September 23 2016

The Woman, Miss Mills, Who Changed The

Lives Of Many Fijian Women

The woman, who together with her

sisters devoted their lives to uplifting
girls education standards in Fiji, has
died aged 102.
Australian missionary and teacher,
Phoebe Mills, affectionately known as
Miss Mills, passed away at a nursing
home in Brisbane on September 2.
She was cared for by her brothers
(Alfred) daughter, Claire, until she
became so frail she had to be moved to
a care facility.
A memorial service was held at the
Wesley City Mission Church in Butt
Street, Suva.
Miss Mills journey began in 1938
after she graduated with a Bachelor of
Arts degree, at only 18-years-old, from
the University of Queensland.
Her father, Reverend Alfred Mills was
a Methodist Church minister. Such was
the dedication of the family that all
three of his daughters never married
but instead devoted their lives to the
work of God.
Her brother, the youngest, was the only
one of the siblings who had children
before he contracted polio during the
epidemic in the early 1950s before he
died.
It is a known fact that the Methodist
Church of Australia contributed
immensely to our education system here.
And such was the work of the church
to deploy new graduates to spread
the word of God and also to bring
education where at a time, could only
be attained by a few.
According to a short biography
produced for the memorial service,
Miss Phoebe first arrived as Ballantine
Memorial Schools teacher and she
eventually became principal from 1950
to1966.
She worked under Miss Tolley, her
predecessor, until World War II in
Europe broke out and the Government
took over the school site. As a result
BMS was restated at Delainavesi in
1940.
The biography said: During the
period of the school relocation, Miss
Mills accompanied the senior girls to
Matavelo, Nailaga in Ba to await the
building of the new school premises,
the first boarding school for Fijian
girls.
Matavelo was one of the first

Voreqe Bainimarama

The Mills sisters

Methodist schools established in 1899
for girls.
In 1941, they returned to Suva where
Miss Mills at the time was quoted:
Love made light of the formidable
task of establishing the new school and
teacher trained under Miss Tolley and
Miss Griffin of Dudley.
It was not until after three decades of
her arrival here that her younger sister,
Mary, came to assist her in her work
and as well as offer assistance with her
an issue to her eyesight which she had
developed.
This was a problem which affected her
significantly later in life but despite
this did not dampen or lessen her love,
commitment and passion for her work.
Also significant was in 1971, Elizabeth
Avery (also known as Betsy), the
youngest of the three sisters, came to
Fiji and joined in the same passion.
Following her stint in BMS, Miss Mills
also taught English at Dudley High
School.
A fellow colleague, who was also
at Dudley High School and now in
Canada recalled her memories with the
late Miss Mills.
Linda Mangubhai said: I was

unfortunate to be given the space next

to her in the staff room. Unfortunate
in that the length of her desk space
was less than the height of books and
papers and there was a constant danger
of her books and papers crashing onto
my side.
You never mess with Miss Mills and
the students knew this too.
She described her as an incredibly
forceful woman. She would walk to
Dudley every day in her flip flops,
quite a distance in the Suva heat but
she was never so silly as to not accept
lifts when offered.
Her lunch was a meagre cheese with
a little piece of fruit, and she would eat
the mould on the cheese and pips of the
fruit. She only ever drank water.
She would have been 63 when I
started at Dudley and despite her
already long-teaching service she was
open to modern ideas.
We would talk about the standard of
English of the students and she knew
that all teachers were teachers of
English. I would give her passages of
science and she would use them for
English comprehension.
There was nothing meek about Miss

Mills, she was very fair. She treated

all the Dudley students, equally, boys
and girls, Fijian, Indian (Indo-Fijian),
Muslim Christian.
She was a good teacher; she was a
good person. We loved her dearly and
are better for knowing her.
The other Ms Mills (Betsy), was said to
be the most light-hearted of the three.
Ms Mangubhai said of her: She gave
piano lessons after school. We would
always fight our way through the
greenery outside and then the piles
of papers on every surface inside the
house to join the line of students. There
was always guava jelly in the making
on the stove.
Of the younger sister, Mary, she was the
head of BMS Mathematics department.
In the school magazine she made it a
point writing: In Fiji Junior, a mark
of at least 30 per cent in mathematics
is essential if students are to continue
their education and return to school for
Fifth Form work.
This fact alone makes it important
that each student in the school be
encouraged to do the best work all the
time.
Continued on Page 3

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Fiji News

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$2.2 Billion Tourism

Brexit No Impact On Fiji Industry, A Target For 2020
Makereta Konrote

The Fijian Government has set an

ambitious target of creating a $2.2
billion Tourism industry by the end of
2020.
Minister for Industry, Trade, and
Tourism Faiyaz Siddiq Koya said this
in his speech at the Skl International
Suva 10th anniversary dinner at
Wananavu Beach Resort in Rakiraki.
Mr Koya said they are at the final stages
of completing a Tourism Plan that will
set the guidelines for development in
our tourism industry.
Our vision is to encourage innovation,
new
investment
and
effective
collaboration between the Fijian
Government and the private sector, he
said.
To achieve this vision we need to
have in place marketing strategies that
are focused and measured.
We are having new market
opportunities opening up with the
introduction of the Singapore and San
Francisco flights.
Mr Koya said this is where Tourism
Fiji needs to support and contribution
from the industry stakeholders to
ensure that strategies at the national
level are taking into account the plans
of the industry players.
He announced the Industry Day would
be held on Friday where his ministry
would be sharing marketing plans.
Tourism Fiji also has a new CEO at
the helm of Tourism Fiji, Matthew
Stoeckel.
We see his inclusion in our team,
as a means of elevating our global
marketing plans.
Also Mr Koya in thanking Skl
International spoke about the 2016
Awards which would highlight best
practices in tourism.
He said this would also create
awareness on new concepts that put
emphasis on the importance of the
interaction of the physical, cultural and
social environment.
Through
this
initiative
Skl
International is instilling in all its
members the need for sustainable
tourism.
The Skl International since 2002
launched the Sustainable Tourism
Awards mainly to highlight and
acknowledge best practices around the
globe.

Aqua Trek in 2007 won the Skl

International Ecotourism Awards.
Green Growth Framework
This framework establishes an
economic model in which the
sustainable use of resources is
paramount.
Conservation and management of our
natural resources and our rich cultural
heritage are paramount for the survival
and sustainable development of the
tourism industry in Fiji.
The Green Growth Framework focuses
on the 3 pillars of sustainability
economic, social and the environment.
The Framework specifically looks at
greening the tourism sector.
Accordingly, my Ministry is ensuring
that the initiative and policies
mentioned in the Green Growth
Framework is reflected in the Fijian
Tourism Development Plan.
Therefore, we need to ensure that
all stakeholders in the Fijian tourism
industry are in-sync with the overall
vision, where development in the
tourism sector is concerned.
In order to achieve this vision the
Government needs the support and
partnership from the industry.
And this is where Skl Fiji can
work with the Fijian Government, in
particular the Ministry, in ensuring
that the industry is aware of the overall
vision and is operating in a sustainable
manner.
Background
Skl International, which is also
an Affiliate Member of United
Nations World Tourism Organisation
(UNWTO), has been a leader in the
area of promoting sustainable tourism.
The establishment of Skl International,
in Paris, France, in 1932, the global
agency has contributed greatly to
uniting professionals of the travel and
tourism industry, promoting industry
best practices and advancing business
and networking opportunities.
Skl International has a membership of
approximately 17,000 partners in 400
Clubs throughout 80 nations.
The Skl Club of Fiji and Skl
International Suva were established in
1984 and in 2006 respectively.
Both Clubs have been actively engaged
in tourism networking and community
support throughout Fiji.

The Permanent Secretary for Economy

Makereta Konrote believes that the
Brexit will have no impact on Fiji.
Brexit is a word coined in relation to
Britains decision to exit the European
Union.
She made this statement after
responding to a question raised by
Opposition Member of Parliament,
Prem Singh.
The issue was brought to light while
the Ministry was making submissions
on their 2013 Annual Report before the
Standing Committee on Economics at
Parliament yesterday.
Mr Singh asked: What do you think of
this Brexit thing, how is the Ministry
prepared to handle the consequences
of that, just for the benefit of this
committee?
Ms Konrote responded Its an issue
that the Reserve Bank of Fiji was
monitoring closely.
There is the sugar industry agreement
with European Union. From the
Ministrys point of view I dont think it
will affect us that much, she said.
Ms Konrote said one of the key points
they highlighted from their 2013
Annual Report was the successful

implementation of the 2013 national

budget.
She said one of the issues they faced
was entities providing their financial
statement and an area that they
continued to work with the ministries.
We are trying to accommodate where
there is a need because of the nature of
work that the Ministry and departments
do. Were trying to accommodate that
by including some flexibility, she
said.

