News

Journalism students head to Sols for environmental reporting project

From left: Journalism students Epeli Lalagavesi, Rosalie Nongebatu, Geraldine Panapasa (USP Journalism staff), Romeka Kumari and Ben Bilua. Picture: ELIKI DRUGUNAVLEVU/WANSOLWARA By ROSALIE NONGEBATU Three journalism students from The University of the South Pacific in Suva have been selected to participate in a week-long environmental reporting project in the Solomon Islands this week. After a stringent selection process, students Rosalie Nongebatu, Romeka Kumari and Ben Bilua were chosen to be part of the project titled, “Adapting to and mitigating effects of climate change and island sea level rise”, funded by the Internews/Earth Journalism Network (EJN) Asia-Pacific 2019 media grant. The…

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USP staff on prestigious SUSI fellowship

USP Journalism Program coordinator Dr Shailendra Singh, left, US Embassy public affairs officer Rebecca Archer-Knepper and USP counsellor Saimone Tuni. Picture: SUPPLIED/US Embassy Suva By WANSOLWARA STAFF Two USP staff are among a group of international recipients of the prestigious Study of the U.S Institute for Scholars (SUSI) fellowship this year. USP Journalism Program coordinator Dr Shailendra Singh and USP counsellor Saimone Tuni will participate in separate six-week fellowships in the United States, from June to July 2019. The SUSI program engages scholars and practitioners in rigorous academic coursework and panel discussions, interact and establish networks of American scholars, meet…

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USP Council to investigate claims of abuse of office

The USP Council during its 88th Council meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu this week. Picture: USP/SUPPLIED By WANSOLWARA STAFF A separate independent investigation will be conducted into allegations of abuse of office at The University of the South Pacific after the issue was discussed by the institution’s highest decision-making body at its 88th meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu today. In a statement, the USP Council said the recent allegations levelled against some senior management and former vice-chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra had been the subject of media and public speculation. “The Council expressed support for the investigation currently being undertaken by…

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USP staff call for independent inquiry into abuse of office claims

Staff and students of USP gather outside the Administration Block at Laucala campus for a talanoa session on good governance including recent allegations of mismanagement and abuse of office by senior management. Picture: WANSOLWARA STAFF By WANSOLWARA STAFF USP staff and students gathered at Laucala campus in Suva today to call for an independent inquiry into allegations of abuse of office against the former vice-chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra. The concerns from staff and students stemmed from alleged policy breaches of past financial decisions, such as speedy recruitment, appointments, promotions and questionable allowances for extra responsibility as well as breaches of the staff review procedures. The…

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Confucius Institute hosts successful Chinese Bridge competition

Participants of the 18th Chinese Bridge Competition hosted by USP's Confucius Institute at Laucala campus. Picture: SUPPLIED/JIANING CUI By KELERA DITAIKI TEN students from The University of the South Pacific stepped up their game at the 18th Chinese Bridge Competition on Laucala campus recently, showcasing an array of Chinese performances. Hosted by USP’s Confucius Institute, the local competition aimed to arouse the enthusiasm of students in different countries in learning Chinese as well strengthening the world’s understanding of the Chinese language and culture. Law students Natasha Chan and Tania Wickham placed first and second respectively during the competition. Speaking to…

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Climate expert briefs EJN project reporting team to Sols

Dr Morgan Wairiu (middle) with USP Journalism students in the Wansolwara newsroom at Laucala campus. Picture: JUNIOR OIOFA By DIPESH KUMAR An increase in global temperatures can prove fatal for the Pacific ecosystem, causing permanent detrimental damage if urgent action is ignored over the next 12 years. These were the words of Dr Morgan Wairiu, the deputy director of USP’s Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, while addressing journalism students on how to improve climate change reporting at Laucala campus recently. The discussion forum with Dr Wairiu was part of USP Journalism’s preparation for its environmental reporting project in…

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Student journos call for quality, factual reporting

Journalism students from left, Kirisitiana Uluwai, Apenisa Vatuniveivuke, Eparama Warua and Rosalie Nongebatu, engage with the audience during World Press Freedom Day celebrations at The University of the South Pacific's Laucala campus yesterday. Picture: HARRISON SELMEN/WANSOLWARA By WANSOLWARA STAFF Links between quality information, elections and democracy topped discussions among panelists at this year’s World Press Freedom Day celebration hosted by The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme at Laucala campus in Suva. Reflecting on the universal theme, “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation, final-year journalism student Kirisitiana Uluwai said the existence of the media as…

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Mangrove planting exercise boosts coastal rehab project

Volunteers including Fiji U12 and U15 baseball teams, WOWS Kids Fiji and representatives from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature participated in the mangrove planting and beach clean-up project organised by youth environmentalist, AnnMary Raduva last Saturday. Picture: HARRISON SELMEN/WANSOLWARA By HARRISON SELMEN As many as 2000 mangrove seedlings were planted along the foreshore at My Suva Picnic Park last Saturday as part of coastal rehabilitation initiatives to combat climate change and plastic pollution. Spearheaded by youth environmental activist AnnMary Raduva, the mangrove planting and beach clean-up event complemented efforts at the national level to plant 500,000 trees under the…

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Academic weighs in on protests, riots in Solomon Islands

Local police used tear gas to disperse crowds in China Town. Picture: Island Business/SIBC By ROSALIE NONGEBATU A Solomon Islands academic says the only body that can find a legitimate solution to the current situation in the Solomon Islands is the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. Senior politics lecturer at The University of the South Pacific Dr Gordon Nanau made the suggestion following the unrest and rioting in Honiara yesterday by a large group of people, who were clearly unhappy with the outcome of the Prime Ministerial election in Honiara. Manasseh Sogavare was voted into power at Parliament House…

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PM opens $2.1m police station

The $2.1 million Valelevu Police Station was opened by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Monday. Picture: ROMEKA KUMARI/WANSOLWARA By ROMEKA KUMARI The opening of the $2.1million Valelevu Police Station in Nasinu this week is expected to strengthen efforts to curb crime in the densely populated municipality. Officiating at the event, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the investment would also boost the presence of law enforcement in an area with a population of 130,000 people. “While crime nationally is decreasing, crimes in Nasinu and Valelevu are on the rise. Of all the crime cases reported in the country last year, 15…

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