Christmas party in Tuatua

from Peceli
We have started the Christmas parties in Tuatua, Labasa, lots of girls in the household and me, lovely food and a decorated Christmas tree.
from Wendy
Well, we haven't eaten yet tonight as ten of us have all been active in cleaning the garden and back yard, green house, shed, and moving the rabbit and guinea pig from the front verandah to their hutch inside the back shed, all nice now. It took a while to catch the rabbit though, running all around the back yard until we put both Izzy and Ozzie in the gaol cage to take to the new clean hutch.

More than a story about an iguana

from w
I thought the writer was going to talk about lizards of the many-legged variety, but then she goes on to talk about society. Good on you girl!
From the Fiji Times Features:
Dance like the matadors
Fay Volatabu
Monday, December 19, 2011

Picture: Asinate Bakabaka with a crested iguana at Kula Eco Park in Sigatoka. Picture: BALJEET SINGH/ THE FIJI TIMES FILE

RECENTLY, a German national was prosecuted for trying to smuggle a crested iguana out of our country. I wondered why would anyone want to pack such a creature in their bag and literally share the ride with it. As you would have guessed, I have a special negative relationship with the reptile specie and though the size may not matter, a reptile is a reptile whether it be minute, pretty, or priceless, I would literally run a mile when I see one.

Despite my fear and utter dislike of reptiles, a particular type has been my nemesis for life. Wherever I turn I see one, the chameleon to be exact. I have been living with them all my life and often it is quite difficult to distinguish the animal from the surrounds.

The chameleon is a small lizard that changes colour according to its surroundings. Have you seen any in your neighbourhood lately?

They are the ones that go to church on Sunday, speak about eliminating violence but beat up their wives every other day, go to work in a reputable office dressed in a suit, talk about transparency but are secretly involved in corruption; speak words of edification and honour but secretly defame characters; appear to be a saint, go to all the church meetings and are great givers but secretly venomous pythons? I'll ask again, have you seen any lately?

These chameleons change colours depending on the surroundings and often you cannot even tell them apart.

These reptiles have the tendency to change colour, change character and are very unreliable as they change with the wind, the backdrop or circumstance. Today, the backdrop would be green and they would be also, but tomorrow when it is orange, you will not see them as they will also be orange. They will say anything or in some cases, do anything to be invisible and we must commend them for their versatility as they would be good spies for any secret service.

But, in the real world where real people with real problems and real challenges exist, they are sometimes the deadliest people around as they will save their own skins or shed their skins to be alive.

It is now getting to the end of the year and as business winds up, it is also a time to reflect on the year. Have all the commitments we made been carried out? Did we stop victimising our wives or children and family members? Did we improve our fiscal policies?

Did we honour the commitments made in secret or did we just say words in haste to suit the situation but reneged on our agreements or on our word because we did not feel like it, or because the circumstances changed and with it our responses, like the chameleon.

Our nation has evolved in that unlike before when things were solved by the war club or bare knuckles. We have refined our skills and become more dialogue-prone.

What this means is that unlike before when all a warrior had to do was to reaffirm his power with a wield of his club to show people how he felt, now it is through 'dialogues', 'conferences', 'conventions', and we cook up so many eloquent expressions and academic endeavours such as chat cafes, chat rooms, roundtable, square table and whatever else to describe our attempt at finding solutions to some mundane and trivial issue which could easily be solved through action. Wouldn't it be better just to say meeting or discussions and call a spade a spade?

Need we become chameleons and join the crowd crying out for dialogues, panels, conferences, conventions in the bid to be relevant, yet, risk being more irrelevant in the process?

We have conventions, we have laws such as the Universal Declarations of Human Rights, Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Domestic Violence Decree, Family Law and many other international and local legal instruments.

Why do we need to keep on discussing or dialoguing the obvious when we need to go the next step up, which is, action.

Is it necessary to have cafe discussions, virtual chats , roundtables, conventions, conferences or spend more time and money or whatever new form of pow wow is yet to be cooked up?

Shouldn't we just cut to the chase and just start acting on previous discussions and recommendations?.

