Fiji

Out classed by PNG in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay, the Fiji 4x100m runners of Seavula Sisilia, Tumalevu Makelesi, Sailosi Elenoa and Younis Bese caused an upset grabbing the gold medal from PNG.

The statement released by Fiji police's chief of investigations and intelligence, Henry Brown, said two men, an Australian and a Fijian, were apprehended near the Vuda Point Marina in Lautoka on Monday with parcels of the drug found in their vehicle.

Following an impressive showing from their karetekas yesterday, they were able to keep the momentum going with a commanding display that cements their fourth place spot on the overall medals table.

Joji Veremalua claimed the men’s under 75 kilograms individual kumite honours with victory over Honoiti Lien of Tahiti, while Tumu Lango continued Vanuatu’s recent medal rush with bronze.

New Caledonia’s Iwe Rene Hmana was the other athlete who clinched a podium finish, taking bronze. 

That was the tale of the tape at the new Sir Hubert Murray stadium tonight as tears were shed on one side of the field and singing and dancing broke at the other side. The win tonight also won Fiji gold at the Pacific Games.

In normal time, Vanuatu looked the side to score first having a mountain of opportunities in both the first and second half.

Vanuatu’s Bill Nicholls and captain Brian Kaltack came nail bitingly close to scoring but had no luck finding the back of the net as their shots sailed wide or above the bar.

Bainimarama was responding to a question in Parliament by Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa who asked whether the Fijian Government would consider a referendum given the overwhelming negative reaction to the plans to change the Fiji flag.

“Thank you Madam Speaker, the simple answer is no!” said Bainimarama.

Delana who is currently in Papua New Guinea for the Pacific Games was asked of Fiji's intention to bid for the 2023 games, 20-years after the last one held in Suva.

Delana said there was no decision on the matter yet.

“The Pacific Games Council committee has not said anything on that yet,” he said.

“We are ready to host. The next Pacific Games is Tonga, after that the PGC will decide on 2023.”

Delana said there was a lot to learn from the host nation as they had proven everybody wrong by having world-class facilities done in time for the games.

According to the national federation, they do not want their athletes to worry about raising money but concentrate on performance only.

Each athlete was levied $1650 and sports such as touch rugby did not make the cut while volleyball was rescued in the last minute.

Athletics Fiji development officer Joseph Rodan Junior explained was hey did it.

“In the era or amateurism that most minor sports fall under, the biggest challenge for any federation is financial support.

In his opening address, Mele emphasized the important linkage between agriculture and tourism.

“The two productive sectors agriculture and tourism seem to offer the best opportunities for inclusive economic growth in the region and therefore the promotion of the linkages between the two can contribute to creating improved economic opportunities, build resilience in rural communities and enhance sustainable development in both sectors”, Renato Mele said.

Finance Permanent Secretary Filimone Waqabaca says talks have been held with various international financial institutions to work out the best solution.

“The payment next year will be in full, it will probably be a rollover depending on the arrangement that we will agree on now, so it will be a, we will have to roll over or do another float in order to repay that, but part of it will probably be taken from our funds that we have been keeping aside to help in the funding aspect of it as well.”

Dr Mahendra Reddy warned that teachers would be demoted to clerks within the ministry if they became a liability to the school system.

There are more than 8000 teachers around the country.

In an interview, Dr Reddy said the underperforming teachers had Monday sick leaves, affairs with students, did not cover classes and were behind schedule.

He gave an example of how some schools were way ahead in terms of the curriculum coverage.