www.fijilive.com - 24 JAN 2008
Matapo Ltd, the developers of the multi-million dollar Momi Bay Resort in Nadi, is suing government for the reimbursement of about $25 million for a road project it had built from Momi Bay Resort to the Queens Highway.
The developers had built the road on the understanding that the cost would be reimbursed once it was completed and which the government has failed to do, Matapo lawyer Samuel Ram from Ba says.
He says the road was completed in March 2007. The maintenance period is believed to have also expired by now.
Matapo filed a petition in court in December and the case is being called for a hearing next Tuesday.
“Government has not given a proper reason for not reimbursing the money, which is one of the reasons the company has gone to court. We want them to specify why they are refusing to do it,” Ram said.
He said they are asking the court to order the money be paid Matapo now.
The Government had done a similar deal with the developers of other projects including Natadola.
January 26, 2008
January 18, 2008
Members flock to withdraw their savings for school
UNAISI RATUBALAVU
Thursday, January 17, 2008
People flock to the Fiji National Provident Fund office in Suva yesterday for partial withdrawals to pay for school needs+ Enlarge this image
People flock to the Fiji National Provident Fund office in Suva yesterday for partial withdrawals to pay for school needs
PEOPLE jam-packed the Fiji National Provident Fund office in Suva the past week to apply for a partial withdrawal for education.
The Fund has been giving up to $500 to low income earners and unemployed members to help their case.
One of the members, Navua casual labourer Sashi Lal, came early yesterday to apply.
"I have been coming for the past two days because the FNPF needed original birth certificates of my children.
"Hopefully, I will get $500 by Friday so I can buy my children's books and school needs," he said.
Mr Lal has three children in primary school this year.
"I'm worried because school starts next week but I have no money to buy books."
A single mother from Wailotua in Wainibuka, Unaisi Tinai, lodged her application yesterday.
She said she was happy the FNPF was helping poor people during this time of need.
Ms Tinai, 30, will be sending her son to Form Three at Naiyala Secondary School.
FNPF acting chief executive Aisake Taito said they were helping low income earners and the unemployed for their children's educational needs.
"For people earning $150 gross and less in a week, the maximum withdrawal is $500.
"Unemployed members can access this assistance once every six months, with a maximum of $500 per assistance," Mr Taito said.
He added that the Fund was aware of the financial hardships most members were facing and introduced the part withdrawals.
"Members need to have eligibility in order to withdraw."
Low income earners need to provide their current pay slip, a letter from school confirming their child was enrolled and the fees owed and original birth certificate to show relationship to member.
Unemployed people must provide a termination letter from their last employer in the past six months, letter from school confirming their child's enrolment and fees, child's birth certificate, together and fill an application form.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
People flock to the Fiji National Provident Fund office in Suva yesterday for partial withdrawals to pay for school needs+ Enlarge this image
People flock to the Fiji National Provident Fund office in Suva yesterday for partial withdrawals to pay for school needs
PEOPLE jam-packed the Fiji National Provident Fund office in Suva the past week to apply for a partial withdrawal for education.
The Fund has been giving up to $500 to low income earners and unemployed members to help their case.
One of the members, Navua casual labourer Sashi Lal, came early yesterday to apply.
"I have been coming for the past two days because the FNPF needed original birth certificates of my children.
"Hopefully, I will get $500 by Friday so I can buy my children's books and school needs," he said.
Mr Lal has three children in primary school this year.
"I'm worried because school starts next week but I have no money to buy books."
A single mother from Wailotua in Wainibuka, Unaisi Tinai, lodged her application yesterday.
She said she was happy the FNPF was helping poor people during this time of need.
Ms Tinai, 30, will be sending her son to Form Three at Naiyala Secondary School.
FNPF acting chief executive Aisake Taito said they were helping low income earners and the unemployed for their children's educational needs.
"For people earning $150 gross and less in a week, the maximum withdrawal is $500.
"Unemployed members can access this assistance once every six months, with a maximum of $500 per assistance," Mr Taito said.
He added that the Fund was aware of the financial hardships most members were facing and introduced the part withdrawals.
"Members need to have eligibility in order to withdraw."
Low income earners need to provide their current pay slip, a letter from school confirming their child was enrolled and the fees owed and original birth certificate to show relationship to member.
Unemployed people must provide a termination letter from their last employer in the past six months, letter from school confirming their child's enrolment and fees, child's birth certificate, together and fill an application form.