If you asked me, dialogue is just a fancy way of saying detour, or roundabout or maybe red lights ahead. We have legal instruments, we have our commitments, we have our honour and integrity to live for and live by.

Must we keep on dialoguing and say what needs to be said in a given situation and keep on changing our tune and risk being like the chameleon who will change colour to suit the backdrop?

Or can we be like the German national who saw the value in a crested iguana (even though I cannot comprehend such fascination neither do I condone his method) and decided to act on his impulse and gut feeling regardless of the consequences.

Don't get me wrong, I am not condoning the illegal act but the spirit which prompted the act and that was urgency and action in seeing something of value.

Maybe it is like that with the matadors of Spain, where they dance with the bulls and try and coax them into a corner.

The matador dances with the bulls but at the end of the day, he gets the results. Can we start dancing like the matadors and take the bull by the horn, move a step up from the dialogues and start the actions now?

Can we not tolerate violence in all our homes anymore?

Can we stop beating and neglecting our children?

Can we have shelters for our rural women selling at the markets? Can we have more businesses for women supported and set up?

Can we ensure that women are taken into consideration whenever a policy, a development or even a prayer is said?

If we can truly do that instead of just saying it, then we have truly evolved from being a versatile and scared chameleon to being a priceless crested iguana that the world would die for, or in some case go to jail for.

So what are you? Chameleon or crested iguana? If you are a true native of Fiji, then remember that you are a critically endangered specie and more importantly, we need you to chase out all the chameleons. God Bless Fiji and all its habitats, great or small.

* Fay Volatabu is the general secretary for the National Council of Women Fiji. Email: secretary@ncwfiji.org or ncwfgs1@gmail.com.

Santa in Labasa?

from w
It's hard to believe a replica of an ancient Middle Eastern bishop, St Nicholas, has melded into a character walking around the steamy wet and hot streets of Labasa! But there he was yesterday - in town, aka Satish Chand from Tuatua, a suburb of Labasa where Peceli is staying at present. Maybe Peceli saw him. It's a pity that these days Santa Claus has often got prime spot, instead of the baby Jesus.

Santa zooms into town
writer : LOSIRENE CHAND

12/20/2011

People on the main street of Labasa Town got a pleasant surprise when Santa Claus or Father Christmas zoomed into town on his motor bike yesterday. His appearance was a source of delight on the many faces in Labasa Town yesterday. He greeted people, both young and old, with his trademark greeting of Ho! Ho! Ho!

With Christmas only five days away and Santa Claus very busy with last minute gifts for children who have been good, he has sent some of his helpers to bring Christmas cheer.

And Satish Chand of Tuatua in Labasa is one of Santa’s helpers. For the past four years Mr Chand dons his Santa suit and jumps on his bike to bring a smile to children’s faces. Mr Chand said to him such a practice was a way of sharing Christmas spirit with the people of Labasa.

“Children read in books and watch cartoons about Christmas and see Santa Claus. So every year I try to make it real for them,” Mr Chand said.

The 39-year-old man said he wished to make people feel the joy of Christmas in these hard times and know that Christmas was a time of sharing love and receiving blessings. He said he was happy doing this because he brought smiles on children’s faces even though some little ones were scared to see such a huge man in a red suit.

His message to young children this Christmas: “Do not worry because Santa Claus is already in town.”

A study on silence

from w
I came across an interesting post and followed up with a couple of links about 'Silence' in the Fijian way of life. It looks like an interesting book but it is hard to track down and buy. The topic is intriguing and I came across the issue of the importance of awesome silence when I researched music and the vanua in Labasa. Here's the piece I found on a blog:

A CALL FOR SILENCE IN THE PACIFIC

The Pacific has been the scene of much important thinking. Recent Pacific publications present ideas that are not only relevant to Pacific societies, but have important implications for the other cultures around it. One of these is a project to recover the meaning of silence.

As Unaisi Nabobo-Baba argues in her book *Knowing and Learning: An indigenous Fijian approach *(Suva: IPS Publications, 2006), the silent child in a Western classroom is seen as a problem. By contrast in many traditional Pacific communities, silence is seen as a culturally appropriate mode of behaviour. Nabobo-Baba goes further and develops a taxonomy of silence, which includes 18 different ways of being quiet, including ?silence and the elements? and ?silence when in awe of custom?