Makereta Konrote

The Woman, Miss Mills, Who Changed

The Lives Of Many Fijian Women
Continued From Page1
A pass in mathematics is like a key
which will open a door of a worthwhile
career to many girls. Much of the
difficulty which students face in this
subject stems from the fact that the
syllabus is not sufficiently related to
their interest or to the demands in the
present or future.
Some topics are included only because
of their future value to mathematics
students at the university and have
little relevance to the present or future
lives of 99 per cent of our students.
And such was their contribution to our
education that many in the biography
have written excerpts of their encounter
with the Mills sisters and how they
helped shaped their lives more had
they not met them.
Close Confidant
Will Guthrie, a close confidant of Miss
Mills said in his tribute: You left an
endearing and enduring impression
on me as well as anyone who took the
trouble to know you.
May you continue filling your time in
the next life as you did in this one to
the betterment of others.
Of the other two sisters, Mary died
following several years of senility and
Betsy succumbed a few years later to
chronic emphysema.
Both were cremated under Miss
Mills supervision when she arranged
a cremation at the then cremation in
Vatuwaqa Cemetary.
After 65 years of service to the nation

she had become so fond of, Ms Mills,

who over the years had become fluent
in the Bauan dialect and developed a
lifetime friendship with the those she
worked with and those whom she had
acquaintance with, finally returned to
Australia in 2003.
But it was no ordinary return as Mr Guthrie
recalled the time when the new owners
were to move into their home at the corner
of Richards Road and Duncan Road.
To the outsider, their house in Suva
was chaotic. The lounge was filled with
cartons containing books and item,
which others might have thrown out,
but Phoebe saw it could be useful to
others who were in greater need.
But when the time came to leave, she
single-handedly cleared out everything,
he added.
Excerpts of this extraordinary woman
were shared among those who knew
her and visited her in Australia after
her return, are many.
The Wesley City Mission Church was
central to the lives of the Mills siters.
They were the pillars of their home in
the different ministries such as Sunday
School, Life Line Ministry, the library,
the Womens Guild and the pastoral care.
Ms Mills lived her faith by action. As
a student in BMS, Mere Lako said:
Miss Phoebe was a woman who rarely
talked about Jesus but lived Jesus
through her work.
She was a disciplinarian, an
economist, an environmentalist, and
had a passion for the expansion of
young Fijian women in Fiji.

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Mukesh Naidu, On The Run Yes, This Is The Hub And

Heres Why
For Two Years, In Court

Mukesh Raj Naidu

Police Prosecutor Inspector Jiten Singh Vasiti and Mr Dansey, knowing that he
told the court yesterday that it took two will not be able to allocate a housing
years for the Police to finally locate lot at Sakoca, Tamavua to the couple.
Mukesh Raj Naidu.
Second file: Count One Obtaining
The accused was on the Police Wanted financial advantage by deception
List.
It is alleged on August 5, 2010, at
Three files about him were presented Nasinu, Naidu dishonestly obtained
in the Nasinu Magistrates Court. $3000 cash from James Jitendra Ram
However, the court heard that Naidu knowing that he will not be able
has more pending charges against him to allocate a housing lot at Sakoca,
which are currently being investigated. Tamavua.
Naidu is charged with three counts each Third file: Count One Obtaining
of obtaining financial advantage by financial advantage by deception
deception and a count of disobedience It is alleged on November 2, 2012 at
of lawful order.
Nasinu Naidu dishonestly obtained
First File: Count One: Disobedience $10,000 cash from Sainivalati
of Lawful order.
Korobola, knowing that he will not be
It is alleged on September 28, 2012 able to allocate a housing lot at Sakoca,
at Suva Naidu disobeyed the High Tamavua.
Court order where he was restrained The matter was called before
from transferring and dealing with Magistrate Charles Ratakele who has
any properties at Sakoca but he remanded Naidu in custody.
obtained $15,000 cash from Adi Vasiti Mr Ratakele has ordered that Naidu
Rakalokaloka and Jone Bakabaka be kept at the Totogo Police Station
Dansey to allocate a housing lot at so that the Criminal Investigation
Sakoca, Tamavua.
Department can complete its
Count 2 Obtaining financial investigations.
advantage by deception
Defence counsel Anand Singh applied
It is also alleged on September 28, 2012, for bail. But Mr Singh objected, saying
he dishonestly obtained a financial that the case was of public interest and
advantage of $15,000 cash from Adi the alleged amount was $28,000.

Fiji is the most dominant tourism

market in the South Pacific and is
ranked number one in the highly rated
Colliers International rankings.
The Fiji market is capturing over 43
per cent of all inbound visitors to the
region.
Investment Fiji chief executive officer,
Godo Mller-Teut told this to the
Fiji-Australia-New Zealand Business
Councils in the tripartite gathering at
The Pearl in Pacific Harbour.
He said the tourism industry was the
largest foreign exchange earner in the
country.
The significance of the tourism
sector cannot be underestimated and
is attracting a growing interest from
both domestic and foreign investors,
he said.
Speaking on the topic of Fiji-Hub of the
Pacific Mr Mller-Teut said it was the
ideal re-export centre for international
businesses to supply products and
services to the rest of the Pacific.
The recently launched direct flight to
Singapore has opened up the Indian
market and is providing additional
connectivity to Asia and Europe, he
said.
These connections not only cater to
tourist and business travellers but also
enable our trading houses to export
their commodities in a fast and efficient
manner.
Mr Mller-Teut said Fiji was also a
strategic trans-shipment centre for
cargo traded between the Pacific Island
states.
Over the past years Fiji has embarked
on an extensive programme of
infrastructure
development
and
upgrades across the nation, he said.
For Instance, Mr Mller-Teut said
the Nadi international Airport
redevelopment had not only increased
travellers experience but also served

as a flagship development project

showcasing both the position and
aspiration of Fiji as the regions
foremost
business
and
tourist
destination.
He said the development of Suvas
Nausori Airport in the second phase of
its upgrade was equally significant.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand-Fiji
Business council president, Chandra
Sen in closing the conference said
New Zealand would host the joint
conference next year.
It is also the 30th anniversary of the
New Zealand-Fiji Business council.
Imports from Australia
Imports from Australia have shown
a fluctuation from $740.4 million in
2012, to $706.3 million in 2013 and
increase in 2014 to $713 million while
dropping to $617.5 million in 2015.
Last year, Mr Mller-Teut said
machinery and mechanical appliances
contributed to 23 per cent of total
imports worth $155 million.
This was followed by Vegetable
Products at 19 per cent or $129 million,
prepared foodstuffs and chemical
products at eight per cent.
Imports from New Zealand
The imports from New Zealand
increased from $558 million in 2012,
to $634 million in 2013 increasing to
$858 million in 2014 whilst dropping
back to $623.5m in 2015.
In 2015, he said the machinery and
mechanical appliances contributed
to 27.52 per cent or $171.6 million,
followed by live animals at $84.3
million. Base metals and articles of
base metal accounted for $69.5 million.
Mller-Teut stressed the similarity
between imports from Australia and
New Zealand was very clear with
machinery and food and beverages
as well as base metals dominating
imports.

Man Who Raped Girl, 7,

Jailed

A High Court in Suva judge says the

crime of rape has become too frequent.
As such, Justice Achala Wengappuli
said the sentences imposed by the
courts must reflect the understandable
public outrage.
He made these remarks when he
sentenced Peni Naisau, a 49-year-old
executive chef of a resort, to 12 years,
10 months and two weeks for raping
a seven-year-old girl. He will serve

a non-parole period of 10 years, 10

months and two weeks.
Naisau, on December 12, 2012, raped
the girl on the kitchen table of his
house when the girls family came to
visit his wife.
Justice Wengappuli said there was a
breach of trust.
The court heard that Naisau is married
with four children and is the sole bread
winner of his family.

Investment Fiji chief executive officer, Godo Mller-Teut

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Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance(often, but not always,
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which would cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated.
The forward-looking statements contained in this document are given as of the date hereof. Except as otherwise required by law, ICM does not intend to and assumes no obligations to update or revise
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Chinese Experts To Help Fiji Set Up Its Operating

Reference Stations Network
Main objective of this meeting was
to promote the friendly exchange and
cooperation between the NASG and
the Ministry of Lands and Mineral
Resources of Fiji
The National Administration of
Surveying, Mapping and GeoInformation of China (NASG) will help
Fiji to set up its Continuously Operating
Reference Stations (CORS) network
and provide other technical assistance.
The permanent secretary for Ministry
of Lands and Mineral Resources,
Malakai Finau, said Fiji is using an
outdated version.
This will help Fiji to update our
geodetic framework, he said.
A geodatic framework is a series of
reference points which Fiji uses for
location, navigation and other relevant
surveying works.
Mr Finau said the exchange of
information was an opportunity to
learn from the Chinese delegates.
For NASG to know about our National
Geospatial information development
status and discuss how China can help
Fiji set up its continuously operating
reference stations (CORS) network and
provide other technical assistance, he
said.

China-Fiji diplomatic and economic

relations had since significantly
increased then with Fiji setting up a
Trade Commissioner in China and
also Fiji Airways flying to China on a
weekly and regular basis.
The meeting was attended by NASG,
deputy director, Song Chaozhi, the
deputy director of NASG with his six
delegates and the managers from the
Chinese Geo-industry.
Mr Song said the exchange programme
between China and Fiji will build better
relationships.
I am assured that with assisting Fiji in
their programmes, China and Fiji will
be able to build a better relationship in
the trade Industry.
A total of nine delegates from China
attended the meeting.
They donated the Geo-informatics
software developed by the companies
in China to the Minister for Lands
and Mineral Resources, Faiyaz Siddiq
Koya.
Background of the Meeting
This meeting emanated from the sixth
session of the UN-GGIM (United
Nations-Global Geospatial Information
Management) meeting that was held in
New York from 1-5 August 2016.