Resolve Fiji's land problems first: Qarase
www.fijilive.com - 17 JAN 2008
Fiji’s land problems should all be resolved first before improved utilisation of land occurs, says ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
He said landowners need to be given a fair go via improved land rentals and longer and secure land tenure – the two major problems.
“Problems of agricultural land in Fiji will continue unless and until the two problems are resolved,” Qarase said.
His comments followed a recent Cabinet decision to establish a committee on better utilisation of land (CBUL).
He said both these issues were provided for under the Agricultural Landlord Tenants Act (ALTA), and this legislation could only be amended by a special majority vote in Parliament.
“For two decades now, successive governments have failed to resolve the land problems,” Qarase said.
He said a lot of independent studies had been carried out on agricultural land rent in Fiji and the general conclusion was that Fiji had one of the lowest in the world.
“In fact, it was found that even though ALTA sets the rent formula at up to 6 per cent of unimproved capital value (UCV), the actual rent income received by landowners has been around only 2 per cent of UCV,’ Qarase said.
“On this basis, it has been calculated that Fijian owners of leased agricultural land have been denied additional income of over $1 billion since 1976, because 2 per cent UCV is well below a fair market rent,” he said.
Qarase suggested that the interim Government subsidise the land rent to a fair market rate as a temporary measure until both legislation are amended by Parliament.
He said it would be better for landowners to secure a fair market rent on their land, rather than talking about its utilisation. Utilisation of land will come naturally once the basic land problems have been resolved.
Bainimarama had said the proposed establishment of a CBUL had no intention to alter land ownership but only improve land utilisation.
“The CBUL would oversee consultations on this issue with landowners,” he said.
He said the reluctance of Fijian landowners largely resulted from the absolute misadvise, lies and political manipulation espoused by narrow minded politicians and other individuals.
Fiji’s land problems should all be resolved first before improved utilisation of land occurs, says ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
He said landowners need to be given a fair go via improved land rentals and longer and secure land tenure – the two major problems.
“Problems of agricultural land in Fiji will continue unless and until the two problems are resolved,” Qarase said.
His comments followed a recent Cabinet decision to establish a committee on better utilisation of land (CBUL).
He said both these issues were provided for under the Agricultural Landlord Tenants Act (ALTA), and this legislation could only be amended by a special majority vote in Parliament.
“For two decades now, successive governments have failed to resolve the land problems,” Qarase said.
He said a lot of independent studies had been carried out on agricultural land rent in Fiji and the general conclusion was that Fiji had one of the lowest in the world.
“In fact, it was found that even though ALTA sets the rent formula at up to 6 per cent of unimproved capital value (UCV), the actual rent income received by landowners has been around only 2 per cent of UCV,’ Qarase said.
“On this basis, it has been calculated that Fijian owners of leased agricultural land have been denied additional income of over $1 billion since 1976, because 2 per cent UCV is well below a fair market rent,” he said.
Qarase suggested that the interim Government subsidise the land rent to a fair market rate as a temporary measure until both legislation are amended by Parliament.
He said it would be better for landowners to secure a fair market rent on their land, rather than talking about its utilisation. Utilisation of land will come naturally once the basic land problems have been resolved.
Bainimarama had said the proposed establishment of a CBUL had no intention to alter land ownership but only improve land utilisation.
“The CBUL would oversee consultations on this issue with landowners,” he said.
He said the reluctance of Fijian landowners largely resulted from the absolute misadvise, lies and political manipulation espoused by narrow minded politicians and other individuals.
January 16, 2008
$77m drop
VUNILEBA
www.fijitimes.com - Tuesday, January 15, 2008
MONEY remitted by Fijians working overseas hit $183.7-million in September last year a drop of almost 30 per cent when compared to the $260.7m for the same period in 2006.
Reserve Bank of Fiji acting deputy Governor Barry Whiteside said reasons for the decline could not be ascertained by the central bank.
"remittance have grown significantly in the past few years, rising from $50million in 1999 to $320million in 2006," said Mr Whiteside.
"This surge in inflows has helped Fiji's balance of payments position, especially as the rising trends occurred during a period when exports were generally flat (with growth in imports substantial)."
"In 2007, however, we have seen a decline from 2006 levels."
"Latest figures show that cumulative to September 2007, remittance received through the formal channel was around $183.7m, a decline of around 30 per cent, when compared to $260.7 million recorded in the same period in 2006." Mr Whiteside said remittance, like other services inflows, were volatile and sensitive in nature to a number of factors, such as global economic conditions.
He said the RBF could not explicitly ascertain the reasons for the decline in remittance last year.
