Fiji

“We established our first Suva branch in 1883, and in 1951, the Bank of Australasia merged with the Union Bank of Australia to form ANZ Bank Limited,” explained ANZ CEO Pacific & CEO Fiji, Vishnu Mohan, at a function held in Suva to commemorate the milestone anniversary.

“We’ve since continued to grow our presence in Fiji with the acquisition of the Fiji operations of Barclay’s and Grindlays Banks in 1985, Bank of New Zealand in 1990, and Bank of Hawaii in 2002,” said Mohan.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Jobs in the Pacific has found that almost 10,000 jobs could be created across Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, with optimistic scenarios making that number as high as 27,000, representing more than 3% of GDP.

The paper, released by the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), details the dangers posed by PACER-Plus for Pacific livelihoods and how out of touch with the Pacific reality such free trade agreements are.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made the comments while speaking at the 48th Session of the International Sugar Organization (ISO) Council in London.

Bainimarama said the sugar cane industry is Fiji’s second biggest revenue earner and involves around 200,000 Fijians.

Government, Bainimarama said is committed to modernizing the industry by embracing new technology to improve yields.

 He added sugar is irreplaceable economically especially in the near term and cannot be allowed to decline.

Digicel is once again bringing families and the Pacific’s greatest musical talent together with an upbeat new version of their hit song ‘We Are Family’. This new rendition is a cheerful Pacific Christmas music collaboration, available to all Digicel customers across the company’s six Pacific countries. 

With Employment Minister Jioji Konrote’s resignation from government due to his nomination for Presidency, Naupoto is the next person in line to take up the now empty parliament seat.

However, Naupoto told FBC News, he will not leave the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF).

He has had discussions with the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama over the issue and says, the PM agrees with his decision.

As per requirement under the 2013 constitution, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has nominated former military officer and current cabinet minister Jioji Konrote for the position, where as the opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has nominated Taveuni chief and former military commander Ratu Epeli Ganilau.

The constitution requires the President has had a distinguished career in any aspect of national or international life, whether in the public or private sector.

Parliament will hold a special sitting on Monday to elect the new president.

The opposition's leader Ro Teimumu Kepa says it has tried to follow a process to depoliticise the nomination.

Ro Teimumu says her SODELPA Party chose him after discussions with chiefs as opposed to a process of numbers and voting by politicians.

Ratu Epeli was the defence minister in the post-coup regime of Frank Bainimarama following an unsuccessful bid as leader of the National Alliance to win a seat in the 2006 election.

Oceania Football President David Chung says Patel has taken Fiji football to new heights during his first term and he now has the opportunity to build on that success.

During Patel's four-year term Fiji qualfied for the 2015 Under 20 World Cup in New Zealand, where they created history by beating Honduras.

The Fiji Under 23 team also won the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament in July and will represent the region in Rio next year.

Patel claimed 37 votes, well clear of his only challenger, former Lautoka president Shalendra Prasad, who picked up 16.

Major General Ben Groenewald has confirmed he is attending a United Nations anti-brutality convention in Costa Rica and says he hopes a result on a police brutality investigation will be completed before he leaves.

A video of security personnel violently beating prison escapees was leaked online two and a half years ago, prompting international condemnation.

Ben Groenewald says the case had been shelved but he reopened it after taking up his job.

He says he hopes the DPP will comment soon.