The meeting was attended by the

then Minister for Lands and Mineral
Resources, Mereseini Vuniwaqa and
senior government officials.
The Fiji delegation met with the
China delegation and discussed and
arranged for this meeting resulting in
an invitation sent to NASG for this
meeting.
The main objective of the meeting is
to promote the friendly exchange and
cooperation between the NASG and
the Ministry of Lands and Mineral

Resources of Fiji.
Involvement of Chinese Companies
in Fiji Mining Sector
The Ministry for Lands and Mineral
Resources also has Chinese companies
operating in the Mining Sector in
particular Zhongrun Company.
This operates the Vatukoula Gold Mine
and
the Xinfa
Company,
Russian
Foreign
Affairsoperates
Minister,the
Bauxite Mines
in Nawailevu
Sergey
Lavrov (Bua) and
Naibulu East (Macuata).
Both of these companies are from the
Shandong Province.

Payment of bonus to staffs based on

performance ranging from 3-5% of
their salary and the success of the
company over the years
The Fiji Public Trustee Corporation
Limited presented the Government
with $1.5 million as dividend at Public
Trustee House in Suva.
Chief Executive Officer of, Antonio Takala,
at the event commented the bonus payout
to the staffs was performance based.
The ministry has approved the payment
of bonus to staffs based on performance
ranging from 3-5% of their salary and
the success of the company over the
years, Mr Takala said.
Chairman for Fiji Public Trustee
Corporation Limited, Ikbal Jannif
said he was happy with the companys
performance.
This was the first government
department to be corporatised and we
can proudly say that the corporation
of the public trustee office has been a
successful one, Mr Jannif said.

We have now been in operation for 10

years, returning profit to the company
and today we have presented our second
dividend cheque to the government.
Permanent Secretary for Public
Enterprises, David Kolitagane, while
receiving the cheque , thanked the
board and staff for their contribution.
On behalf of the government and the
two shareholder ministries, the Ministry
of Economy and the Ministry of Public
Enterprise, we really do appreciate
and thank the role of the board and
management, Mr Kolitagane said.
He also thanked the chairman for his
role and added despite not receiving any
budget or grant from the Government,
FPTC continued to present the
government with the dividend.
We continue at the ministry and
shareholder level to acknowledge
and thank the level of discipline and
commitment at both the ministry and
the management levels, he said.

We always encourage other state owned

enterprises on the profitability and return
that is required for each entity.
We encourage entities to make profit
and to give back to the government
a level of return that is enough for

shareholders as part of its operation.

The Fiji Public Trustee Corporation
Limited was corporatised in 2006
and provides Deceased Estate
Administration, Trustee Services, Will
making and other legal services.

The total repair bill for the Fiji

Electricity Authority (FEA) to restore
power in cyclone hit areas stands at
$30 million.
FEA chief executive officer, Hasmukh
Patel told Parliament yesterday
while making submissions before the
Standing Committee on Economic
Affairs.
Mr Patels response comes after a
question was raised by Opposition

Member of Parliament, Prem Singh.

At the end of August, it was around
$27.5 million. My estimate was that it
will cost close to $30 million and I am
pretty close to it because we still have
those steel towers to be replaced, Mr
Patel said.
Our main transmission line that is
supported by these steel towers, we
lost five of them in the Category Five
cyclone, but to get the power rolling

very quickly especially in Ba, Tavua

and those areas, we did temporary
structures that were put up between
one to two weeks, he said.
Mr Patel said the steel towers needed
to be restored again to its normal state
and works had already started.
It had been redesigned.
He said it was expected to be completed
early next year.
Opposition MP, Viliame Gavoka asked

Public Trustee Presents $1.5M To Government As Dividend

FEA Repair Bill Stands At $30m

how the Authority would cater to

source power to business houses due to
the vast developments in Fiji.
Mr Patel said they were confident
enough to provide power to these
business houses.
He also said there were currently no
expatriates employed by the Authority.
Our employees are local and they are
very marketable. We need to look after
them, Mr Patel said.

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Howard Politini Jnr Is

Ready For Parliament
His entry into Parliament comes after
Immigration, National Security and
Defence Minister Timoci Natuva
resigned from Parliament. Next on the
list under the DHondt method of open
list was Apakuki Kurusiga who has
since stated that he was retiring from
politics.
Mr Politini Jnr is the next candidate on
the list who will now join his fellow
FijiFirst members in Parliament.
He confirmed that the Electoral
Commission has already been in touch
with him.
Mr Politini Jnr said Parliament would
be a learning experience and that he
was ready for the challenge.
First of all I must acknowledge
the honourable Prime Minister and
honourable Attorney-General for
giving me the opportunity all the way
back in 2014 to be part of the FijiFirst
Party when we went into campaign,
Mr Politini Jr said.
Just after the elections, I didnt get the
cut to get into Parliament.
Mr Politini Jnr was later appointed to
two strategic boards of Government;
one was Bio-security Authority of Fiji,
the other Tourism Fiji.

I sat on the boards as one of the

youngest persons to sit on those
government boards. So it will be an
honour to serve my country now at
Parliamentary level.
As I get in it will be all about learning,
I will have to learn how everything
works at Parliamentary level.
He also acknowledged the support and
guidance given to him by a few of his
colleagues.
I want to acknowledge Mr Xavier
Riyaz Khan, the executive chairman
for Bio Security Authority of Fiji and
former Tourism Fiji board chairman,
Mr Truman Bradley for guiding me
through the board level experience
during my time there.
And for all those who voted for
me, thank you kindly and I will be
representing you all in Parliament.
Currently:
Mr Politini Jr is the managing director
of Nautilus Adventure Tours and
Cruises and has been in the business
for over 10 years now.
He is also chairperson and Board of
Trustees of Namaka Public School
the largest Primary school in the
Western division by roll numbers.

FijiFirst Party candidate, Howard Robin Politini Jnr, 41, is likely to be the
next Member of Parliament from Government side.

We Are All Safe In New

York - PM Bainimarama

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama

says all Fijians are safe after explosions
rocked parts of New York City, United
States.
Mr Bainimarama is in New York to
deliver Fijis country statement at the
United Nations General Assembly.
He will also attend numerous other
engagements,
including
holding
bilateral and multilateral meetings.
He said from New York via email that
the explosions were some distance
from us.
All the Fijians are safe here, he said.
Mr Bainimarama said he was briefed
by the staff of the Fijian mission about
the situation.
Mr Bainimarama and wife Mary
attended a lotu or a church service
with Fijian families followed by a
dinner together.

Some members of a British army

rugby team joined us for a grog session
and were still drinking grog when I left
at about 10 pm.
The bombs detonated on Sunday were
both shrapnel pressure cooker devices
according to BBC. The blasts in the
Chelsea area of Manhattan injured 29
people. Officials said it was a terror attack.
In the latest report, CNN said Federal
and local authorities were investigating
another suspicious item after a
backpack was found containing up to
five devices in nearby New Jersey.
Two men found the backpack in the
garbage can and alerted Police when
they saw wires and a pipe.
Massive security was already in place
as world leaders gather for the United
Nations General Assembly. This has
now been intensified.

778 278 4088

Foundation Provides
Wheelchair For 57-Year-Old

Fifty-seven-year-old Prabhu Nand of

Kinoya Road in Nasinu was issued a
new lease of life with more mobility
with the provision of a wheelchair
through the Vodafone ATH Fiji
Foundation.
After an assessment carried out by
the Spinal Injury Association of Fijis
volunteers last week, Mr Nand received
a wheelchair for his mobility support.
Mr Nand found out that he was
suffering from kidney problems after
he shared with his wife, Sarita Nand, of
body pain and movement difficulties.
His wife took him for checkup and
later found out that he was suffering
from kidney failure following an
assessment by the doctor at Valelevu
Health Centre.
Despite the hardships faced financially,
Mrs Nand said she has managed to
keep the family together with what

little food and finances they could save

with their three daughters.
We are grateful for the assistance
and kindness bestowed by the
Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation staff
and volunteers of the Spinal Injury
Association for stepping in to help,
Mrs Nand said.
The Foundation provides mobility
assistance to the many needy in the
communities like Mr Nand.
We work towards minimising the
pain for our people, ATH Foundation
executive Ambalika Devi said.
Through our partnership with the
Spinal Injury Association, we are able
to identify cases and mobilise ability
devices in the communities.
Those in need of assistance for ability
devices can contact the Spinal Injury
Association or Vodafone ATH Foundation
for more information, she added.

PM Meets Turnbull,
Bishop In New York
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama
meets his Australian counterpart
Malcolm Turnbull and Australian
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop in
the margins of the 71st United Nations
General Assembly in New York.
Mr Bainimarama has been busy in

his capacity also as Foreign Affairs

minister meeting other foreign affairs
ministers. It was his first official
engagement since replacing Ratu Inoke
Kubuabola, now the new Minister for
Immigration, National Security and
Defence.

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Ministry Farewells
Emotional Rosy Akbar

The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation bid farewell to the
outgoing Minister Rosy Akbar
An emotional Ms Akbar acknowledged achievements and visions of the Fijian
the Ministry staff for their support Government to ensure that in the new
during her term with them.
Fiji that we are creating, everyone are
She also welcomed her replacement, given opportunities to progress, she
outgoing Minister for Lands and said.
Mineral
Resources
Mereseini Ms Akbar said she was happy to join
Vuniwaqa.
the Ministry of Health and Medical
Ms Akbar is now the Minister for Services where her area of priority was
Health and Medical Services.
to work on improving health services
I am really delighted to be here today to the people.
to remember what we achieved together I bid farewell to my Ministry and
and most importantly, I really want to I wish the new team the very best to
thank you all sincerely for standing by set a platform for greater opportunities
me and my Ministry for the past two created for the empowerment of
years.
women and children and our service to
Without you all, the journey would this nation, she said.
have been a difficult and winding one, Ms Akbar also pleaded with their
Ms Akbar told her former colleagues.
stakeholders to continue to support and
It is through the support of the assist Mrs Vuniwaqa, the new Minister
various stakeholders, that I had the for Women, Children & Poverty
honour to lead some of the outstanding Alleviation.