(see herefor
an extract of her book).

The cultural meaning of silence poses some challenging questions:

- What is the positive expression of silence?
- How can silence be reconciled with modern democracy?
- What is the role of silence in modern Western countries like
Australia?
- How can silence speak?
- What is the constructive role of silence in the classroom?
- What are the creative dimensions of silence?

Would you be interested in being part of a further discussion about this issue? If you would like to be involved in the development of a colloquium on silence, you are invited to send in your details. This includes:

- Name
- Role
- Area of interest
- What you would like to contribute to this development

Contributions can include research, a specific perspective, a performance, a venue or a program context. Please send an email tosilence@southernperspectives.net. Responses are due 21 January 2012. We will then follow up your interest and keep you in the loop about events where silence will be heard over the next two years.

Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, University of Guam http://www.uog.edu/ Kevin Murray, Southern Perspectives http://www.southernperspectives.net/

Fiji migrants

from w
It was interesting to read that Australia is the main choice of destination to settle for Fiji people wanting to leave their homeland. Australia, then New Zealand before others. I suppose it is because they are not too far away and also they are both lands of excellent opportunities (hopefully) and they will be welcome. Immigration matters of course may be difficult and painfully slow but perseverence and patience gets you there in the end for applications.

from the Fiji Times:
Destination Aussie
Serelisoni Moceica
Sunday, December 18, 2011
A tall 28-percent of Fiji's total migration numbers are reported to have picked Australia as their destination of choice.

A report released at the University of the South Pacific earlier this week showed Australia received the largest share of Fiji's migrants compared to other overseas destinations.

"Our study shows the three main destination countries for Fijian emigrants are Australia, New Zealand and the United States, which is consistent with the findings of a 2006 World Bank report," the Development on the Move report on Fiji said.

The report said 22 percent moved to New Zealand, 18 percent for he US while 10 percent migrated to the United Kingdom.

Other destinations quoted in the book were Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Afghanistan, South Africa, Japan, India, Philippines and other Pacific Island countries.

The report said largely ethnic Fijian teachers and nurses have migrated to work in Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Australia's regional de' attache, Judith Robinson said Australia has benefited from Fiji migrants over the years.

"In return, the Australian government is doing a number of things that we hope will be part of the migration scheme and we hope will be ultimately beneficial not only for officials but countries as well,"

Nukutatava

from Peceli
Yesterday I took some of the children down to Nukutatava beach for a swim and a picnic and a good time was had by all. This is the place where my family lived in the 70s when the boys were very young. We had three bures near the sea then, constant running water, and it was a delightful place with many coconut trees near the shore. Erosion has since taken away some of the beach. Today I visited Paul Jaduram in Labasa and we both went to Nukutatava. Our neighbours have vacated their property - the Christian Fellowship Training Centre - because they wanted to relocate to a site nearer to the larger population such as Suva.

Visit to Nabalebale

from Peceli
Yesterday we went across Vanua Levu towards Savusavu to visit the village of Nabalebale so here are some photos we took. Two of my grandchildren accompanied me and we met up with some friends and also with Ilisoni Ligairi who I knew many many years ago when he was a Lelean student and I was in the Vulitalatala at Davuilevu.

Visit to Vorovoro

from Peceli
Today we went by Degei's boat to Vorovoro Island. It was an excellent visit to see Tui Mali. The tribewanted gang have left so it is quiet these days but still beautiful. We passed Nakawaqa village on the way, so here are some photos. Talei was the boat girl in one of the photos - it's school holidays now.

Eco-friendly cane farming?

from w
Is it possible to have eco-friendly cane farming. Well, they are trying in Labasa. Here's Kate's view on things there.
from Fiji Times today:
Sights on a green future
Kate Findlay
Tuesday, December 13, 2011

WALKING though the fields of a Waiqele sector farm, Shambu Lal the manager is impressed with the results of the Labasa Cane Producers Association's new push towards green sugar.