He said the RBF collated and published data on a regular basis through the formal channel.
That, Mr Whiteside said, was based on reports from commercial banks and authorised foreign exchange dealers.
"However, it is important to note that the personal remittance inflows through informal channels may be significant, similar to the experiences of other developing countries," he said. He said the latest figures were available to September of last year.
The Bureau of Statistics last December quoted provisional figures of $210.4m as tourism earnings for the third quarter last year. This, the bureau said, was a decline of $10.5m or 4.8 per cent when compared to $220.9m for the same period last year.
In its economic review at the end of October last year, the RBF said production in the sugar industry declined by almost 10 per cent cumulative to September with the recent drought expected to affect the 2007 and 2008 crops.
Attempts to get comments from interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase were unsuccessful.
www.fijitimes.com - Tuesday, January 15, 2008
MONEY remitted by Fijians working overseas hit $183.7-million in September last year a drop of almost 30 per cent when compared to the $260.7m for the same period in 2006.
Reserve Bank of Fiji acting deputy Governor Barry Whiteside said reasons for the decline could not be ascertained by the central bank.
"remittance have grown significantly in the past few years, rising from $50million in 1999 to $320million in 2006," said Mr Whiteside.
"This surge in inflows has helped Fiji's balance of payments position, especially as the rising trends occurred during a period when exports were generally flat (with growth in imports substantial)."
"In 2007, however, we have seen a decline from 2006 levels."
"Latest figures show that cumulative to September 2007, remittance received through the formal channel was around $183.7m, a decline of around 30 per cent, when compared to $260.7 million recorded in the same period in 2006." Mr Whiteside said remittance, like other services inflows, were volatile and sensitive in nature to a number of factors, such as global economic conditions.
He said the RBF could not explicitly ascertain the reasons for the decline in remittance last year.
He said the RBF collated and published data on a regular basis through the formal channel.
That, Mr Whiteside said, was based on reports from commercial banks and authorised foreign exchange dealers.
"However, it is important to note that the personal remittance inflows through informal channels may be significant, similar to the experiences of other developing countries," he said. He said the latest figures were available to September of last year.
The Bureau of Statistics last December quoted provisional figures of $210.4m as tourism earnings for the third quarter last year. This, the bureau said, was a decline of $10.5m or 4.8 per cent when compared to $220.9m for the same period last year.
In its economic review at the end of October last year, the RBF said production in the sugar industry declined by almost 10 per cent cumulative to September with the recent drought expected to affect the 2007 and 2008 crops.
Attempts to get comments from interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase were unsuccessful.
January 14, 2008
Beauty rises from the ashes of divorce
MARY JOHNS-RAUTO
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Unaisi Rakuro sports some of Mrs Heaths jewellery while more are on display+ Enlarge this image
Unaisi Rakuro sports some of Mrs Heaths jewellery while more are on display
IT'S hard to imagine that a flourishing jewellery business would emerge from the ashes of a bitter divorce. But that's exactly what happened in the case of Jennifer Heath.
Mrs Heath, an American, had been married to a Fiji citizen for 12 years but in 1999 decided he didn't want to remain married and left her high and dry with children to support.
They finally divorced in 2004 and by then Mrs Heath had to find a way to support herself and her children.
She chose to stay in Fiji while her ex-husband moved to the United States.
"I was devastated," she said of the divorce. "I turned to God, prayed and fasted.
"I was born and raised an Anglican but I never had a personal relationship with God until then."
It was then that her love of stringing pearls together and making simple necklaces and bracelets for friends began to form into something more substantial.
After a four-year divorce process, she spent Christmas 2004 with her children and ex-husband in California.
They had agreed that as long as they weren't seeing anyone Christmas would be spent with their children.
Instead of returning direct to Fiji, she flew to London and Asia to shop for pearls.
"I loved doing pearl jewellery the usual white, pink and peach, then I stared adding crystals."
Mrs Heath said she would visit businesses with her basket of wired pearl jewellery.
"Then I started going to the ROC market," she said.
"One day I decided that I had to let go of my husband and the divorce, take a leap of faith and trust God with my business.
"If I didn't step out of my comfort zone, how was He going to help me?"
Today, Jennifer is married to Richard Heath the pair was introduced through a mutual friend but their relationship took a while to bloom.
The couple celebrated their first anniversary in December.
"I saw him at the ROC Market in November 2005," she said.
"When I saw him my heart skipped a beat."
By mid-2006 Richard and Jennifer were engaged and six months later they married.