Usamate Welcomed Back

To Ministry

The staff of the Ministry of Employment,

Productivity and Industrial Relations
welcomed their new Minister, Jone
Usamate as he officially took up office.
Mr Usamate during his welcoming
ceremony said he was grateful to be
part of the Ministry again and was
eager to carry out the work of his
predecessor.
I am happy to be back with this
Ministry since it is relevant to my field
of work in terms of productivity and
industrial relations, Mr Usamate said.
He said it was important for all civil
servants to remain focused on serving
the people to the best of their abilities

to make an impact in the lives of all

ordinary Fijians.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry
of Employment, Productivity and
Industrial
Relations,
Salaseini
Serulagilagi Daunabuna said the
ministry was indeed blessed to have
the Mr Usamate back.
She said Mr Usamates experience
would greatly benefit the ministry and
the nation as a whole.
The Ministry also farewelled the
outgoing Minister for Employment
Semi Koroilavesau last Friday and
wished him well in his new appointment
as Minister for Fisheries.

Man Charged With Raping A

16-Year-Old Girl Pleads Not Guilty

A 33-year-old man charged with raping

a 16-year-old girl appeared in the Suva
Magistrates Court.
Rajnesh Narayan of Nabua pleaded not
guilty to the charge.
The alleged incident took place last

Tuesday.
Bail was refused and the matter
has been transferred to the High
Court.
The case will be called on the 30th of
this month.

778.278.4088

Ships From Top Navies To

Visit
Ships from at least five powerful navies
are expected to visit Fiji next month.
This was revealed by Republic of the
Fiji Military Forces Chief Staff Officer
co-ordination, Captain Eroni Duaibe
after the arrival of the French Naval
vessel, Vendemiaire in Suva.
He said next month would be busy
period for the Republic of the Fiji
Military Forces as they prepared for
the arrival of the naval ships.
Captain Duaibe said on October 11 to
October 18, US Naval roll-on, roll-off
ship, USNS Pililaau would berth at
Lautokas Queens Wharf. The ship
would bring US marines.
While here the marines will conduct a
joint exercise with the RFMF.
United States Embassys regional
public
affairs
officer,
Dmitri
Tarakhovsky, said they would be
divulging information on the arrival
of their naval ship once they were
notified.
Captain Duaibe said from October 13
to 18, two Australian mine sweepers
would be here.
They are the HMAS Diamantina and
the HMAS Huon.
Captain Duaibe said other foreign
naval vessels coming to Fiji include the
Indian Navy stealth frigate Shivalik,
which will be here from October 25 to
28.
So we have a very busy month with
all these ships visiting and we hope
that there will be more coming to our
shores, he said.
Captain Duaibe said there was a
specific purpose to which the Indian
Navy Ships visit to Fiji, however he
refused to divulge details.
However, Indian High Commissioner,
Vishvas Sapkal said the visit would

build bilateral relations between the

Fiji and Indian Navy.
Mr Vishvas said the naval ship would
be carrying on board agricultural
seeds that were requested by the Fijian
Government.
He said a crew of 257 would be on the
naval ship.
These are best quality agricultural
seeds that are supplied by the Indian
Council for Agricultural Research
which is the premier institution in the
agriculture sector. It will help improve
the agricultural sector in Fiji, he said.
Fiji Navy Commander, John Fox, said
they had received a diplomatic call
notifying them on the Indian Navy
Ship, Shivalik.
Captain Duaibe said an invitation was
also sent to the Russian Government
for the visitation of one of their naval
ship to Fiji.
He said a Chinese Naval Ship was also
expected to be in Fiji.
The Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Ping,
declined to comment.
Captain Duaibe said the ships coming
here coincided with an event in New
Zealand where naval vessels from
around the world converged.
He said they would be expecting last
minute information on the arrival of
more foreign naval vessels around that
time.
The visitation of these foreign navy
ships goes back to the Governments
foreign policies; we are friends to
all and enemies to none so we will
accommodate all the countries.
As we strengthen military ties, it
also strengthens and deepens ties
on the diplomatic level, also at the
Government level, Captain Duaibe
said.

FMF Foods Ltd was able to sustain

profitability and recorded an increase
in group operating profit to $21.1
million this financial year, from $20.5m
recorded last year.
Profit before tax was $20.3m against
$19.4m in 2014-2015 while net profit was
almost the same as last year at $17.6m
compared with $17.5m in 2014-2015.
This was highlighted by FMF Foods
Ltd chairman Hari Punja in his report
to the shareholders.
"A strong focus on high value-addition,
tight operations and strong control
helped the company in this aspect," Mr
Punja said.
He said the company also benefited
from the investments made last year
in AtPack for manufacturing two new
packaging product lines, polypropylene
bags and injection molded plastic pails.
"While the bulk of these were
predominantly consumed in-house
by group companies, they give us
opportunity to tap a new customer base in
the industrial sector in the coming year.
"Dividend payout from the holding

company has been retained at $1.8m

which is the same as last year."
He said group revenue during the year
was marginally lower at $213.7m
against $218.4m in 2014 to 2015.
Apart from sales lost over three months
immediately after Severe TC Winston,
he said the year witnessed lower export
of generic biscuit to Australia and the
loss of business from one major contractmanufacture customer in New Zealand that
was acquired by an Asian conglomerate.
"The contract-manufacture market for
biscuits in Australia and New Zealand
has lost its lure with intense competition
from Asian manufacturers.
"In a way, this downturn has helped
the company re-focus on its own
brands and on Pacific Island markets
where our products have tremendous
goodwill and brand equity."
In the domestic market, he said
competitive conditions entailed lower
prices this year on their staples, being
flour, rice and peas.
Thankfully, this was made affordable
by a dip in global commodity prices.

$21M Profit

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Tour Managers, Fiji Airways, Tourism Fiji Partner To

Market Activities For India
Tour Managers in partnership with
Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways will
initiate several marketing activities
with the goal of stimulating and
converting interest from the Indian
outbound travel market.
The first activity comprising of a
familiarization trip which began
on 10th September involved Tour
Managers, Fiji Airways and Tourism
Fiji partnering together to bring nine
decision makers from producing
Indian travel agencies based in cities of
Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata
to Fiji to experience an adventure
planned itinerary exploring the regions
of Nadi, Mamamucas, Suva, Pacific
Harbor, Savusavu and the Coral Coast.
This familiarization trip is in line
with collaborative initiatives this year
between Tourism Fiji, Fiji Airways and
Tour Managers to educate the Indian
travel trade on the unique selling
points of destination Fiji and tap into
the various opportunities available as a
result of the Singapore direct flight by
Fiji Airways.
Tour Managers in partnership with Tourism
Fiji will also be supporting an additional
group of influential decision makers from
the Travel Agents Association of India
who will be in Fiji to experience and learn
the destinations products.
Tour Managers and Fiji Airways will
then initiate the 2nd phase of activities
in partnership with two well established
Indian wholesalers by way of a joint
co-op campaign.
This co-op campaign worth over
$100,000 Fijian dollars will target

to entice Indian travelers to include

destination Fiji as their preferred
destination for honeymooners, families
and young couples.
The two Indian wholesalers namely
(TUI India and SOTC India) will initiate
online and offline campaigns across
the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai
and Kolkata for a period of 3 months
beginning at the end of this month.
This activity will also coincide with
additional
promotional
activities
being activated by Tourism Fiji and

Fiji Airways which will form part of a

concerted effort on multiple fronts to
increase the penetration of promotional
work to the Indian consumer.
Managing Director for Tour Managers
Fiji Damend Gounder will be traveling
throughout India towards the end of
September to further boost on-going
efforts by connecting with decision
makers and creating effective dialogue
for destination Fiji.
He stated Fiji partners must be
committed in their collaborative efforts

to capture business from emerging

markets such as India. A unified stance
in the best interests of the destination
must be maintained.
With Tour Managers Fiji being one of
the market leaders in the Fijian market,
the collaborative effort between it and
national partners such as Fiji Airways
and Tourism Fiji highlight its growing
body of work in striving to create
effective synergies for marketing of
the destination in emerging markets
such as India.

