The Fiji Times

Focus on use of social media platforms by MSMEs

MICRO, small and medium enterprises in Fiji need to understand how to improve their presence online via various social media platforms. This was made known to 20 registered small micro and small business owners in an e-commerce training organised by Business Assistance Fiji general manager Ramesh Chand in Nadi yesterday. Mr Chand said social media...

101 complaints, watchdog to name scammers

THE Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) has received 101 complaints relating to online platform scams from January to date. CEO Seema Shandil has urged consumers to exercise extreme vigilance when dealing with certain individuals/traders operating via social media platforms. “It is deeply concerning to see that these dodgy dealers are on the rise,” she said....

No case to answer for 10

THE Suva Magistrate’s Court yesterday ruled that 10 individuals who were charged by the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission for receiving payments in relation to the Lagilagi Housing project had no case to answer. Semeti Qalowasa, Chantelle Khan, Suliana Siwatibau, Samuela Saumatua, Mere Krishna, Vijay Naidu, Akuila Yabaki, late Kevin Barr, Cama Raimuria and Aisake...

Mary Ballantine Memorial Chapel celebrates 100 years

VILLAGERS of Nailaga in Ba celebrated the 100th anniversary of their Methodist Church known as the Mary Ballantine Memorial Chapel. The celebration was officiated by Ba Methodist Church president Reverend Samisoni Mainqoro Daunivala. The church was named after the late Sister Mary Ballantine who dedicated her life to the education of young Fijian girls. Hundreds...

You’ve won, a scam

FIJIANS are urged to stay alert about a scam that is circulating on popular messaging platforms, Viber, and WhatsApp. Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) CEO Seema Shandil said scammers were targeting individuals by calling or sending messages, congratulating them on winning a lottery and enticing them to claim a substantial prize amount. “People have come...

Man to proceed with judicial review

THE High Court in Lautoka has allowed a man to proceed with his judicial review case against a decision made by the iTaukei Lands & Fisheries Commission to remove his name from the iTaukei register known as the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB). On September 16, 2021, the chairman of the TLFC removed Nemani Lalabalavu’s...

BACK IN HISTORY: Ace hits top tally

World squash king Jahangir Khan top scored for Just Sports Stumpers with a stylish 28 but could not stop his side going down to RFMF by 16 runs in a 30-over friendly cricket match at Albert Park. An article in The Fiji Times on February 1, 1985, said the squash ace proved he was no...

Allowance set to increase

GOOD news for senior citizens as they will be getting an increase in monthly allowance following the 2023-2024 National Budget. Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad confirmed this while holding public consultations in Vanua Levu. This, he said, they deserved it because they had contributed to nation-building during their years of employment. He...

High cost hinders North growth

THE high cartage and freight cost has hindered developments and business growth on Vanua Levu. Labasa Chamber of Commerce president Satish Kumar said while the North had great potential, policies that existed within government departments such as restricted cartage weight on roads prevented many from investing. “We need factories to cater for employment, but the...

Reforming key sectors a focus for Government

GOVERNMENT is focused on reforming key sectors of the economy. While signing a direct funding arrangement with the Australian government in Suva on Wednesday, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad said they were also strengthening their budget processes. “We are focused on the key sectors of the economy in terms of...

Private sector ‘engine of growth’

A HEALTHY and vibrant private sector is key to growing any economy. While appearing on The Fiji Times online news platform The Lens@177 this week, University of the South Pacific (USP) senior lecturer in economics Dr Neelesh Gounder said the private sector was really the “engine of growth” in any economy. It was also where...

Single VAT rate vital

FROM an economic perspective, it’s efficient to have a single VAT rate, says University of the South Pacific (USP) senior lecturer in economics Dr Neelesh Gounder. Speaking on The Fiji Times’ online news platform The Lens@177 this week, Dr Gounder said having such a system would also ensure the collection was relatively easy. “Efficiency is...

Committee suggests Government review WRT

THE Fiscal Review Committee is recommending that the Government explore reviewing the Water Resource Tax (WRT) that was introduced in 2009. WRT is imposed on “any business extracting water in its natural state” where a “business” extracts 10,000,000 litres of water or more in a month, that person or business is required to pay WRT...

Reviving the economy: Fiscal Review Committee recommends 12.5-15pc VAT increase

THE Fiscal Review Committee has recommended that Value Added Tax (VAT) be increased between 12.5 per cent and 15 per cent with no zero-rating on essential items and that corporate tax be increased to 25 per cent, with some relief for corporate small to medium enterprises. The Committee states an increase in VAT will rake...