Mrs Heath now has nine people working for her from her home in Lami.
"We pray before we start work every day," she said.
"We ask Him to bless us, the business and to be able to see new opportunities.
"This business has in 18 months taken me around the world six times.
"God has restored my dignity and the glory has to go to Him because He is the one who has given me the strength."
Mr Heath is originally from Napier in New Zealand and in November they opened a shop there.
He resigned from his post with the Hawkes Bay Chamber of Commerce to help his wife.
Mrs Heath's designs can be found at the Cocoon Boutique at the Westin, Sheraton and Hilton Resorts on Denarau.
They can also be found at Tokoriki Island Resort, Pearl Resort at Pacific Harbour, the Art Gallery in Savusavu, Head to Toe beauty salon and MHCC in Suva, Archipelago at the airport concourse or the Vale ni Tadra on Marine Drive, Lami.
Jewellery can be specially ordered. She sits with clients to design jewellery according to their preferences. But most of the jewellery that goes on sale are designed by Mrs Heath and her employees.
"When we do bridal," she said, "we do the whole bridal party from the bride to the bridesmaid's jewellery.
"We do a lot of weddings too so we have a bridal range."
While her biggest clients are commercial, expatriate women also order from her and so do many locals.
Her jewellery prices range from $25 to $300 and prices will drop by 30 to 50 per cent at the next ROC Market to make way for new stock
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Unaisi Rakuro sports some of Mrs Heaths jewellery while more are on display+ Enlarge this image
Unaisi Rakuro sports some of Mrs Heaths jewellery while more are on display
IT'S hard to imagine that a flourishing jewellery business would emerge from the ashes of a bitter divorce. But that's exactly what happened in the case of Jennifer Heath.
Mrs Heath, an American, had been married to a Fiji citizen for 12 years but in 1999 decided he didn't want to remain married and left her high and dry with children to support.
They finally divorced in 2004 and by then Mrs Heath had to find a way to support herself and her children.
She chose to stay in Fiji while her ex-husband moved to the United States.
"I was devastated," she said of the divorce. "I turned to God, prayed and fasted.
"I was born and raised an Anglican but I never had a personal relationship with God until then."
It was then that her love of stringing pearls together and making simple necklaces and bracelets for friends began to form into something more substantial.
After a four-year divorce process, she spent Christmas 2004 with her children and ex-husband in California.
They had agreed that as long as they weren't seeing anyone Christmas would be spent with their children.
Instead of returning direct to Fiji, she flew to London and Asia to shop for pearls.
"I loved doing pearl jewellery the usual white, pink and peach, then I stared adding crystals."
Mrs Heath said she would visit businesses with her basket of wired pearl jewellery.
"Then I started going to the ROC market," she said.
"One day I decided that I had to let go of my husband and the divorce, take a leap of faith and trust God with my business.
"If I didn't step out of my comfort zone, how was He going to help me?"
Today, Jennifer is married to Richard Heath the pair was introduced through a mutual friend but their relationship took a while to bloom.
The couple celebrated their first anniversary in December.
"I saw him at the ROC Market in November 2005," she said.
"When I saw him my heart skipped a beat."
By mid-2006 Richard and Jennifer were engaged and six months later they married.
Mrs Heath now has nine people working for her from her home in Lami.
"We pray before we start work every day," she said.
"We ask Him to bless us, the business and to be able to see new opportunities.
"This business has in 18 months taken me around the world six times.
"God has restored my dignity and the glory has to go to Him because He is the one who has given me the strength."
Mr Heath is originally from Napier in New Zealand and in November they opened a shop there.
He resigned from his post with the Hawkes Bay Chamber of Commerce to help his wife.
Mrs Heath's designs can be found at the Cocoon Boutique at the Westin, Sheraton and Hilton Resorts on Denarau.
They can also be found at Tokoriki Island Resort, Pearl Resort at Pacific Harbour, the Art Gallery in Savusavu, Head to Toe beauty salon and MHCC in Suva, Archipelago at the airport concourse or the Vale ni Tadra on Marine Drive, Lami.
Jewellery can be specially ordered. She sits with clients to design jewellery according to their preferences. But most of the jewellery that goes on sale are designed by Mrs Heath and her employees.
"When we do bridal," she said, "we do the whole bridal party from the bride to the bridesmaid's jewellery.
"We do a lot of weddings too so we have a bridal range."
While her biggest clients are commercial, expatriate women also order from her and so do many locals.
