Sweet victory for Lautoka youth

from w, Good to read that two school in the West have done so well in the Cocacola Games.
From the Fiji Times:

Simply the best

Rashneel Kumar
Sunday, April 26, 2015

+ Enlarge this image

Students of Jasper Williams High School and Natabua High School enjoy their moment after their crowning as the 2015 Coca-Cola Games champions at the ANZ Stadium yesterday. Picture: JONE LUVENITOGA

IT can't get any sweeter than this.

The Sugar City schools, Natabua High and Jasper Williams, proved simplicity brings happiness, and in abundance after winning the overall titles in the 2015 Coca- Cola Games at the ANZ Stadium in Suva yesterday.

Natabua created history by becoming the first western school to win the boys title in the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Finals .

The school won 17 gold medals, 11 silver and five bronze medals to finish ahead of Queen Victoria School which managed nine gold, five silver and five bronze medals.

The 2014 champions Marist Brothers High School settled for third place with seven gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze medals.

In the girls' division, Jasper Williams High School retained the title for the third year after winning 21 gold medals, nine silver and six bronze.

Former champions Adi Cakobau School finished second with seven gold, 17 silver and nine bronze followed by Natabua three gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

An elated Natabua coach Sairusi Naituku said the overwhelming support from the fans spurred their athletes to do well in the Games.

He said they achieved their goal by staying humble and simple throughout the campaign.

"When we came to Sigatoka on our way to Suva, there was a banner hanging saying 'Natabua, bring back the gold'. We have done that and we thank everyone in the Western division for their support," Naituku said.

"We are excited that both trophies are going down to the West."

Outgoing Jasper coach and manager Antonio Raboiliku says the double win for the western schools proves it takes nothing more than a strong will to win big battles.

"I think the western schools have now realised that we don't have to use facilities in order to achieve big things," Raboiliku said.

"Jasper came last two years and they got that and Natabua have proven that. I'm sure all the western athletes will come firing next year."

Former national rep Albert Miller said the historic win for the western schools was good for the Games.

He said both schools had quality athletes across the events.

"It's great, it's wonderful. It just shows the schools in the West are doing something about the development of the sport," Miller said.

Meanwhile, a total of 24 records were set in the two-day event.

Niko in New York regarding Fiji's Indigenous Rights

from w
The Fiji Sun wrote a very biased piece about Niko's visit to New York. Perhaps this one is more balanced  if you can track down how to listen to the audio.  It's on Pacific Beat of the ABC.

Battle over iTaukei rights in Fiji resumes at UN in New York

Updated 21 April 2015, 12:26 AEST

Delegates from the Fiji Native and Tribal Congress are at the United Nations in New York to challenge 17 decrees in Fiji law which they say contravene indigenous rights.

Battle over iTaukei rights in Fiji resumes at UN in New York (Credit: ABC) 

They're making a presentation at the UN's 14th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, just the latest step in a two-year battle to persuade the UN to pressure Fiji's government over iTaukei rights.

The Congress argues that the government is violating ILO Convention 169, and harming iTaukei rights to self-determination, and particularly control over native cultural, educational and financial institutions and tribal lands.

Opposition MP Niko Nawaikula is part of the Congress' delegation in New York. He's just appeared before the UN Forum.

Presenter: Richard Ewart

Speaker: Niko Nawaikula, Fiji opposition MP, Fiji Native and Tribal Congress representative
-------------------
Also, an audio from New Zealand.  Go to http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201751388

Vola Ni Kawa Bula

from w
The VKB will be computerised and available online soon.

VKB to be available online

By LUKE RAWALAI
Thursday, April 23, 2015

Update: 10:16AM iTAUKEI people would soon access the Vola Ni Kawa Bula (VKB) on the internet, says Native Lands Commissioner chairman Ratu Vananalagi Vesikula.

Speaking at the Bua Provincial Council meeting in Nabouwalu. Ratu Vananalagi says the commission is expected to complete the VKB computerisation project by June this year.

He says the computerised project, a first for the commission, takes a lot of time to gather and compile accurate data before their work is completed.

When completed, he said it would be hard for an individual or any group of people to change the VKB and its content.

He said the online VKB would be available for iTaukei people living in different parts of the world.

Regarding ACS and other schools

from w
Here's a sensible letter from a correspondent to the Fiji Times concerning the decision of the Education Minister to make new rules for ACS, QVS and RKS schools.

