History April 22
1988: Friday, April 22.
Miner killed in Rockfall
A miner died instantly when a one-tonne boulder became dislodged and crused him 1700 feet underground at Vatukoula. Luke Qalo, 23 from Kabara, Lau, lay dead under the rock for an hour before his colleagues dug him free. The miners failed to lift the rock.
Chiefs' meeting on constitution
The new constitution will be among topics to be discussed at the 'bose ni turaga' next month. About 300 chiefs throughout Fiji will meet at Ratu Kadavulevu school at Lodoni from May 2 to 6. The Lodoni meeting is a forerunner to the Great Council of Chiefs meeting sometime in June.
The likely topics for discussion include the new constitution and what form it wiill take.
NFP split causes two separate posts
The National Federation Party's divisions arose after the posts of party president and party leader were separated in 1976, a meeting of NFP supporters in Lautoka heard on Saturday. The chief convener of the meeting held at Namoli Park, Mr Rajendra James, said until 1976 there had not been any leadership crisis in the party which had operated united. He questioned the separation of the two posts saying that in the days of the late party leader, Mr AD Patel, the NFP ran smoothly even though only one person held both posts.
Sports: Manager Koi dropped
Fiji Football Association last night dropped national soccer manager George Koi when they did not hear from him in the past two weeks. Koi's assistant, Emmanuel Manu now takes over the helm as national manager. FFA secretary Jitendra Maharaj said: "We tried contacting him from the past two weeks but he was nowhere to be contacted and our messages were never responded to."
1998: Wednesday April 22: 1998
The strike is on :
The nationwide protest will still be held tomorrow after talks between the Government, employers and the trade unions ended in deadlock late last night. As the talks broke up, however, the FTUC said it had given the government a deadline of 12 noon today to come up with an acceptable solution. At 3pm, a high-powered delegation from the Government, the Fiji Employers Federation and the Fiji Trades Union Congress met for the first time since the dispute over the proposed Wage Order began.
Ah Koy misses talk
Finance minister Jim Ah Koy was noticeably absent from yesterday's talks. On Monday afternoon, the Minister of Finance announced to Fiji Employers Federation members that the strike would not proceed. On the same day, chief executive Ken Roberts said: "I have just been advised by the Minister of Finance that there will be no strike on Thursday, April 23. Explaining the circular yesterday, Mr Roberts said he had been assured by Mr Ah Koy but would now "rely on nothing".
Robbers take $54,000 cash, goods
Police have mounted a search for robbers who stole $54,000 worth of cash and goods between Sunday night and Monday afternoon. On Monday, robbers sprayed solution of chilli powder and water on four Westpac Banking Corporation employees and a security guard before grabbing $26,000 from a taxi outside the bank's Nadi branch.
Drought destroys 33pc of cane belt
The Sugar Cane Growers Council says surveys show that nearly one third of the cane belt had been devastated by the current drought.
Council chief executive Grish Maharaj said the council was putting together a crop rehabilitation package to salvage the affected cane planting area for the 1999 season.
Sports: Serevi for France
Vodafone national sevens rugby captain Waisale Serevi returned to England from Japan yesterday but not after promising old foe Eric Rush a rematch in France in June. Ravonu said Rush who reportedly sparked a punch-up in the tense final which led to wing Marika Vunibaka's dismissal wasn't really delighted with his team's win. Rush later admitted that he would have preferred beating a full Fijian side rather than six men.