The Ministry of Information has today confirmed that it has written to the Fiji Labour Party to inform them that they have to comply with the Media Decree and the provisions of the Public Emergency Regulation in relation to the FLP's website.
Permanent Secretary for Information, Sharon Smith-Johns said the FLP is not exempt under the Media Decree and has to forward all it's statements or releases to the Ministry before they are allowed to be put on the website.
Smith-Johns said the FLP needs to comply with the rules following information received that it has been issuing daily releases on it's website.
Suva 15's rugby coach Bill Gadolo has named a starting line up with a mix of youth and experience in the side to try and wrestle the BSP Farebrother Sullivan trophy from Nadroga on Saturday.
Gadolo will also use Alefoso Yalayalatabua and Dale Tonawai as the co-captains for the capital city side which will have players like Leone Nakarawa, James Brown, Samu Bola and Dan Ligairi boosting the forward pack.
Young Nikola Matawalu returns at halfback to partner Digicel Cup points leader Kameli Neiqisa at fly-half.
The former Suva rugby captain said picking Tonawai and Yalayalatabua is a decision reached after watching the leadership quality of the two players.
The Nadroga and Suva match on Saturday kicks-off at 3.30pm at Lawaqa park and you can catch the live commentary on our sister station Viti FM.
Defending Courts Inter District Championship champion Navua have been drawn in an easy pool and the Southern team which lifted the title from Prince Charles Park last year will have crowd support this time around as the tournament will be held at the TFL Stadium.
Navua President, Anil Sharma said his team is delighted to have the tournament in Suva but they will not under-estimate any team despite being drawn in an easy pool.
Meanwhile, Fiji Football Association's President, Doctor Samsu Dean Sahu Khan said the decision to move the venue from Ba to Suva was because they are not sure when the OFC and FIFA officials are coming to Fiji to inspect Govind Park.
Looking at the pools of Courts IDC, Navua head Pool A with Nadroga, Nadi, Tavua and Labasa while hosts Suva head pool B with Ba, Lautoka, Rewa and Nasinu.
In the Premier division draws, Savusavu head pool 1 with Levuka, Rakiraki, Taveuni and Seaqaqa. Tailevu Naitasiri, Tailevu North, Vatukoula and Nadogo are in pool 2 while Dreketi, Lami, Nalawa and Bua are in Pool 3.
Courts Fiji Limited has provided $105,000 sponsorship for the five day tournament which will be held from the 7th to the 11th of next month at the TFL Stadium.
The Prime Minister and Minister for Natural Disaster Management Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama will make a decision in the days ahead on whether to declare a state of drought in the western division.
With no rain in sight, the Drought Steering Committee met in Suva this morning to consider a drought monitoring situation report. Acting Director DISMAC Pajiliai Dobui said more tasks forces are being set up to provide the PM's office with twice daily reports before a decision is made on their next course of action.
The drought Situation report obtained by Fijivillage news stated that hydrological drought in place some 8 - 9 months ago over Fiji for majority of the stations including Viwa, Yasawa-i-rara, Nacocolevu, Nadi Airport, Rarawai, Penang, Vatukoula, Suva, Navua, Savusavu, Lakeba and Matuku.
It said stations which came into the drought warning are Dobuilevu, Koronivia, Monasavu, Nausori Airport, Udu Point, Vunisea and Vanubalavu.
The report said the dry season has still got some 2 - 3 months to go and they do not anticipate any marked improvement during this time.
It said the drought is expected to break in December 2010 to January 2011 with two months of normal wet season rainfall.
Dobui said at this stage DISMAC is trying its best to assist those in the affected areas.
It has been revealed in the Omkar road murder trial of a 22 year old woman, that one of the accused, Sat Nair who was a van driver did not return his vehicle to the owner on time on the day of the alleged murder.
Virendra Prasad told the High Court that Nair also known as "pinati" drove for him in June 2008 and his shift was from 6am to 9pm when he was to return the van.
Prasad revealed that on the day of the alleged murder, Nair returned at 10pm to his house but did not leave the van as he had some passengers.
Prasad said Nair returned at 1am, parked the van, handed his income and left.
He said this was the first time this happened but he allowed his drivers to drive longer if they have passengers onboard.
A security guard, Ajay Sami recalled that after Nair left the van at his bosses house, he checked inside and found two empty beer bottles and that the van was dirty with mud and grass in the back.
Sami also claimed that before Nair left, he swore at him on the way out saying the van was not in good running condition.
Earlier today, an 18 year old witness told the court how they discovered a body floating in a creek next to Omkar park where they were playing rugby.
Anesh Ram, Keshwa Nand, Vikash Chand, Sat Nair, Ilaitia Waqa, Binesh Kumar and Anil Singh have pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.
The victim’s body was found on June 9th 2008 in a creek in Omkar road and the body had allegedly been mutilated.
The students of Yadua Village School are bracing themselves for the worst as their main drinking water supply is on the verge of drying up.
Yadua Island is located on the Western side of Vanua Levu in the province of Bua and is situated 2 kilometers from the mainland.
School head teacher, Orisi Tuikilakila said that the dry weather season currently faced in most parts of the country is taking it's toll on the students and the people of Yadua.
Tuikilakila said that since they live on an island, they rely on rain for drinking water and the water storage tanks in schools are running low.
Tuikilakila also said families who rely on the sea for food and livelihood are also facing difficulties.
Meanwhile, the report which was compiled on Tuesday on the extent of the drought in the country has been forwarded to the Drought Steering Committee for deliberation.
Health needs of diabetics with amputations to be addresses
Time: 15:45 - 09/09/2010
By next year, Fiji will be able to address the special needs of diabetic patient who have had amputations.
That is the revelation of the Health Minister Doctor Neil Sharma at the National health Symposium underway at the Fiji School of Medicine.
Dr. Sharma said that this is all in line with addressing the issue of Non Communicable Diseases and its prevention as well as after care.
He revealed that they have a prosthetic centre development plan in place where next year production is expected to start.
The medical representatives present at the symposium were informed that in 2007 alone there were 145,000 cases of diabetes and this number has increased.
The two day Symposium being held at the Fiji School of Medicine will finish on Saturday.
The dry weather is expected to hinder Eid celebrations for many Muslims in the Western Division this year.
Eid is celebrated after a month of fasting by Muslims after the new moon is sighted.
However, a resident of Meganuiya Nadi Naushad Ali said lack of water and the dry weather is a major issue for Muslims who have to look for water to clean their houses and prepare sweets.
Ali is calling on the water authorities to deliver water in the areas heavily affected.
Eid will be celebrated either tomorrow or Saturday.
Root crops from the Central Division have been sent to the Western Division to supplement the shortage of supply in supermarkets and markets as the effects of the drought continues to grow.
This was revealed in a report compiled two days ago by the Agriculture office in the Western Division, and according to Field officer Davendra Naidu who conducted the assessment from Raviravi Ba to Sabeto Nadi, water sources have dried up and farmers and people need help.
Naidu said there were six key issues highlighted in the report which needs to be looked into urgently.
Naidu said crops have been badly affected.
The report which was compiled on Tuesday has been forwarded to the Drought Steering Committee for deliberation.