Vinaka Susie.

ACCESS

Susana Tuisawau, Flagstaff, Suva | Saturday, April 18, 2015

INSHARE

SEVERAL letters in your column about the admission of students to Adi Cakobau School, Ratu Kadavulevu School and Queen Victoria School have been regrettably, not based on facts but assumptions. The truth is this. Firstly, for decades since their establishment, these schools' only criteria for student entry was based on students achieving a certain minimum aggregate mark in the Fiji Intermediate Examination for entry into their intermediate classes.

Later on when the intermediate classes of Forms 1 and 2 (Classes 7 & 8 or Year 7 and Year 8 ) were removed from these schools, the prescribed entry mark was based on the Secondary School Entrance Examination.

These entry marks I admit, were much higher than those demanded by other intermediate or secondary schools and I can only speak for Adi Cakobau School as I am more familiar with it.

Another criteria was that the student had placed the school as first choice in the application form which all schools sitting these examinations in those days, had to have students fill and send to relevant schools. (Students used to fill the name of the secondary school of their first, second and third choices).

Secondly, for ACS, there was always a set allocation of places for rural based primary school students and whose marks may be slightly lower.

Hence, there had been an in-school policy to facilitate rural based students. This discredits any statement that rural students had been marginalised.

Thirdly, there was never any policy about restricting admission to daughters of ratu and adi.

That some of them ended up there happened because they achieved the required marks in the entry examination.

It must be stated that the removal of all external examinations below the Fiji School Leaving Certificate and the accompanying filling of forms of choice, had brought a great deal of confusion to students and parents who now have to personally go from school to school to seek entry for the new year.

Perhaps, this is what the Ministry of Education should focus on and address.

I feel that the Minister of Education should review the unilateral decision on these schools so as to build peace rather than sow seeds of fear and disunity.

You see, given the way indigenous Fijian people's traditional institutions have been unilaterally dismantled; their language no longer acceptable in Parliament; their identity and land ownership issues being subjected to changes without their due consent, etc: — the indigenous people might feel that this is another part of the bigger plan to totally disempower indigenous peoples of Fiji and make them disappear into oblivion, as a race.

Especially, as these schools had been producing some of the national indigenous leaders of Fiji.

Jasper girls remember Marj Hodge?

Go to the internet to http://blogs.victas.uca.org.au/Easter2015/easter-vox-pops/ for some interesting comments by Uniting Church people in Australia about their Easter experience in their various churches  - such as Marj Hodge at Melton. 

Marj Hodge – Melton Uniting Church 

Easter is a very important time for me and our church because this is what is crucial in our faith in what we commemorate at Easter – the death and the resurrection of Jesus. The normal program at our church is that on Thursday we have a prayer vigil and members of the church are invited to go and take one hour each and go to the church and pray. We try and make sure there is someone for each hour. In between that is the Maundy Thursday service which is a communion service.

On Good Friday there is usually a service in the morning and then the Easter Sunday service. Our church is involved with a group of churches that put on a community day on Easter Saturday. One church might put on face painting for children or a free sausage sizzle. Our church has been involved with helping children to make something out of wood – a cross or a table or something – that’s our Easter Saturday. It’s meant to be a contribution to the community to say we’re not just about doing something on Easter for ourselves.

QVS RKS and Adi Cakobau schools

from w
I was astonished to read the new guidelines for accepting students for these schools - the children must come from the interior of the islands such as Navosa or the maritime islands such as Ono-i-lau.  Not those who live in Suva or the large towns.  Amazing.  Normally children gain entry through passing an academic test, no matter where they come from.  Now I wonder about Natabua High School  and Labasa College - will the children who live in Lautoka or in Labasa be excluded?
This is from a blog:

Another Fijian institution destroyed

Frank Bainimarama's regime government has taken a machete to another Fijian institution - boarding schools. Adi Cakobau, Ratu Kadavulevu and Queen Victoria Schools will from next year only cater for students from remote areas in a one-eyed plan to level the playing field for Indian students.

All three schools have been prominent for providing quality education and producing great Fijian leaders, many who have gone on to become CEOs, Ministers, Prime Ministers and Presidents of Fiji. They have also produced notable sports players.

But Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy says the boarding schools were originally meant to cater for students who hailed from the interior and remote outer islands.

