admitted to the bar as a legal practitioner in Fiji in June this year. The Fijian-born lawyer’s  admission was moved before the Chief Justice of Fiji by former president of the Fiji Law Society, Devanesh Sharma.
Professor Moti has practiced and taught law for more than two decades in Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and India.
He established the first regional law firm in Melanesia and has questioned Australia’s role in some areas of the Pacific Islands..
During his tenure as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Bond University in Queensland, he taught many Fijian students who are now leading lawyers and top public servants.

A-G says more Fijians registered to vote now than at any time in Fiji’s history

By ROSI DOVIVERATA

The Attorney-General and Minister Responsible for Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has criticised what he describes as an attempt to turn the voter registration process into a political issue.
And he blames some politicians, saying they are undermining the process “by using false and outdated numbers to get attention for themselves”.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was referring in particular to a statement released by the Fiji Labour Party on Monday.
Mr Sayed-Kaiyum pointed out that contrary to Labour’s claims more Fijians were registered to vote now than at any time in Fiji’s history.
He said this was made possible by the efforts of the Elections Office and the use of the new electronic voter registration system.
“As of the end of November, more than 540,000 Fijians have registered to vote in next year’s election,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“This registration process is more successful, transparent and precise than any before. It is designed to avoid the anomalies and fraud that took place in past elections.

National Issue
“It is a national issue of interest to all Fijians, regardless of individual political preferences.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said that any calculation of the exact number of Fijians who have not yet registered to vote is inaccurate – at best.
“The voter registration effort that is being conducted throughout Fiji and including the tens of thousands of Fijians living overseas is an ongoing outreach programme that has received positive feedback from Fijians, our development partners and international commentators,” he said.
“The results so far, the National Register of Voters – is available to everyone. Fijians can verify their information online as well.
“Next year, the Elections Office plans another phase of voter registration to sign up all eligible Fijians who want to vote, including those who have only recently turned 18.”

Labour claims
Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry had claimed that 20 per cent of eligible voters have not yet registered.
The Fiji Labour Party statement said: “According to official figures the eligible voter population at 30th June 2013 stood at 628,000 – of which 505,600 have been registered, leaving 122,400 (20 per cent) yet to be registered.
“The highest number of unregistered voters are from the provinces of Ba, Naitasiri, Macuata and Nadroga/Navosa.
“In Ba, 35,800 voters have not been registered – 20 per cent of the voting population; in Naitasiri – 33,058 (27 per cent) are left to register; in Macuata about 12,000 (22 per cent) and in Nadroga/Navosa 9148 which is 21 per cent of the eligible voters.
“On the island of Rotuma 26 per cent of voters, 359 of a total of 1461 voters, are yet to be registered.”
When contacted to verify how the figures were obtained, a spokesperson for the party said it was from the Government.

Voters wait to be served at the MHCC voter registration booth. Voters also have the opportunity to check their names and details in the National Register of Voters. Photo: JUSTINE MANNAN

By ANA SOVARAKI

The President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, has asked Fijians to reflect and restore God’s image in their lives this Christmas.
In his Christmas message Reverend Waqairatu said this Christmas sets an imperative mission tone to our beloved Fiji, its land and the people, the Church and the Government.
“That every individual is called to restore God’s image in his or her life, to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” he said.
He said it was critical to examine our lives and ask whose image it was that lived in us. An image that was influential in our motives, attitudes, behaviour, discipline, decision-making, values and destiny.
“To restore God’s image in us, is to promote the resurgence of love, holiness, unity, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace in our society.
“These are the cornerstones of strong and healthy nation building Fiji badly needs today in order to experience life in its fullness.”
He reminded everyone that as we celebrated Christmas; “Let us be reminded once again that Jesus’ birth could not be separated from the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden, the cross, resurrection, kingdom building and life eternal.
“Citizens of Fiji, the stories of Jesus’ birth cannot be treated in isolation from the entire history of God’s faithful commitment to save the world.
We failed and lost God’s image in our lives but God managed to save us through his righteousness,” Reverend Waqairatu said.

Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu

By MAIKA BOLATKI

Fifteen Fijians with the United Nations in South Sudan are awaiting the United Nation’s evacuation orders.
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Land Force Commander  Colonel  Mosese Tikoitoga said the UN had started evacuation of its personnel which included the six RFMF men.
“The UN is in control and if it issues an evacuation order, we will abide by it,” Colonel Tikoitoga said.
For the Fiji Corrections Service (FSC), Commissioner Lieutenant-Colonel Ifereimi Vasu said they had an officer, Ana Talawadua in South Sudan.
He confirmed she was in good health and in contact with the other Fijians within the UN.
Eight officers from the Fiji Police Force are currently in Sudan.
Police chief operations officer Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rusiate Tudravu has also been in contact with his officers.
ACP Tudravu said none of the Fijians were injured.
A report from South Sudan said hundreds of people had been killed in a week of fighting, which had spread from Juba to oil fields further North.
South Sudan president, Salva Kiir blamed soldiers loyal to his former vice-president, Riek Machar, for starting the violence.
The United Nations (UN) said on Friday that 35,000 people were seeking refuge at its bases in three locations across the country, including 20,000 at two bases in the capital. Several hundred people were also seeking shelter in Bentiu.

RFMF Land Force Commander Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga