Local News in Brief
Blood drive
ONLY 24 pints of blood was collected at the Fiji Red Cross Nadi branch blood drive at the weekend. Nadi branch's Vineel Naidu said the poor turnout by members of the public upset organisers of the event because the day also marked celebrations for World AIDS Day and Volunteers Day. He said they had expected to collect more than 100, but only 24 pints was collected and the response from the public was poor, despite regular advertisements over the air and in the newspapers in all languages.
Art and craft event
A two-day CreatiVITI arts and crafts event, featuring affordable art, handmade craft, Christmas gifts and home-wares and accessories, will be held at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club on December 11-12. The west-based community arts organisation is also holding a Kids Kraft class every Saturday during the school break.
Fiji showcase
Tourism Fiji's Australia office and its major partners Air Pacific and Pacific Blue as well as Fiji-based tourism industry partners will showcase the Fiji Islands to 212 travel agents tomorrow at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa. The contingent is the largest of its kind ever undertaken by Tourism Fiji Australia and marks a change in strategy where road shows in Australia will be replaced with destination educational in Fiji. Travel agents attending are representatives of all wholesale partners in Australia that Tourism Fiji deals with in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.
Seaweed farm plan
PLANS are under way to involve women of Bua in seaweed and pearl farming to help provide them with better income opportunities. The Ministry of Women informed the Bua Provincial Council meeting that inspections had already been conducted in the islands of Tavewa, Yaqaga and Galoa in the province. The ministry informed the meeting that women of Bua needed projects like pearl farming and seaweed farming to boost their financial earning. The Ministry of Fisheries have already inspected these islands but a report has yet to be received before work can start
Prison visit
THE Bua Provincial Council has agreed to pay a visit to their children serving prison sentences at the Labasa prison. While the plan involves visits to other prison institutions, the Bua chiefs will start with Vaturekuka prison. Tui Wainunu Ratu Orisi Baleitavea said it was important for chiefs of Bua to visit their children in prison institutions to show these inmates that their chiefs care for them. Divisional supervisor prison northern Manasa Rakabikabi told the council at the meeting that chiefs of Cakaudrove have visited their children serving prison sentences at the Taveuni prison. He told the chiefs that their visit to the inmates from Bua would mean a lot to the inmates, knowing they were being cared for.
Stabbing probe
A 28-YEAR-OLD woman of Toorak, Suva, was found lying in a pool of blood in her house on Thursday. Assistant police spokesman Sergeant Atunaisa Sokomuri said the woman was in the house while her husband was sleeping. Sgt Sokomuri said the husband woke up and came into the kitchen to find her lying on the floor with a kitchen knife sticking to the side of her stomach. He said the victim was admitted at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital while her husband was questioned and released. Sgt Sokomuri said the victim was believed to have been suffering from a mental breakdown. "She will be referred to the St Giles Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation," he said. The victim is still admitted at the hospital and is under observation.