He said lately, this privilege had been abused by students within urban areas whom he referred to as the elite group. "I want to announce today that next year, no boarding space will be given to students from urban areas or the elite in all facilities in the government boarding schools such as QVS, ACS, RKS and the likes. Boarding schools will only be reserved for children that come from the remote outer islands or the interior of our mainland.
Children in urban areas are expected to get their education from the many nearby schools available to them in their areas."

Adi Cakobau School (ACS) was established as a boarding school by the government in 1948 and was named after King Cakobau's grand-daughter. Its English language curriculum included traditional academic subjects, traditional dance, music and crafts. 

Queen Victoria School (QVS) was established in 1906 initially to provide education to the sons of Fijian Chiefs but over the years students have been multiracial.Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) is said to be the largest of the three boarding schools. Its students are multiracial, but predominantly Fijian. 

Former students of the three schools have vowed to 'save our schools'. 

And a response from Ro Kepa.

Victims to resist

Nasik Swami
Monday, April 13, 2015  Fiji Times

THE persistent attempts to re-engineer and weaken the iTaukei community is a tabu, says Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa while putting everyone on notice that those indigenous people who feel victimised will resist.

Ro Teimumu was responding to comments made by Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy early this month where he announced that Government boarding schools such as Adi Cakobau, Ratu Kadavulevu and Queen Victoria would cater for students from rural schools from next year.

Dr Reddy said lately, this privilege was abused by those who lived in urban areas, whom he referred to as the "elite group".

Ro Teimumu cautioned Dr Reddy to tread carefully when dealing with matters relating to the iTaukei community in Fiji.

"It was one thing to hurl abuse and disrespect to the chiefs and iTaukei community while systematically dismantling their institutions in Fiji through imposed decrees, but it is quite another to plan heavy-handed and unwelcomed reforms into matters involving our children - plans to impose his (Dr Reddy's) will and preferences on ACS, QVS and RKS," she said.

Ro Teimumu said without consultation or proper consideration, Dr Reddy had announced reforms that were creating alarm and anger.

"Most of these reforms would have far reaching implications and consequences for the future of our children and their families.

"Dr Reddy's comments were not only inciteful but it carried with it an underlying tone of arrogance and impertinence, from one, whose journey to prosperity was on the backs of the generosity and good nature of the chiefs and indigenous people of Fiji who allowed their lands and resources to be used by all for the good of Fiji," she claimed.

Ro Teimumu said for the Education Minister to refer to ACS, QVS and RKS as elite schools spoke more about his prejudice then it did about his suitability to head Fiji's Education Ministry.

She said the last time she looked at a dictionary "elite" referred to a group or class of people seen as having most power and influence in a society, especially on account of their wealth or privilege.

In response, Dr Reddy clarified student placement restrictions to Government boarding schools of RKS, QVS and ACS.

"The decision to restrict boarding spaces arose out of lack of space due to overcrowding of the boarding facilities in recent years," he said.

Dr Reddy said at the beginning of every school year, parents from outer islands and maritime turned up to the school to enrol their child only to find that there was no space to accommodate their child.

"Boarding spaces are to be first given to rural and interior students as well as students from maritime areas who are disadvantaged due to the unavailability of a school around their residence.

"Any surplus spaces after this initial placement will then be given to students from urban areas."

He said this move would provide the appropriate space to the disadvantaged and underprivileged students who otherwise might drop out of the school system because of the lack of boarding facilities.

The minister reiterated that apart from the restriction of boarding spaces to first place rural and maritime students, while students from urban areas could still study at these schools as day scholars.

Natural foods versus supermarket foods in Fiji

from w
When it was announced that Fiji children in Grade One were being given free milk and one Weetbix biscuit some people realised that this would reinforce the shift from eating home-grown vegetables to children crying to their parents to buy supermarket breakfast foods.  Now, on World Heath Day, this was re-inforced by a speaker and in a cartoon.  Text (but not the cartoon) is from the Fiji Times Editorial.

Healthy food, healthy body

Fred Wesley
Wednesday, April 08, 2015

+ Enlarge this image

THE fact that Fijians are rapidly moving away from organic food consumption and are opting for more chemical-based and processed foods is a matter of concern.

The revelation was shared by the Health and Medical Services Minister Jone Usamate ahead of the World Health Day celebrations yesterday.

World Health Day, he pointed out, is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on April 7 under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization.

