News

Hope to #saveshortwave

Hopes to resurrect the Australia Broadcasting Corporation’s shortwave radio service have not died as an online petition slowly gains support. The petition has more than 1000 signatures, and Pacific Islanders should take the time to lend their support for the critical service, says Pacific Freedom Forum editor Jason Brown. The forum, a regional NGO that advocates for media freedom, created the petition in an effort to persuade the ABC to maintain its shortwave service to the region. ABC’s decision to replace the short wave frequency with online streaming and FM radio leaves millions across the Pacific region including the Cook…

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Digicel steps in to boost Coca-Cola Games meet

  <<By Sports Editor, Nicolette Chambers>> MOBILE telecommunications giant Digicel has partnered with Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji to deliver the best secondary schools athletics meet yet, it was announced this morning. Digicel Fiji’s chief executive officer Darren McLean said the historic…

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One more seat for 50-member Fiji parliament

By Heather Traill There will now be 51 parliamentary seats to be contested at next year's general election, the Fiji Electoral Commission  announced this afternoon. The additional seat is in response to the significant increase in voter numbers, said commission chairperson Suresh Chandra at a press conference at the Fijian Elections Office. Section 54 of the 2013 Constitution allows the commission to alter the number of parliamentary seats to cater for such an increase. "The number of registered voters has increased to 603,546 as at 01 march 2017, so we would need one more seat to maintain that ratio in the next…

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Registration to open for Fijian voters overseas

By Mereoni Mili ELIGIBLE Fijian voters in other Pacific Island nations will be able to register to vote  following the deployment of registration teams this month. This was announced by the newly-installed Electoral Commission chair, Suresh Chandra, today. “I strongly urge all eligible Fijians to come forward and take advantage of the voter services that will be available through these teams,” he said in a press statement. Chandra said five registration teams will be deployed by the Fiji Elections Office and will be expected to complete registrations in 11 Pacific Island countries within a month. This registration drive will start on…

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Ice Use on the Rise

Sonal Singh THE use of the highly-addictive drug crystal methamphetamine appears to be on the rise in Fiji, according to reliable sources. Commonly known as ice, its usage has also been detected among tertiary and high school students. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the force was aware of the growing problem. She could not release figures requested by Wansolwara, but recent arrests for methamphetamine possession and other hard drugs is a testament to the problem. Fiji has always been sheltered from hard drugs but this may no longer be the case.   From 2015 to 2016, the following cases were detected: July, 2015, two men appeared in…

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Debate Around Arming Solomons Police

Lowen Sei The Solomons polics force is facing one of its biggest test of legitimacy since the withdrawal of the Australian led “Regional Assistance mission to Solomon islands” (RAMSI) peace keeping force. As part of RAMSI’s mission to reduce ethnic violence in the Solomons guns were confiscated and destroyed across the country. However with new reported incidents of gun violence the Solomons’ government has taken the decision to rearm the Police force. This has caused mixed reactions from the public, and has generated debate whether or not this was the right decision. On June this year, the Prime Minister, Hon.Manaseh…

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Sexual Harassment Taxi

Sexual Harassment inside taxis remains a common complaint among USP female students. Wansol TV spoke to FTU General Secretary Rishi Ram and his "advice" for women was symptomatic of a victim-blaming mentality that remains prevalent in Fijian society. Reporters Chrisnrita Aumanu & Ruci Vakamino 445

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