Bainimarama Warns Against Polluting Ocean Resources

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama

says one of the greatest challenges the
world has ever faced is the current threat
to the health of our oceans and seas.
The unrelenting degradation of this
precious resource should be a matter of
grave concern to every person on the
planet, he said.
He was speaking recently at the FijiSweden Ocean Summit event in New
York.
Certainly for a Small Island
Developing State such as Fiji, it is
an issue almost as pressing as the
extreme weather events and rising sea
levels caused by climate change, Mr
Bainimarama said.
Because the seas are our life-blood;
and without the bounty they provide
us with on a daily basis, the health and
wellbeing of our people along with
their livelihoods is clearly at risk.
He said he was delighted to be in
New York as Fiji and Sweden came
together to highlight their joint hosting
of the United Nations Conference on
Oceans in June next year. He thanked
the Swedish government for partnering
with Fiji on this vitally important
initiative. He also thanked the Swedish

Mission at the UN for holding this

event.
He asked all stakeholders to do
everything they could to promote this
conference and draw global attention
to the issues at stake the urgent need
to reverse the pollution, the overfishing
and the destruction of marine habitats.
The problem, he said, had reached
crisis proportions in so many parts of
the world.
He said as a former sailor and officer
in the Fijian Navy, The sea has been
my life. And I have a huge affinity to it.
I have witnessed the steady deterioration
of our seas and oceans over the years
with my own eyes, he said
Where once all our Pacific waters
were pristine, now parts are clogged
with plastic bags and bottles.
Where once you could throw a line out
over the side and be guaranteed a catch,
often the fish are few and far between;
because in far too many instances, our
waters have been stripped.
The selfish commercial plunder of
our seas by unscrupulous nations and
unscrupulous interests is not only
robbing our people of a precious
resource; the current level of

overfishing simply cannot continue for

a moment longer without putting stocks
at risk; as well destroying the source of
food and income on which so many of
our coastal communities depend.
In addition, the dumping of rubbish at
sea has also reached crisis proportions.
In some instances, it is admittedly our
own people who have yet to appreciate
that they cannot use our pristine waters
as a rubbish dump and that most things
they throw into the ocean are not biodegradable.
And we are doing what we can to
educate them. But there is nothing
small Pacific Island nations can do

about the huge deposits of refuse

and especially plastic bags and bottles
that originate from countries on the
Pacific rim and are carried by the ocean
currents into our own waters.
By global standards, the waters around
Fiji are still relatively unpolluted
and we want to keep it that way for
ourselves and our international visitors.
But I am deeply concerned about
any further deterioration in the quality
of the water around us from outside
sources.
And the overfishing that is taking
place and is threatening the interests of
every Fijian.

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778 278 4088

11

Non Government Oragnisation Vital For Fiji National

University Course
A Fiji National University lecturer
in Physiotherapy has credited a Non
Governmental Organisation for being
a big part in assisting students in their
course work.
They are very busy people but
whenever we request help they always
make time for this training. Without the
Spinal Injuries Association we couldnt
do the course, simple as that, said
course lecturer Venasio Ramabuke.
Mr Ramabuke said: We couldnt
operate without the SIA and the clients
and assistance they provide.
We have been doing this course
here in Suva for five years, as well
as Lautoka and Labasa and the SIA
team has always been very good, very
supportive.
Eleven physiotherapy students from
FNUs School of Medicine proudly
received their graduation certificates
yesterday, following an intensive fiveday practical assessment.
The certificates were presented by SIA
executive director Joshko Wakaniyasi,
who partnered with FNU to provide
this course.
The NGO, which usually provides
wheelchairs and mobility devices to
those in need for free along with
other services provided technicians,
clients and wheelchairs to the FNU so
that the students could carry out their
practical assessments.
The clients and the students themselves
all had their own personal stories to
tell.
Maria Baleiono, mother of 14-yearold client Mere Rosi Grace who has
muscular dystrophy, said: Mere al
ways wanted to be independent but
couldnt be, we had to lift her eve
rywhere and as she grew it became
very difficult, so she couldnt often go

outside.
As she is growing the chair the SIA
gave her first is now too small and we
are very happy she is being assessed
for a new one.
For the first time she can go outside
with her friends and we can take her
too Church, which was too far too
carry her before.
One physio graduate, Manu Tamata,
said he was inspired to become a physio
after sustaining a spinal injury which
needed three operations. Coming from
Vanuata he was lucky to have access to
one of only two physios in the country
and, after three years, was finally able
to walk again.
He intends to return to his home
country and said: The course is very
good. I have learnt a lot about how
physiotherapy can help the disabled.

In Vanuatu there is no SIA, no

assessments, now I can do assessments
and follow patients up to see how they
are doing, like the SIA do in Fiji.
Physio Debbie, from Nadi hospital,
was here doing a course to allow her to
become the only qualified Community
Rehab Assistant there.
We already work closely with the SIA,
and have sent orders for wheelchairs.
These guys are great the return on
enquiries is instant and they are always
calling to check up and see if we need
assistance, Debbie said.
I have a passion for moving around
and I cant stand to see people not
being able to move.
All many able bodied see is a
wheelchair we need to redefine this
by improving social inclusion, barriers
to work, their environment and so on.

Handing over the certificates to the

successful graduates, Mr Wakaniyasi
said: We all work in partnership SIA,
the FNU and the students themselves
we are always talking to the students
as this is a learning experience for SIA
too.
We look forward to working alongside
you all once you are working in the
field.
We are thankful that this is your career
choice and for the FNU in taking the
initiative to implement this course.
With students among you from
Vanuatu, Tuvalu and the Solomon
Islands we are delighted that the course
will benefit persons with disability
across the Pacific.
We also thank our partners including
Vodafone Fiji ATH, PhysioNet UK and
DFAT (Australian government).

Kumari Mourns Her Husband, Who Was Murdered for $350

The wife of murdered Bua farmer,
Babu Ram, 79, says she still cant
comprehend that he was killed over
$350.
Ful Kumari, 72, and her family are
still coming to terms why a humble,
hardworking and peace loving
man, had to die in tragic and brutal
circumstances four years ago.
Speaking in iTaukei, Ms Kumari said
she felt like her life had ended the
moment she received news of his death.
She said her husband was a good man
who had never, in over 50 years of
marriage, laid a hand on her.
The man responsible for murdering her
husband, Siuta Seru, was sentenced
to life imprisonment by Justice Paul
Madigan at the High Court in Labasa
on Wednesday. Seru must serve 19
years before he could be considered
for parole.
The second man, Asaeli Raboleca, who

was charged with a count of aggravated

robbery, was sentenced to 12 years
in jail, nine of which he should serve
before he is eligible for parole.
Ms Kumari said she could still feel the
emptiness in her life.
She said they had lived in Bua all their
lives and were surprised that the act
was committed by someone they had
called their own.
Their only son Shalend Chandra said
they were still trying to figure out why
someone would kill over $350.
He was a helpless old man and yet
they killed him for $350, Mr Chandra
said.
We are glad that the men who had
committed this act are behind bars but
we cannot get him back and thats the
most painful thing.
We the five children and his
grandchildren miss him so much. Not
one day goes by that we dont think

about him.
Grandson, 10-year-old Shrisht Chand,
said he vividly remembered his

grandfather taking him on horse riding

lessons whenever he visited Babu Ram
in Bua.

12

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Pastor Tells Court, The Bible Allows Him To Have Sex

With Women

But State prosecutor says that nowhere

in his church doctrines does it say that
he needs to do it
Pastor Iowane Vakadranu of the Back
to Eden Church Ministry told the court
that he was allowed by the Bible to
have sex with the two female church
members.
He said at the High Court in Suva:
There is support from the Bible that
allows me to do it.
Vakadranu, who is charged with four
counts of rape, appeared before Judge
Justice Vincent Perera.
It is alleged that between October 1,
2012, and October 21, 2015, in Vanua
Levu and Tailevu, Vakadranu raped
two of his church members who were
19-years-old then.
Cross examination by state
In the cross-examination, State
prosecutor Siteri Navia told Vakadranu
that nowhere in his church doctrines
did it say that he needed to have sex
with the women to prepare them for
mission.
She added neither did it say that God
had commanded it.
She said: The doctrine of Vakadranus
church is no sin, no sickness and no
death.
Vakadranu had told the court that he

was the teacher and the doctor for the

church.
Ms Navia questioned his qualification.
He replied that he did not have any
qualification from a medical institute
or teaching institute to be a certified
doctor or teacher.
He said that education was of this
world and it would come to an end.
But, he said, learning Gods spiritual
education was everlasting.
Vakadranu told the court, according to
the Bible, the church members were
married to him.
Ms Navia asked Vakadranu the
definition of adultery. He replied
saying that it is when you have sex
without being legally married.
She asked Vakadranu whether he was
committing adultery by having sex
with youths of the church without
being legally married to them.
He replied: The purpose of it is to
teach them what adultery is and for
them to tell the world its not allowed
but only I am allowed as I am his
(Gods) apostle.
I explained to the church to be reunited
with their pastor as one body.
The court heard that after three years
of preparing the youths Vakadranu had
not sent them to the world for missions.

Ms Navia put it to Vakadranu that he

made false representation to the two
women in Labasa just to have sex with
them. Vakadranu said no.
He added: I have not sent them for
missions yet because I want them to
qualify.
In her closing submission, Ms Navia
said: Pastors are servants of God
because they are here to help us
spiritually.
Vakadranu lays out all these teachings
to his members and he says he is

exempted from the teachings.

He made false representation to
benefit himself.
Defence
Defence lawyer Semi Tinivata, in
his closing submission, said that the
victims were adults and were old
enough to give their consent.
Mr Tinivata further stated that the first
victim had given evidence in court that
she had consented to the alleged acts
and that she was just exercising her
rights to religion.