Her jewellery prices range from $25 to $300 and prices will drop by 30 to 50 per cent at the next ROC Market to make way for new stock
January 9, 2008
Ratu Sakiusa branches out
ASHWINI PRASAD
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com
+ Enlarge this image
Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia inside his fish and chips restaurant in Samabula yesterday
RATU Sakiusa Tuisolia has gone from being an economist and finance analyst running the country's largest airport, to being a businessman dispensing food.
The 40-year-old, who has worked in the government sector for 17 years, said office work no longer interested him which was one reason he ventured into the food industry.
Ratu Sakiusa, the former Airports Fiji Limited chief executive officer, recently opened the Roma's Hook and Chook Fish and Chips outlet in Samabula, Suva.
"Office work no longer interests me it was like a routine and I was becoming bored," he said.
Ratu Sakiusa said he wanted to broaden his skills and the food industry held great potential. It was an area that had long fascinated him.
"I decided to do something simple that I could manage for a start," he said.
"I have this fascination for fish and chips. Well I always had plans at the back of my mind that I will eventually get my own business to become my own boss and invest in areas of my personal interest," he said.
"I have this interest in food, going to restaurants and trying out different types of food."
Ratu Sakiusa said with the fish and chips he had tried around the world, he knew there was potential to make something better than what was available in the market.
Ratu Sakiusa said he had plans to open a chain of restaurants which started with the first one in Samabula and the second one to be opened in central Suva in February.
Another enterprise he owns is the Seven Eleven convenience store in central Suva. Both the shops employ 15 people.
He plans to make the restaurant a national chain and a franchise in the South Pacific, Australia or New Zealand.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com
+ Enlarge this image
Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia inside his fish and chips restaurant in Samabula yesterday
RATU Sakiusa Tuisolia has gone from being an economist and finance analyst running the country's largest airport, to being a businessman dispensing food.
The 40-year-old, who has worked in the government sector for 17 years, said office work no longer interested him which was one reason he ventured into the food industry.
Ratu Sakiusa, the former Airports Fiji Limited chief executive officer, recently opened the Roma's Hook and Chook Fish and Chips outlet in Samabula, Suva.
"Office work no longer interests me it was like a routine and I was becoming bored," he said.
Ratu Sakiusa said he wanted to broaden his skills and the food industry held great potential. It was an area that had long fascinated him.
"I decided to do something simple that I could manage for a start," he said.
"I have this fascination for fish and chips. Well I always had plans at the back of my mind that I will eventually get my own business to become my own boss and invest in areas of my personal interest," he said.
"I have this interest in food, going to restaurants and trying out different types of food."
Ratu Sakiusa said with the fish and chips he had tried around the world, he knew there was potential to make something better than what was available in the market.
Ratu Sakiusa said he had plans to open a chain of restaurants which started with the first one in Samabula and the second one to be opened in central Suva in February.
Another enterprise he owns is the Seven Eleven convenience store in central Suva. Both the shops employ 15 people.
He plans to make the restaurant a national chain and a franchise in the South Pacific, Australia or New Zealand.
Coup blamed for drop in Fiji-NZ trade
4-Jan-2008 09:58 AM - www.fijidailypost.com
FIJI-New Zealand Business Council president Mark Hirst says jobs in the construction and tourism sectors have declined dramatically since the events of December 2006.
Hirst believes business between the two countries could be smoother if the two governments sort things out.
“The general consensus with our members, there’s been a definite downturn in the business between the two countries, especially in the status of construction and tourism but there are indicators that it is starting to pick up at the end,” Hirst said.
“Most of our members have struggled also in the garment industries etc.”
But Hirst is optimistic about the future.
“From the information we’ve picked up in the last few weeks in different conferences, there’s been a definite upward turn,” he said.
“There’s still a bit of a pain to get through but that can be altered when the two governments from the two countries sit around and sort a few things out,” he said.
FIJI-New Zealand Business Council president Mark Hirst says jobs in the construction and tourism sectors have declined dramatically since the events of December 2006.
Hirst believes business between the two countries could be smoother if the two governments sort things out.
“The general consensus with our members, there’s been a definite downturn in the business between the two countries, especially in the status of construction and tourism but there are indicators that it is starting to pick up at the end,” Hirst said.
“Most of our members have struggled also in the garment industries etc.”
But Hirst is optimistic about the future.
“From the information we’ve picked up in the last few weeks in different conferences, there’s been a definite upward turn,” he said.
“There’s still a bit of a pain to get through but that can be altered when the two governments from the two countries sit around and sort a few things out,” he said.
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