In a flurry of press, the association signed an agreement with WWF committing to collaborate towards the goal of growing more sustainable, eco-friendly sugar. The association was the first in Fiji to become Fairtrade certified: a hard-earned achievement other producers are still working toward that will see continuing improvement for farmers lives and the environment.

Back home in the UK and in North America, the Fairtrade symbol is a household brand, a big deal. At the other end of the spectrum from the producers, whole universities, towns, and cities are becoming Fairtrade certified, meaning all the produce possible: from sugar and bananas to cocoa and coffee are sourced from producers like the Labasa Cane Producers Association who give workers a fair wage and strive to work in harmony with the environment.

It's gratifying to see the extra money people spend back home translates to a premium here, which finances projects like the one I see now. Back on the Waiqele farm, WWF's sugar man Ryan Collins guides us through the plantation to where it meets the Wailevu River.

The river flows directly onto the Great Sea Reef, a globally important reef for its turtles, dolphins, sharks and rays and the third longest reef in the southern hemisphere. Protecting the biodiversity of the Great Sea Reef is the reason WWF are in Fiji, even though we seem to be the only people who know it exists.

Pollution from sugarcane farms can damage the reef; particles of loose soil can wash off farms smothering the kaleidoscopic of coral beneath, as can algal blooms caused by fertilisation runoff.

The good news is that solutions are simple and low-cost: for one terracing or contouring the gradient of the slope prevents topsoil getting lost, and soil-sampling to determine which blend of fertiliser is required not only saves money on their purchase but improves yields.

Trash-mulching' is another technique, where instead of burning the parts of the plants which remain after harvesting, they are used to line the fields, acting both as natural fertiliser and weed-controlling agent that prevents soil erosion.

Just watching the labourers on the farm harvesting cane is tiring, and once again we set off on our merry way.

* Kate Findlay is a staff member of WWF South Pacific Program's communications department. Email: kfindlay@wwfpacific.org.fj

Another tour group to Labasa

from w
It does surprise me that tourist boats come to Labasa but hopefully there'll be more than the shops to interest them. There's potential for tourist sites but most of them haven't been set up for the comfort of visitors. One is the Wasavulu stones but there needs to be a signifying marker to explain the stories. Tourists don't want a repetition of just shopping do they? They want something to remember. Anyway the Labasa journo has been busy writing up about the visit. I think Naduri is too far from Malau. A better idea would be short boat ride to Vorovoro Island. And rather than the Sugar mill, why not a visit to a working cane-farm with a cup of lemon-leaf tea and gulagulas?

Chief's home a possible tour site
Maneesha Karan
Monday, December 12, 2011

MORE sites have been identified by the Labasa and Macuata Tourism Association for tourism development. Among the potential sites are the home village of the Tui Macuata at Naduri, says association president Paul Jaduram. "We are looking at developing historical sites in the province which can benefit the tourism sector," he said. "One of the sites identified for development is the village of the Tui Macuata because it is the home of one of our leaders."

Mr Jaduram said other sites planned for development include the Three Sisters Mountain at Batinikama. "These three mountains are very popular and they also have a cave and a Fijian myth behind it which makes the site captivating for tourists and sightseers. We are working with the Native Land Trust Board and the government to develop this mountain site and we plan to build some bure at the foot of the hill for visitor use."

Another site being eyed for development is the Waiqele hot springs.

"We need to create many more sites to attract tourists - it will create a sense of adventure and thrill for visitors," he said.

Survey to uplift tourism activity in the North
Maneesha Karan
Monday, December 12, 2011

AN academic has shown interest in boosting the tourism industry in the Northern Division by carrying out a survey of tourists visiting Labasa. The survey is being conducted by the USP's School of Tourism and Hospitality Management lecturer Dr Stephen Pratt, who was among the members of Labasa and Macuata Tourism Association to welcome tourists from Captain Cook Cruises at Malau on Friday.

Dr Pratt said the survey was a measure undertaken by the USP to help the various economies in Fiji. "USP is trying to help local economies by providing its expertise and through education," he said. "Labasa has lots of tourism resources and this place has a lot of potential to grow and expand in terms of tourism. We would not like to just participate in the tourism activities but also help develop and expand it in the North."