Support Your Husband Through Good And Bad Times

It is the duty of every wife to stand
by her husband during good and bad
times says Margaret OConnor.
The 60-year-old was emotional as she
witnessed her husband, Government
Member of Parliament, Alexander
OConnor was sworn in as the Assistant
Minister for Health and Medical
Services at the State House.
Mr OConnor replaced Government
MP, Veena Bhatnagar who is now
the Assistant Minister for Women,
Children and Poverty Alleviation.
He is a prominent Lautoka-based
businessman and was the next highest
ranked candidate polling 814 votes in
the official election results during the
2014 General Elections.
Mrs OConnor said she was proud
of her husbands achievement in the
political arena.
Today is a joyous moment for our
family and as a wife, I will always
support my husband in every decision

he makes.
When he broke the news to me that
he wants to enter politics, I supported
him and assisted in every way I can
as wife in his political career, she
said.
Mrs OConnor said the role bestowed
upon her husband came with
challenges.
He will need our full support as a
family and we are always there for him.
As a wife, I believe that if you love
and support your
If you want your husband to become
successful, love him, respect him and
be a helper to him, he said.
Mrs OConnor said that despite his
busy schedules he always had time for
his family.
The 62-year-old, Mr OConnor said
one of the foundations behind his
success in politics was family support.
My wife and children support have
always been the backbone of my

success, he said.
Mr OConnor said he was ready to take
up his new role as the Assistant Minister
for Health and Medical Services.
I can say anything at this moment,

let me get into office, I am ready for

the challenges and it will be my duty
working alongside the Minister to see
that health services around the country
are met, he said.

MPs Linked to Alleged Sex Incident

A senior staff member of Parliaments
Secretariat has been sent home after
complaints of sexual misconduct
allegedly involving her and two
married SODELPA MPs.
The alleged incidents took place at a
resort in the West where Government
MPs, Opposition MPs and senior
Parliament Secretariat staff were

attending a seminar.
When contacted yesterday, SecretaryGeneral to Parliament, Viniana
Namosimalua, said it was a sensitive
issue which she did not wish to discuss.
Mrs Namosimalua said an inquiry was
underway which would be completed
by the end of this month.
We are following procedures as this

is an internal issue that we are dealing

with, she said.
Sources further said the senior staff
member had been suspended for three
months without pay and had been
asked not to leave the country pending
investigations.
When contacted SODELPA leader,
Sitiveni Rabuka, said he was not aware

of the alleged incident.

According to the Parliament of the
Republic of Fiji website, Parliament
is supported by an administrative staff
numbering around 70 people.
This included procedural, research,
library, ICT, Hansard, committee,
finance, human resources and general
administration staff.

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13

USP Receives Patent For Wave Solar Energy

Device

The University of the South Pacifics

engineering faculty has acquired a
patent for a solar energy device.
Two staff and a student of the
University of the South Pacifics (USP)
School of Engineering and Physics
(SEP), officially received a patent for
their invention of a Portable WaveSolar Energy Harvesting Device by
Intellectual Property (IP) Australia.
Lecturers, Dr F M Rabiul Islam and
Dr Kabir Mamun, and student Shaneel
Prakash invented the portable device,
which presents the concept of a low
cost wave-solar generation for Pacific
Island Countries.
The Portable Wave-Solar Energy
Harvesting Device is a simple selfcontained system, which can be
deployed off-shore and useful in
situations where there is no supply of
electricity within the coastal area.

The main purpose of this device is

to provide electricity for lighting and
other low powered equipment of on
shore community or fisherman boat.
Most of the parts for the construction
of the device are available locally.
The device is a single unit containing
all the mechanisms in an average sized
barrel that operates with surging and
heaving motion of the waves. The
systems main components are floaters,
gears, flywheel, electric generator,
solar panel, storage device, and control
with communication system.
According to Dr Islam, There exists,
several methods of extracting energy
from the ocean waves but most of them
are very expensive, oversized and not
portable. In this situation this Portable
Wave-Solar Energy Harvesting Device
could be the solution for low cost and
affordable system for Pacific Islands.

Munro Leys Withdraws As Fiji Times Legal Adviser In

Alleged Incitement Case

Suva firm Munro Leys withdrew as

legal representatives for Fiji Times
Limited, publisher Hank Arts and
editor-in-chief Fred Wesley in a case of
inciting communal antagonism before
the Suva Magistrates Court.
New lawyer for Arts, Wesley and the
Fiji Times Limited is Faizal Haniff of
Haniff Tuitoga Lawyers.
Munro Leys had withdrawn as lawyers
for Nai Lalakai editor- Anare Ravula
when the matter was called on August
31. Ravulas new lawyer is Nancy
Choo of R Patel Lawyers. Representing
Josaia Waqabaca is Aman Ravendra
Singh.
Mr Haniff appeared for Arts, Wesley
and Fiji Times in this matter which
stems from an article written in Nai
Lalakai on April 27, 2016, the content
for which read:
The content read: Ko ira na
Musulomani era sega ni taukei kei

Viti, sai ira nai lawalawa oqo era a

curu botea na vanua eso ka dua vei
ira ko Bangladesh mai Idia, kara vei
vakamatei kina, kucuvi na nodra
yalewa, ra vakararawataki na gone me
yacova sara nira sa lewa ka sa nodra tu
edaidai
(Translated as Muslims are not the
indigenous of this country. These are
people that have invaded other nations,
for example, Bangladesh in India,
where they killed, raped and abused
their women and children. Today they
have gone to the extent of having a part
in the running of the country).
The former lawyers of the accused had
filed an application for bail variation
for Arts on August 31.
State lawyer Yogesh Prasad filed an
affidavit to oppose the application.
Hearing of this matter the bail
variation application would be held
before Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne

Findings from the Reserve Bank of

Fiji (RBF) revealed that black money
circulated in the Fijian economy was
around $100 million.
Financial Intelligence Unit director,
Razim Buksh told the Standing
Committee on Economic Affairs in
Parliament yesterday, that an estimated
figure released in 2009 showed the
circulation of black money was
around $100 million.
Opposition Member of Parliament,
Viliame Gavoka, had asked how
much the bank was not realising in
tax because of black money being
circulated within the country.
Mr Buksh said that $100 million of
these financial flaws was tainted with
avoidance of tax and criminal proceeds

that flowed through Fijis financial

system on an annual basis.
Mr Buksh said they had retained the
figure every year.
He said they looked at these in terms of
criminal proceeds.
So based on our estimates including
tax evasions, money flowing through the
financial system with criminal proceeds
including proceeds from corruption,
cybercrime, forgery, drug proceeds,
substantial part of this figure , 50 per
cent is tax evasion, Mr Buksh said.
Mr Gavoka commended the RBF
governor for managing the countrys
wealth and the areas he was responsible
for.
Meanwhile, RBFs chief manager
financial institutions, Vilimaina Dakai

on October 6.
A plea is also expected to be taken on
the same date.
Munro Leys lawyers have previously
represented Fiji Times and Wesley at a
contempt of court proceeding in 2012.
In that matter, Wesley was handed a

suspended sentence and Fiji Times

Limited was fined $300,000.
The same firm is currently representing
Fiji Times Limited in a matter brought
against the Solicitor-General for
awarding Fiji Sun exclusive rights to
publish Government advertising.

said the Fair Reporting Act was in

place, however, they had not received

an application to set up credit reporting

agencies.

A man escaped unhurt from his burning

home at Tomuka in Lautoka.
Virendra Prasad, 59, was alone in
his five-bedroom home when the fire
started at around 10.30am.
Damage has been estimated at more
than $50,000, considering that all
family belongings were destroyed.
My wife and two sons went to Suva in
the morning and my daughter was out
so I fell asleep, Mr Prasad said.
The sound of the fire woke me up and I
managed to move my car away from the house.

Mr Prasad, who had no shirt on said the

trousers he had on was the only clothes
he had left.
He said the Tomuka area had been
without water for two days and this
had left them helpless to extinguish the
fire before the National Fire Authority
(NFA) team arrived.
He said he did not know how the
fire started. Mr Prasad is calling on
Government to help rebuild his home.
Investigations into the fire are being
carried out by the Police and NFA.

$100m Black Money In Circulation: Report

Man Survives House Fire In

Lautoka

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Arcane Law Is Stripping Canadians Of

Citizenship

Byrdie Funk had what some would call

a quintessential, small-town Canadian
upbringing.
At two months old she moved from
Mexico with her Canadian parents
to a farming community in southern
Manitoba. She learned to skate on a
backyard pond and trudged between
snowdrifts to school, where she would
stand with fellow students to sing the
national anthem before class.
She used her Canadian passport to
travel to South Africa, toting a suitcase
sporting the maple leaf, and was later
married at a historic trading post on the
banks of Winnipeg's Red River.
But earlier this year the 36-year-old
woman's life was upended when she
received a letter from Citizenship and
Immigration Canada informing her she
was no longer a Canadian citizen.
"It took my breath away," Funk said
in an interview from her home in
Squamish, B.C.
"I had no idea that anything like this
could even happen."
She is one of an unknown number of
people ensnared in an arcane law that
automatically revokes the citizenship of
certain Canadians who fail to officially
apply to retain their nationality before
the age of 28.
The little-known policy applies to anyone
born abroad between Feb. 15, 1977, and
April 16, 1981, to Canadian parents who
were also born outside the country.
The rule was abolished by the
Conservative government in 2009,
but the change wasn't retroactive, so it
didn't include anyone who had already
turned 28 by then.
Funk said she only learned about the
law this spring after trying to renew her
passport.
The law was drafted in the 1970s out of

concern that citizenship could be passed

along indefinitely to generations abroad
who were less and less connected to
Canada, said Audrey Macklin, a law
professor at the University of Toronto.
Macklin said it wasn't necessarily
unfair, at least in theory, to require
someone twice removed from being
born in Canada to prove a connection
to the country.
The problem, though, was rooted in
the government's inability to identify
and inform those people that their
citizenship would "evaporate" if they
didn't take specific steps to retain it,
she said.
Lindsay Wemp, a spokeswoman with
Citizenship and Immigration Canada,
said in an email that the immigration
minister can offer discretionary
citizenship
in
extraordinary
circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
Funk said she contacted Minister John
McCallum's office in July and has yet
to receive a response.
Donald Galloway, a University of Victoria
law professor, said he didn't think the
government has taken the necessary steps
to let people know "the narrow hinge"
their status was hanging on.
"I think it's quite shocking to live in a
country where the government creates
these byzantine rules and says 'Well,
it's up to you to know the details,'" he
said.
Funk isn't alone. Eva Friesen of
Steinbach, Man., became stateless
after losing her citizenship at the age of
28. She had to officially immigrate to
Canada after living as a Canadian since
she was six.
The now-37-year-old woman heard
about the rule by word of mouth
when she was 27, but she said that
didn't give her enough time to arrange

