Fiji Government

Fijian social media has been buzzing with rumours that Bainimarama's health has deteriorated after undergoing heart surgery at a Melbourne hospital last month.

But democracy advocate Pita Waqavonovono said Fijian citizens deserved to know the health status of the leader of the country.

He said the government's decision to remain silent did not help quell such rumours.

This week the Fijian Government announced it wouldn't pay its multi-million grant to the university while the current vice chancellor Pal Ahluwalia remained at his post.

It has called for another investigation after an earlier one revealed significant abuses by the former Vice Chancellor, Rajesh Chandra, who is believed to have close links with the Fiji Government.

The Fiji Government earlier this year deported Professor Ahluwalia and his wife, after accusing them of immigration breaches.

Overfishing and marine pollution are seen as the main reasons for the decline.

60 percent of people in Fiji live in coastal areas and depend on fish as a source of income and food.

Permanent Secretary Sanaila Naqali the Ministry will work with Fijians to implement good fishing techniques.

It has started on projects aiming to ease some of the pressure on the marine life around the reefs, which is a key source of coastal fish.

Mr Naqali said with the projects in place, fish stocks should become sustainable again.

Last month the Fiji government announced it had banned entire villages from taking part in the Recognised Seasonal Employer ccheme in New Zealand or the similar Australian scheme after complaints from the New Zealand government about misconduct and disorderly behaviour by some Fijian workers.

Now the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Jone Usamate, has met with some of the Fijian workers in this country to " hear their views of the challenges faced."

The Minister for Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu said now that the waters have receded, government teams are visiting sites hit by the flooding.

The opposition National Federation Party has called on the government to declare a disaster for areas badly affected.

But Mr Seruiratu said any action will be dictated by assessments being carried out now.

The minister said food security may not be as serious an issue as first thought.

A Fiji Government delegation attended the Forum's Officials Committee meeting which has been setting the agenda for the leaders' summit next month in Papua New Guinea.

Fiji was suspended from the Forum in 2009 for refusing to return to democracy.

Last year it was re-admitted after the elections but the Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has been stressing he will not attend the summit in Port Moresby.

FBC News reports the roving Pacific Ambassador Litia Mawi saying the re-engagement is strategic to ensure Fiji's position on regional issues is heard.