Bula vinaka
Here are some headlines that made The Fiji Times’ edition for Thursday, December 2.
Remember we are celebrating our 152nd anniversary and you can win cash prizes this month. Scroll down for details.
PG 1
- THE more than 75,000 tourists booked to visit the country over the next two months could rake in about $255 million, says Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill. He made the comment after more than 300 passengers touched down at Nadi International Airport to a huge welcome party. “You cannot get a better place than Fiji,” said 82-year-old Jeff Singh, a former Fiji resident who lives in Australia.
- OPPOSITION Whip Lynda Tabuya says Fiji should have taken its cue from Australia and delayed the opening of borders due to uncertainty surrounding the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron. In her response to last week’s Parliament opening address by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, she said “lives are more important than livelihoods.”
PG 2-3
- AS long as the Minister for Economy runs this country, the politics of pettiness and personalisation will continue to be a blight on our nation.
- FIJI could rake in $255 million in two months from tourists arriving after December 1 if everything goes according to plan, says Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill.
- RESORT workers and tourism operators were emotional as the first group of visitors from Australia arrived from Sydney.
PG 4-5
- THERE is now “more than ever” a need to ensure that resource owners are a key part of the sustainability journey, says Opposition member of the Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua.
- THE appointment of Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum as Minister responsible for Climate Change and Champion of Ocean-Climate Nexus and Climate Finance has been labelled a disappointment.
- TEACHERS with teaching certificates from Nasinu Teachers College, Lautoka Teachers College and Fiji College of Advanced Education are recognised in the remuneration policy, says Education Minister Premila Kumar.
- THE Tertiary Education Loans Scheme (TELS) debt currently stands at around $600 million, says Education Minister Premila Kumar.
- IT is not only the constitutional right of all Fijians of age to vote, but also be able to contest elections, says Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Minister Rosy Akbar.
- NATIONAL Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad said Parliament may as well do away with the business committee because of the way Government used Standing Order 51 to push Bills through.
PG 7
- VIOLENCE against women and girls is a family and national issue and not just a women issue, says Minister for Women Rosy Akbar.
- FORMER Women Minister Mereseini Rakuita says there needs to be analysis done of parliamentary systems to gauge whether they are working to enhance women’s participation or are a barrier to it.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/LEADER
Readers have their say on issues they can relate to. Turn to pages 8 and 9.
- The leader is on the arrival of tourists from Australia… and why we must maintain vigilance moving forward. Turn to Page 8.
PEOPLE
This popular section is about people, their hopes and aspirations and the challenges they faced to get to where they are today.
BACKTRACKS
The musical journey continues.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about rugby 7s.
YOU CAN WIN CASH WITH THE TIMES
Remember we are celebrating our 152nd anniversary and you can win cash with the Times. There were 10 winners in September and 20 winners in October. In November, 30 lucky readers had the chance to win $152 each, and also get into the draw to win the grand prize of $15,200. It is December and 40 lucky readers have a chance to win cash.
All you have to do to get into the draw is to cut out the masthead of the Fiji Times, write your name and address, and a phone contact on it, and drop this into a bin at a participating store near you.