Byrdie Funk
the necessary paperwork before the
deadline.
"I think that's totally unfair, especially
if you grew up here and you know
nothing else," she said.
Another unrelated Manitoba resident,
Monica Friesen, discovered at 30
that she had let her citizenship lapse
decades after arriving to Canada.
"I don't understand how the government
can't inform people," she said. "I hope
(my story) opens up the eyes of the
government that maybe something
should be done."
She eventually received a discretionary
grant.
Galloway estimates there are hundreds
affected by the law, many of whom
are likely unaware. An Immigration
Canada spokeswoman said the exact
figure is unknown, but small.
The policy is another chapter in the
story of the "lost Canadians," made
up of residents whose citizenship was
either revoked or never granted in the
first place due to kinks in Canada's laws.
Over the years, the government
has legislated corrections for the

oversights, normally by retroactively

offering citizenship to affected groups,
from war brides to the children of
soldiers born overseas. But recourse
was never offered to those affected by
the 28-year rule.
Don Chapman, the self-styled leader of
the lost Canadians, has been lobbying
on behalf of these groups for years.
"The laws are a dog's breakfast,"
Chapman said in an email, adding that
Canada's reputation as being fair and
compassionate is not always deserved.
While not caught by the 28-year rule,
Jim McLellan of Wolfville, N.S., has
experienced firsthand the sometimes
tragic fallout of Canada's idiosyncratic
citizenship laws.
McLellan was born in the United
States in 1945 to a Canadian mother
and an American father. Prior to 1947,
Canadian law denied citizenship to any
child born abroad to a Canadian woman
who was married to a foreigner.
He said he entered Canada in 2005
to care for his ailing mother and
didn't visit a hospital about his own
deteriorating health in order to avoid
the risk of deportation.
Legal changes in 2015 paved the
long road to citizenship, after which
McLellan learned he had terminal lung
cancer, which had metastisized to his
brain. Eight months ago, he was given
four months to live.
"I'll be dead in a few weeks," McLellan
said in a recent interview, his voice
slurring slightly. "I had to live all of
that time without health care."
McLellan said he hopes his story
inspires Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
to make good on his word that "A
Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian."
"We're ready to shout it from the
rooftops," McLellan said.

Woman Carrying Dead Fetus For 5 Days Rejected By Hospitals, Dies

A pregnant woman in Chhattisgarh's
Korba district has died of infection,
after carrying a fetus that had died in her
womb five days earlier, allegedly after
doctors at private hospitals refused to
attend as she was unable to pay.
She made rounds of three private
hospitals along with her husband on
Monday. The couple was asked to
arrange blood and fees first. After
the issue came to light Chhattisgarh

women's commission ordered a probe.

The couple, Gulabdas Mahant and
Saraswati, 22, from Kodibahar area in
Korba district, rushed to the hospitals
where the woman was told during a
scan that her eight-month old foetus
had died. Doctors at Jamunadevi
Memorial Maternity Hospital advised
to get the foetus cleared and asked for
a fees of Rs 10,000 and three units of
blood.

An Emirati woman has sought leave

to have a sex change operation in what
would be a first for the United Arab
Emirates, newspapers have reported.
The application to the court in the
UAE capital Abu Dhabi comes after a
change in the law took effect earlier this
month legalising gender reassignment
surgery.
Lawyer Ali al-Mansouri told Gulf

News the 29-year-old woman always

felt strongly she was not the gender she
physically appeared to be.
"Ever since she was three, the woman
felt instead that she is actually a male.
She would have an intense desire to
have a male body and to be accepted
by others as a male and would feel her
true identity is male," he told the paper.
He said his client's feeling that her

While the woman was suffering

from severe pain, the couple failed to
arrange the blood and money. They
again went to the same hospital when
doctors refused to treat her if the fees
were not paid in advance.
Meanwhile, the infection spread in
her body and realizing the seriousness
of her condition, doctors asked her to
go to some other hospital. The couple
went to neighbouring Krishna Hospital

but again they were told that her case

was critical and doctors refused to
admit her, said Mahant. He said that
he then took her to Srishti Hospital,
where the doctors said that they would
operate her on Tuesday. But she died
at night.
"Without realizing the emergency,
earlier the doctors refused to accept her
case and later postponed it. Is it how
doctors work?" said Mahant.

Sex Change Surgery Sought By United Arab Emirates Woman In

First For Nation
body did not reflect her true gender
caused her severe distress, anxiety and
depression.
"She has been undergoing physical
and psychological care since 2012
and a medical commission had
recommended that she undergo a sexchange surgery," he said.
The court said it would hear the case on
September 28.

The new Medical Liability Law that

came into effect earlier this month
allows for sex change operations on
medical grounds.
"The surgical procedure is permitted
if it is part of a treatment for gender
dysphoria in transgender people, as
advised by a medical commission to
be set up for this purpose," the law
states.

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15

Hundreds Of Immigrants Mistakenly Granted United

States Citizenship
The US government has mistakenly
granted citizenship to at least 858
immigrants from countries of concern
to national security or with high rates
of immigration fraud who had pending
deportation orders, according to an
internal Homeland Security audit
released Monday.
The Homeland Security Department's
inspector general found that the
immigrants used different names or
birthdates to apply for citizenship
with US Citizenship and Immigration
Services and such discrepancies
weren't
caught
because
their
fingerprints were missing from
government databases.
The report does not identify any of the
immigrants by name, but Inspector
General John Roth's auditors said
they were all from "special interest
countries'' - those that present a national
security concern for the United States
- or neighbouring countries with high
rates of immigration fraud. The report
did not identify those countries.
In an emailed statement, the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) said the

findings reflect what has long been

a problem for immigration officials
- old paper-based records containing
fingerprint information that can't be
searched electronically.
DHS says immigration officials are in
the process of uploading these files and
that officials will review "every file''
identified as a case of possible fraud.
Roth's report said fingerprints are
missing from federal databases for as
many as 315,000 immigrants with final
deportation orders or who are fugitive
criminals. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement has not reviewed about
148,000 of those immigrants' files to
add fingerprints to the digital record.
The gap was created because older,
paper records were never added to
fingerprint databases created by both
the now-defunct Immigration and
Naturalization Service and the FBI
in the 1990s. ICE, the DHS agency
responsible for finding and deporting
immigrants living in the country
illegally, didn't consistently add digital
fingerprint records of immigrants
whom agents encountered until 2010.

The government has known about

the information gap and its impact on
naturalisation decisions since at least
2008 when a Customs and Border
Protection official identified 206
immigrants who used a different name
or other biographical information to
gain citizenship or other immigration
benefits, though few cases have been
investigated.
Roth's report said federal prosecutors
have accepted two criminal cases that
led to the immigrants being stripped
of their citizenship. But prosecutors
declined another 26 cases. ICE is
investigating 32 other cases after
closing 90 investigations.
ICE officials told auditors that the
agency hadn't pursued many of these
cases in the past because federal
prosecutors "generally did not accept
immigration benefits fraud cases.'' ICE
said the Justice Department has now
agreed to focus on cases involving
people who have acquired security
clearances, jobs of public trust or other
security credentials.
Mistakenly awarding citizenship to

someone ordered deported can have

serious consequences because US
citizens can typically apply for and
receive security clearances or take
security-sensitive jobs.
At least three of the immigrants-turnedcitizens were able to acquire aviation
or transportation worker credentials,
granting them access to secure areas
in airports or maritime facilities and
vessels. Their credentials were revoked
after they were identified as having
been granted citizenship improperly,
Roth said in his report.
A fourth person is now a law
enforcement officer.
Roth recommended that all of the
outstanding cases be reviewed and
fingerprints in those cases be added
to the government's database and that
immigration enforcement officials
create a system to evaluate each of
the cases of immigrants who were
improperly granted citizenship.
DHS officials agreed with the
recommendations and said the
agency is working to implement the
changes.