"As our food supply becomes increasingly globalised, the need to strengthen food safety systems in and between all countries is becoming more and more evident," Mr Usamate said.

"The international celebration is an opportunity to alert people working in different government sectors, farmers, manufacturers, retailers, health practitioners and consumers about the importance of food safety and the part we all can play in ensuring that everyone feels confident about what they have on their plates."

Understandably, the day is important. As the minister said, it is an opportunity to create some awareness about what we eat, and the impact it will have on our body.

It is when you get to the other bits of his speech that concern is raised.

Especially the bit about studies showing Fijians are not consuming enough fruits and vegetables daily. It is difficult to comprehend this when one considers the fact that we have these in abundance.

"Fijians are increasingly consuming machine-based foods more than land-based foods and drinks. They are moving from organic to chemical-based processed foods. More and more, Fijians are transiting from organic farms to supermarkets," the minister said.

Poor health in Fiji

from w
We are often reading that someone in Fiji has died - younger than expected. It's really sad to know that so many Fiji people die young of diseases that are the consequence of lifestyle - rich food, dinner late at night, lack of exercise, too much sugar, stress.
In the Fiji Times - Monday April 6 is this article.

Dying prematurely

Torika Chandra
Monday, April 06, 2015

+ Enlarge this image

Walking or exercising daily is a good way of ensuring a healthier lifestyle free of NCDs. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

NON-communicable diseases, according to the World Health Organization, is not passed from person to person. They are of long duration and generally slow progression. Also known as chronic diseases, NCDs affect all age groups. Though often associated with older age groups, evidence shows that 16 million of all deaths in the world attributed to NCDs occur before the age of 70. Of these "premature" deaths, 82 per cent occur in low — and middle-income countries. Children, adults and the elderly are all vulnerable to the risk factors that contribute to NCDs, whether from unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco smoke or the effects of the harmful use of alcohol. Fiji is fast becoming a part of this world NCD statistic.

ALLOW me to begin my focus feature with facts — out of the 6000 people who die in Fiji every year, 5000 die because of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

These are mainly heart attacks and strokes. Alarming? How about this? People in Fiji are dying prematurely, getting sick by the age of 20 and dying at 40 years.

Or that 80 to 85 per cent of Fijians continue to die from either cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic lung disease.

Or that Fiji records one amputation every 12.6 hours and one in five persons are at a risk of having a stroke.

An even alarming fact which will be sure to knock you off your feet is that Fiji's youngest diabetic patient is a 12-year-old, who suffers from Type 2 Diabetes.

These alarming, but real figures from the Ministry of Health, should be knocking you off your feet.

Enough to make you throw your cigarette packets in the rubbish or straight out for a run or even to the nearest shopping centre to buy healthier foods.

The increase of NCDs in Fiji is due to several factors, mainly because of a rise in urbanisation, an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and the aggressive marketing of foods unnaturally high in fat, salt and sugar.

To make matters worse, people are giving in to these factors and allowing themselves, some even willingly, to be part of an NCD statistic.

Dr Wahid Khan, the chairman of Diabetes Fiji, did not mince his words when he stated last month that unless and until there is public support and will-power, non-communicable diseases will remain a part of Fiji and embedded into our Fijian lifestyle.

"Time has come to fix things before it is too late," Dr Khan said.

He pinpoints the solution to everyone.

"NCDs can be contained if people change their lifestyle by eating and living healthy," Dr Khan said.

"However, this level of transformation can only be achieved through multiple interventions from every layer of our society. "

World Health Organization technical officer Dr Wendy Snowdon, during the Alliance for Healthy Living launch, says States tackling NCDs required a multisectoral approach.

She stressed it was critical to engage the civil society organisations, community groups and community members to bring about a desired change.

"The active participation of civil society organisations, particularly, the participation of grassroots organisations representing people living with NCDs, could assist in formulating public health policies and legislations which would assist individuals to reach the highest standard of health and wellbeing."

Dr Khan adds time is of the essence as NCD was already suffocating Fiji and stealing the country of its future.

"We believe that the opportunity for health begins in our families, neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces, therefore, we encourage everyone to take charge and to bring about changes to their lifestyles to arrest the problem of NCDs."

* Minimise or restrict consumption of sugar sweetened beverages;

* Eat more local seasonal fruits;

* Reduce smoking and alcohol use;

* Cut down on salt and fatty food intake; and

* Improve physical activity.