Student calls for clean-up initiative

SAINT Joseph’s Secondary School student Latina Fatiaki has called on Government to introduce an initiative that will compel all citizens to engage in an ongoing nationwide clean-up campaign. The Year 11 student said random clean-up campaigns — including the ones organised for Environment Week and World Oceans Day — had a little impact on the...

‘416 men diagnosed with prostate cancer’

A TOTAL of 416 men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the past seven years, which averages to 60 Fijian men being afflicted with the disease annually. Minister for Health Dr Atonio Lalabalavu highlighted this during the handover of the Transperineal Ultrasound Machine donated by Extra Supermarket to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital’s Urology...

Government concerned with party. Prasad: FijiFirst enacted Act, was not complying with its provisions

ACTING Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad says Government is concerned that the FijiFirst party — which had enacted the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013 — was not complying with its provisions. FijiFirst could be deregistered if it does not submit the party’s audited financial account within a subscribed period. Prof Prasad...

Motty to make dream debut

When Swire Shipping Fijian Drua opensideflanker Motikiai (Motty) Murray makes his dream debut and runs onto the turf in Christchurch against the Crusaders this Saturday, he will carry the hopes of the nation, his family, his Lovoni, Ovalau, and Ono-i-Lau relatives and the people of Viro and Naqeledamu settlement on his 20-year-old shoulders. The Fiji...

Call for one VAT: Fiscal Review Committee

THE Coalition Government appointed Fiscal Review Committee has recommended that value added tax (VAT) be removed from the list of essential items and that a single VAT between 12.5 per cent and 15 per cent be considered by the Government. In their report released yesterday, the committee states this new VAT regime will bring $370...

Brazil top court justice hands Congress more time to pass bill curtailing Indigenous rights

By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) – A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Wednesday asked for more time to study a case pitting the country’s Indigenous people against its powerful farm sector, a decision that is likely to give lawmakers more time to pass the measure favoring Big Agriculture. The decision by Justice Andre Mendonca, an...

Committee delivers report to Finance Minister

The Fiscal Review Committee has delivered its report to the Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad. Prof Biman said he promised at the time of the Committee’s appointment in March this year that the Report would be released to the public upon its delivery. “This is being done today (June 8, 2023),” Prof Biman said....

From the Editor-in-Chief’s desk: Your June 9 briefing

Bula There is so much hype hanging on the big game this weekend when the Fijian Drua take on the might of the champion Crusaders in Christchurch, New Zealand. We hope to bring you some great coverage of that historic clash. On the front page for Friday, June 9, we have a picture and story...

Italian court convicts Swiss billionaire in asbestos deaths

ROME (Reuters) – An Italian court on Wednesday sentenced a Swiss billionaire to 12 years in jail after convicting him on charges of aggravated manslaughter related to the death of hundreds of people from exposure to asbestos. Judges in the city of Novara issued the verdict after more than seven hours of deliberations, according to...

‘Sustainable and resilient private sector’

The Coalition Government envisions a sustainable and resilient private sector to deliver economic transformation. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga noted this in his address to participants at the 2023 Breakfast Session-2nd Productivity talks held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva yesterday. “It is most important that the Coalition Government works in genuine...

Russia aims to block EU from hosting COP29 climate summit, emails show

By Kate Abnett and Riham Alkousaa BRUSSELS/BONN (Reuters) – Russia intends to block European Union countries from hosting next year’s U.N. international climate negotiations, according to internal emails seen by Reuters, a potential setback for EU-member Bulgaria’s competition with Azerbaijan and Armenia to draw the massive conference. Moscow’s intervention shows how geopolitical disputes since Russia’s...

Reduce interest on town, city rates, says Reddy

Reduca interest on town and city rates. This was a 2023-2024 National Budget submission made by Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association president Narayan Reddy who believed that some residents could not pay off their fees because of the interest charged by municipal councils. “Government has given us time to pay off our rates and even...

Google, Meta use ‘bullying tactics’ against Canada news bill, PM Trudeau says

By Ismail Shakil OTTAWA (Reuters) -Alphabet’s Google and Meta Platforms are using “bullying tactics” against a Canadian push aimed at ensuring financial support for news publishers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday. The proposed legislation is designed to compel internet giants like Google and Meta’s Facebook to negotiate commercial deals and pay publishers for...

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 associated showers and rain is expected to affect the group till later today. Forecast to midnight tomorrow for the Fiji group: Occasional...

Beyond prison walls

For 20 odd years, Samuela Civo saw the prison as his safety net and home. He was first convicted as a 14-year-old in 1977. From that time until 1992, he escaped twice from the Naboro Maximum Prison and was slapped prison sentences for a variety of offences including theft, aggravated robbery and burglary. But those...

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