A questionnaire will be distributed to tourists on Captain Cook Cruises, which they would be expected to fill out during their tour of the North and have it returned to Dr Pratt. The data from the questionnaire will then be analysed and results distributed to the Labasa and Macuata Tourism Association.

"The survey would help ensure tourists to the North get an authentic and enjoyable trip of the North," said Dr Pratt.

Association president Paul Jaduram applauded the academic's interest.

Weather station Labasa

from Peceli
I wanted to see for myself the new weather station up on the Vatudamu hill overlooking the sea so we came up here and took a couple of photos. Meanwhile I am enjoying being with the village families at Vatuadova.

wedding in Labasa

from Peceli,
The wedding in Wailevu village was very fine. Samisoni is from Bameti's Wailevu clan and the bride came from a village in Cakaudrove. The other photo is of the children of Vatuadova who sang songs for me and we gave them biscuits and chocolates! School has broken up now for the year so the children are playing. I'm getting back into the rhythm of Fijian village life with visitors, functions, parties going on for the Christmas season. God blesses us indeed.

Virgin Australia

from w
Pacific Blue has many flights to Fiji and from all accounts passengers seem happy with travelling by Pacific Blue. Rebranding Pacific Blue as Virgin Australia could be a bit confusing - already some of the airport screens don't always come up with all the plane arrivals. Okay, but why is Polynesian Blue now named as Virgin Samoa? Tell that to Margaret Mead!
Virgin Australia name now across airline
December 7, 2011 - 5:54PM
AAP

New Zealand-based Pacific Blue and long-haul offshoot V Australia are now operating under the Virgin Australia banner, the airline said on Wednesday. The rebranding, which was flagged earlier this year and went live on Wednesday.

It features new airport signs and travel documents,as well as a revamped Virgin Australia website that covers all of the airline group's domestic and international services.

The 17 Pacific Blue Boeing 737 aircraft, primarily based in New Zealand, will have their interiors refurbished in the first half of calendar 2012.

There are plans also for an update of the cabin interiors on the five V Australia Boeing 777-300ERs thatfly to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi.

"Now that our international airlines are all operating under the Virgin brand, our focus is on redesigning the product in the air to ensure a first-rate travel experience across all of our airlines," Virgin chief executive John Borghetti said in a statement.

Painting of the aircraft into the new livery was expected to occur when they went into service, to minimise disruption to schedules.

The one part of the airline group that does not fall under the Virgin Australia umbrella has also received a revamp, with Polynesian Blue renamed Virgin Samoa.

Virgin Samoa, which operates one Boeing 737 and flies from Apia to Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland, is a joint venture between Virgin Australia and Samoan government, which both own 49 per cent of the airline. Aggie Grey's Resort and Hotel holds the remaining shareholding.

Virgin closed steady at 35.5 cents.

A super blog about Vanua Levu

from w
By chance I discovered an excellent blog An American couple spent five months mainly house-sitting in Savusavu with some visits to Labasa and Taveuni. Their blog postings describe their life and insights and with many lovely photographs. From their perspective about the ups and downs of living in rural Fiji. There are some nice postings and photos of Naseakula village.

Nukutatava Bible school closes

from w
I'd been told about the move to Suva for the Christian youth training centre at Nukutatava then I saw a reference to it in one of the Fiji papers. Students winding up for the year. Suva is more accessible in many ways, though to have a Christian youth education centre in Macuata was an excellent idea. They had turned grassland into a park and built rows of fine bungalows and developed the place very well. Now I wonder how the land will be used by a new owner!

Last time for Labasa
writer : SHRATIKA NAIDU
12/5/2011

Graduates of the Labasa World Harvest Institute (WHI) bade their final farewells to each other during their graduation on Saturday. Many shed tears of joy after completing a year of study while some had to let go of the place they called home. The institute which was established in the 2001 to provide biblical education to students all over the world will be closed from next year. A total of 70 students enrolled in three different courses were awarded with certificates.

