Local News in Brief
Bugs infect farm
A CANE farm in Malele, Tavua, has been cordoned off for being infected with bugs. It is understood the farm was infested with worms. Sugar Cane Growers council chief executive Sundresh Chetty said he was not aware of the full facts of the case. Mr Chetty referred questions to Sugar Research institute chief executive Jai Gawander. Mr Gawander is away overseas and could not be reached for comments.
No price rules
MAHOGANY Industries Fiji Limited is concerned with the absence of a firm guideline for the price of green sawn timber.
MIFL general manager John Fitzgerald said each time he went to purchase a new lot of timber, there was a haggle over the price. "This is frustrating when it affects manufacturing costs of our furniture products and places our competitive edge in constant review because of the fluctuation of this base line cost," he said. He said a better regulated industry would benefit landowners, value added manufacturers and others in the marketplace.
Unlicensed sellers
THE sale of mahogany by unlicensed sellers has become a concern for MIFL. Company general manager John Fitzgerald said they sometimes had landowners trying to do cash sales of logs which undermined legitimate operators. While diversification was an advantage in what was being offered to the market, he said maintaining credibility was more important. Mr Fitzgerald said the most beneficial thing government could do was to allow private enterprise to invest in the establishment of an internationally-recognised model for the sustainable certification of Fijian mahogany as a sustainable resource.
Murder mystery
POLICE have not arrested anyone in relation to the murder of 58-year-old Prabha Wati whose partially burnt body was found in a cassava patch last October. Assistant police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said they did not have enough evidence to make arrests or lay charges. He said investigations were continuing.
No arrest
CRIMINAL Investigations Department officers are still on Bau Island to investigate the death of a 29-year-old man. Assistant police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said no one has been charged.
The man died this week. Police investigations are continuing.
Aid scrutiny
SOCIAL Welfare officials will assist rural advisory councillors in Lautoka identify women in need of assistance. This follows concerns raised yesterday that there may be women living in rural areas benefiting from government assistance although they were well off. Mr Ali said the joint effort between the Social Welfare and rural advisory councillors would assist greatly in trying to identify deserving women to whom government assistance would be directed.
Consumer day
THE World Consumer Rights Day is on Monday with the theme "Our money, our rights: fighting for fair financial services". The celebration will be held at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva where the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) Sada Reddy, will be the chief guest.