Power outage
A FAULT experienced at the 132kV (kilo volts) transmission line between Wailoa power station and Wailoa switching station on Sunday caused the generators at Wailoa power station to go out of service. FEA spokesman Karunesh Rao said that in turn resulted in a total blackout to all of its customers in Viti Levu. "While the FEA engineers were trying to establish the fault on the transmission line, the diesel power stations throughout Viti Levu were then gradually brought into service to cater for supply to key areas in the various towns and cities," Mr Rao said.
Stop the deaths
YESTERDAY was World Suicide Prevention Day and Lifeline Fiji vice president Neelam Chand said help was available. She said they counselled an average of 15 to 20 people per month. However, the numbers increased between January to April following the release of exam results and the floods that hit the Western Division.
Pension plea
A GROUP of pensioners have urged political parties looking to stand in 2014 to take up their cause. Pensioner David Burness said they would campaign and vote for the party that promised to restore their pension contracts with the FNPF. Last year, Mr Burness led a class action in court to save FNPF pensions from being slashed.
Surgery team
AN ADVANCED orthopaedic surgical team from India has arrived in Fiji to start hip and knee replacements of patients. The team arrived over the weekend and will begin screening patients who require surgery from next week. Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma said the team would be working with a local orthopaedic team, and would travel to the west and north for this screening. He said more than 90 cases had been indicated for pre-operatively evaluation.
Dancing driver
THE Land Transport Authority has issued a seven-day notice to the dancing bus driver to show cause to the authority's chief executive officer or have his licence suspended. Driver Ritesh Kumar, 30, failed to appear before the CEO yesterday and he has been given liberty to come forward within the next seven days. "The CEO will take action against Mr Kumar if he fails to appear within the next seven days," LTA spokesman Alfred Wiliame said, adding the authority wanted to hear Mr Kumar's side of the story before making any decision.