The first year students were awarded with certificate of discipleship, the second year students were awarded with leadership and the third year students were awarded certificate in church planning.

Christian Mission Fellowship international president Reverend Suliasi Kurulo, who was the chief guest at the graduation, said he felt inner peace seeing students graduating. He said after the completion of three years course, students qualified to become missionaries, Bible college teachers, pastors and in other related Christian professions.

Now students would have to move to Suva and get enrolled at the main centre because the institute in Labasa would be closed.

“The reason we are closing down and bringing students to the main centre is to make bible study courses available for everyone,” Reverend Kurulo said. “The change of venue would also help students get access to modern technology such as computers and library to do research, prepare assignment and listen to international speakers.”

Proposal for port of entry

from w
This is certainly an interesting development proposal for the Macuata coastline, not only for the moving of containers but also for the numerous yachties who find this part of Fiji excellent for cruising and needing a port of entry. It's not far from our mataqali land so that is a plus for our families.

From today's Fiji Times:
$5m jetty for north
Maneesha Karan
Tuesday, December 06, 2011

GROUND work on the construction of an international seaport at Middle Point in Vanua Levu is expected to begin soon following the visit by a group of Canadian consultants to the site last week.

Commissioner Northern Lieutenant Colonel Ilai Moceica told The Fiji Times the Canadian consultants visited the construction site at Yalava Village along the Naduri coastal road last Monday.

Divisional Engineer Roads (Northern) Jone Luveniyali said technical inspections were carried out at the construction site.

"The consultants made a field visit last week to check out the place," Mr Luveniyali said.

"The Department of Mineral Resources will be carrying out soil inspection and the necessary technical investigation and details of the investigations will be provided to the consultants."

The government has allocated $5 million for the construction of Middle Point - the port of entry at Naduri in Macuata province.

Tui Macuata Ratu Aisea Katonivere in an earlier report told The Fiji Times the Middle Point port would boost investment opportunities and activities in the Northern economy.

He said the port of entry was no longer an 'illusion'.

"The Look North Policy is now turning into reality following the allocation of needed funds for the construction of a port of entry on this island," Ratu Aisea said.

He said the Middle Point in the North would bring about competition and would encourage exporters to produce up to potential.

He said export and import activities would become timely with low freight costs.
---------

When I tried to find out the location for this project it seems that it is in the Nabala area maybe near Palmlea Lodge eco-tourist place, and on one website the Labasa -Macuata area offers excellent potential for tourists when they suggest the following places to see:

The Great Sea Reef – the third longest continuous barrier reef system in the world
Hiking, snorkelling, fishing, swim in our 25m lap swimming pool, laze in a hammock, kayaking, exploring, sightseeing, surfing November to May, GT fishing, bird watching and learn native handicrafts
Visit Yalava’s famous “Lions Head” Rock landmark
The Spiritual “Naag Mandir” Cobra Rock Hindu Temple
Explore the huge protected Lagoon behind the Great Sea Reef
Adventure hiking the mountain hinterlands
The large fruit, vegetable, handicraft market in Labasa town
Waisale Rainforest Reserve
Diving, fishing and snorkelling
Breathtaking Open Road trips with driver /guide or Drive Yourself by rental car
See traditional weaving done the Old Fashioned Way in Naduri
Visit and learn about Healthy Noni Juice, Noni Honey, Noni Leaf Tea at Dreketi
See the world’s largest meat goats the “Boer Goats” at Palmlea Farms, Yalava
Learn Fijan bamboo craft
Surf the Great Sea Reef—November to May
Go night crabbing for Mangrove Crab with a local guide
Vanua Levu has many kilometres of unspoilt country roads for hiking and trekking
Non-commercial traditional village visits, participate in a Sevusevu Ceremony
Visit the Pearl Farm at Savusavu
The Mountainous Spine (3000ft elevation) divides the island into the wet rainforest of the South and the sunny hillsides of the north
Explore the north shoreline and offshore islands by Kayak
Wasavula Ceremonial Site to see the sacred monolith and head chopping stone for cannibalistic ceremonies just south of Labasa

Not for diabetics

from w
I've been browsing through recent Fiji Times and Fiji Sun and noticed they are full of advertisements about madly shopping for Christmas, particularly about food. Far far away from the true meaning of Christmas which was about the birth of a special child in an ordinary family. Not about extravagance. Also I wonder how many Fiji people on $2 an hour could afford such luxuries!

Flying to Fiji

from w
Two 'babasiga kids' were on their way to Fiji yesterday - one a grandfather, the other a grand-daughter. At the international departure at Tullamarine airport Melbourne. Linlay has spent nearly three months in Australia, going to a local primary school and she certainly enjoyed the experience and did well in her lessons.

Food Security in Fiji

from w
With such rich soil and so much arable land, Fiji should have abundant food to supply even more than local needs, yet Fiji imports a lot of food which is very costly at the supermarkets and shops, especially these days when many people are poor in cities and rural areas. The budget has one good idea here - about food security which is going to be a crucial factor in the future for many countries. Fiji ought to be an excellent breadbasket to feed the world.
the article above is from Fiji Times last Friday.

Hard working student

from w
Many students in Fiji work really hard to achieve good results and congratulations to those who do very well. The motivation to look into the future for a good job is there for some, but alas, not all boys and girls. (I've been reading my grand-daughter's school reports and am delighted that her teacher has given her an 'excellent' for many aspects of her studies as well as in social skills. It was good to read a report that gives weight to aspects of social behaviour/interaction with other students, etc. as well as test results for English, Maths, etc.) Best wishes to Fiji's students who are now taking a break from their studies - have a good holiday!
North land lease loss spurs dux

writer : SHRATIKA NAIDU
12/3/2011

Being a victim of land eviction 11 years ago was the motivation behind 18-year-old Atinesh Prasad’s success in school this year. Mr Prasad scooped the Best Science Dux Award at the Labasa Sangam College prizegiving ceremony on Wednesday. The memory of his family losing out after their sugarcane farm lease in Labasa was not renewed was still fresh in his mind.

His parents had to start afresh to provide for him and his siblings. All the struggles faced over the years challenged Mr Prasad to work hard in school to fulfill his parent’s dream.

“My family dreams of establishing a construction company in Labasa and I want to be part of it,” Mr Prasad said. He said that was one of the reasons he studied diligently to achieve his dream to become a civil engineer. “My father is a carpenter, my elder brother is a primary school teacher and an electrician, my second eldest brother is a school teacher and a plumber and my brother after him is a joiner,” Mr Prasad said.

The youngest of four siblings believes that knowledge and construction skills run in the family. “I have seen my brothers working very hard to make my parents dream come true. I also desperately want to do my share of work,” Mr Prasad said.

The Namara, Labasa, lad hopes he will get a Government scholarship to purse civil engineering studies at Fiji National University next year. He scored 327 out of 400 marks in the annual examination. He was also given a special award from the school for scoring the highest marks in introduction to technology, best designer in technology, deputy head boy, national winner of 2011 SPICTEX LEGO Robotics competition, first prize in Form 702 and overall third position in the national titration competition.

Would a back-hoe really stop the floods?

from w
It's a nice gesture/gift to Labasa but as the township area is really built on swamp-land I wonder if a back-hoe is sufficient to really stop the water rising when the rivers become flooded AS THEY DO most summer seasons. Anyway, vina'a va'alevu for the gift as it certainly will be useful as in-effective drainage is part of the situation. This item from Fiji FBC.

Japanese grant to ease flooding in Labasa

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Flash flooding in the town of Labasa will now be a worry of the past with the $220,000 grant by the Embassy of Japan for a backhoe loader machine. Flash flooding has been prevalent in the northern town in the past and Labasa Town’s special administrator Vijay Chand says the timely grant will be used to look into the issue of drainage.

Hiring such machines would normally cost around $0.25m.

Chand says the fund will also be diverted to other areas including the expansion of the Labasa market and the upgrade of Subrail Park.

Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Yoshizawa says the assistance from Japan was timely and appropriate for promoting a sustainable environment within the vicinity of Labasa Town.