Lax Immigration Checks Preceded Fraudster Arrivals

Lax checking of tourist visas has been
implicated in the arrival of con artist
faith healers who set up shop in New
Zealand.
The charlatans made empty promises
to fix marriage, family, health,
employment and black magic
problems, Immigration New Zealand
investigation files showed.
Nine couples arrived on visitor visas
lodged in Mumbai, India, between
November 2014 and March last year.
Several couples were repeatedly given
tourist visa extensions while allegedly
plying their trade in local media.
"All of them extended their stay by
making further applications onshore;
most applied successfully on more
than one occasion," an official wrote in
an email.
One couple arrived on a visa valid for
4 months, extending it three times,
getting an extra month each time.
Officials first received an anonymous
tip-off about faith healers last March.
The people involved supplied false
documents and were in breach of visa
conditions.
The witchdoctors advertised on APNA
TV and community newspapers.
One soothsayer was proclaimed as
a "world famous" healer, another as
"Indian Most Powerfull Spiritualist".
A self-proclaimed astrologer in
Papatoetoe offering to mend all manner
of maladies claimed to have worked in
13 other countries.
Eight couples fled after being asked to
explain "alleged witchcraft practices"
but officials warned more could be at
large.

One informant alleged the "mind

readers" charged up to $10,000 to
perform black magic.
"They have no fear of advertising
their evil acts openly," a concerned
person wrote in a letter to Immigration
Minister Michael Woodhouse.
INZ was told the witchdoctors charged
up to $1400 to "heal cancer", following
enquiries from journalist Karen
Rutherford.
The first couple left New Zealand on
June 25 last year.
A fraud investigation was launched
and INZ offices in Delhi and Mumbai
were alerted to the problem.
"Just about every day, we're hearing
new examples of problems in
the immigration system," Labour
Immigration spokesman Iain LeesGalloway said.
The Mumbai branch was recently
reported to have been inundated with
fraud cases related to student visa
scams.
Lees-Galloway said the volume in
some cases of visa applications was
causing dysfunction.
"The minister actually needs to pull his
head out of the sand and realise there
are some systemic problems here."
Indian community leader Pratima Nand
, who helped expose witchdoctors last
year, said better oversight was needed
at some INZ branches abroad.
But she said after last year's exposure,
faith healers would think twice before
trying similar cons in future.
Nand said the exception was "one
idiot" who tried a similar scam in
Wellington's Hutt Valley this year.

Diwesh Sharma

Community leader Pratima Nand campaigned against witchdoctors last year.

"The whole community has been in place to assess all visa applications,
celebrating the eviction of the both onshore and offshore, to ensure
witchdoctors."
the genuineness and veracity of
Immigration NZ's Mumbai office evidence provided.
decided 29,253 international student "However, there are always those who
visa applications from India, Sri Lanka, deliberately set out to break the rules,
Nepal and Bangladesh and Bhutan last no matter how robust they may be.
year, the agency's website stated.
"The government takes any type of
That was up from 22,854 the year visa fraud or breach of visa conditions
before.
very seriously. And where a fraud or
A spokesperson for Woodhouse said breach is found to have occurred, there
INZ has very robust rules and processes are consequences."

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Woman Holds Up Dairy, Returns To Buy Milk Three

Days Later
CCTV footage showing the female
who held dairy owner Hetal Shastri
and his worker Neha Chaudhary
at gunpoint last Friday. The same
woman apparently came back into
the shop on Monday morning to buy
some milk.
Neha Chaudhary hoped she would
never again have to see the face
of the woman who held her up at
gunpoint.
Her wish was short lived after the
woman who robbed the Taradale Road
dairy apparently returned on Monday
morning to buy some milk.
Chaudhary and dairy owner Hetal
Shastri were working at the shop last
week when three robbers stormed in.
One of the assailants was an armed
woman who pointed a gun at Chaudhary
and ordered her to open the till.
"She had a gun. I stood there and
shouted. She came towards me fast,
she pointed the gun at Hatal. She said,
'Give me cash'. I was very scared, I was
crying."
When a customer came into the shop
the three stormed out, taking with them
over $900 in cash and $1000 worth of
cigarettes.
Since then, Chaudhary hasn't been able
to erase the terrifying moments from

her mind.
She was convinced a woman who
came into buy some milk on Monday
morning was the same woman who had
pointed a gun at her three days prior.
"I am sure it was her. I was very scared.
She came in with two girls. She bought
milk and hand cream," she said.
"I just raised my eyebrows and served
them."
Even though the woman who robbed
the store had covered her face,
Chaudhary was certain Monday's milk
buyer was the same person based on
her facial features and eyes.
After the woman left she asked two
customers to stay with her in the shop
for protection until the store owner
arrived.
"When I close my eyes, I can see it all
playing out again.
"Then she came in. This means they
may come again. I am always alone
here."
Shop owner Hetal Shastri had seen the
footage of the alleged robber, but could
not say for certain it was the same
woman who had held a gun at him.
"Neha is sure it is her. I can't really see
her face. We will ring the police and
give them the information so it can
help further the investigation."

Hetal Shastri, right, and Neha Chaudhary who were held up at gun point at
the League Park Superette in Taradale.
A recent spate of robberies in the area Detective Wayne Steed, of the Hawke's
had already put Shastri on high alert Bay CIB, said no arrest had been made
before Friday's incident.
in relation to the robbery.
"We knew it was going to happen. Police were looking at the CCTV
Even if you are mentally prepared, footage to determine if the milk buyer
when someone comes and points a gun and thief are the same person.
at you it is a completely different story. "It would not be unheard of for a
"It is so scary. I can't explain it in criminal to return to the scene of the
words."
crime," he said.

Trudeau Liberals Spent $1.1M To Move Political Staff

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's
government spent an estimated $1.1
million to move 49 ministerial aides to
Ottawa, but how more than half of that
amount was spent is a mystery.
In a document tabled in the House
of Commons, the government said it
spent $373,921 to reimburse the cost
of moving services and $52,777 on
hotels, but there is little detail on how
$685,118 was spent.
The Prime Minister's Office says that
all of the spending and reimbursements
followed government guidelines.
However, it could not say what kind of
expenses contributed to the $685,118
in unexplained spending.
Complicating the question is the fact
that in their answers to a question
placed on the order paper by
Conservative MP Larry Miller, some
departments supplied the estimates
that had been provided by a relocation
firm. When the question was posed on
June 8, some ministerial staff members
had not yet completed their moves
to Ottawa. The actual tally could be
higher or lower than the relocation
company's estimate.
The Conservatives were quick to
pounce during question period on
Tuesday, portraying the moving bills
as another example of the Liberal
government's sense of "entitlement."
"With unemployment rising and
families struggling to make ends meet,
why did the Liberals think it was

somehow OK to spend taxpayers' hardearned money on these outrageous

staff expenditures," demanded Karen
Vecchio, Conservative MP for the
Ontario riding of Elgin-MiddlesexLondon.
It is not known how much it cost
taxpayers in moving costs for aides
to former prime minister Stephen
Harper's Conservative government.
Under the government's Treasury
Board rules for ministerial offices, it is
left to each cabinet minister's discretion
to decide whether to reimburse costs
associated with a political staff member
relocating to Ottawa to work for the
minister.
"Any benefits are negotiated between
the minister and the individual," the
guidelines read. "Any negotiated
relocation assistance for those
individuals is to be paid from the
minister's own other operating budget."
Government guidelines also allow for
a wide range of "entitlements" to be
reimbursed, from flights for family
members to house hunt to real estate
transaction costs or shipping boats.
An analysis by CBC News of the
response provided by the government
shows that there appears to be a wide
range when it comes to how Trudeau's
ministers are exercising their discretion
to reimburse the moving costs for
political staffers.
While 10 ministerial offices didn't
spend a cent to relocate any political

staff to Ottawa, the Prime Minister's

Office spent an estimated $220,564 to
move five people to the capital, with
one person reimbursed $126,669 for a
move.
The second highest tab was for
the office of Navdeep Bains,
minister of innovation, science and
economic development. According
to the department's answer tabled in
Parliament, it cost $150,971 to move
two staffers one of whom had
expenses estimated at $113,799. The
bill for Bains's office also works out
to the highest average cost per staffer,
amounting to $75,000.
Pauline
Tam,
director
of
communications for Bains, pointed out
that the department's answer was based
on an estimate provided by a relocation
firm and at the time the question was
posed, the two employees had not
yet completed their moves. That is
also why no expenses appeared in the
categories of moving expenses and
hotel stays, she said.
The third highest tab was at Global
Affairs, which spent $146,067 to move
nine aides to Foreign Affairs Minister
Stphane Dion. A single employee
accounted for $119,825 of that cost.
Dion's staffers spent $33,683 on
moving services and $6,635 on hotel
stays, but no explanation is given
for $105,748 in expenses that were
reimbursed.
Dion's office has not yet responded to

CBC News.
Environment
Minister
Catherine
McKenna's office spent $116,333 to
move four staffers to Ottawa, with
one staffer spending $75,894 of
that amount. Spokeswoman Caitlin
Workman said flights account for some
of the $88,217 that is not explained by
moving or hotel costs.
At the other end of the spectrum, it
only cost taxpayers $1,943 in moving
costs for one of Transport Minister
Marc Garneau's staffers and $3,746 to
move one of Revenue Minister Diane
LeBouthillier's employees.
Former Conservative Treasury Board
president Tony Clement was sharply
critical of the moving expenses racked
up by the Liberals.
"I can't recall having moving expenses
like that. In fact, we were doing a
wholesale review of moving expenses
in various departments. So it's a bit
shocking that these kinds of expenses
are being expensed at this point."
But speaking to reporters on his
way out of question period, Finance
Minister Bill Morneau, whose office
didn't spend a cent to relocate aides,
defended the cost of moving political
staff to Ottawa.
"We are proud of the diverse team
of Canadians that we've recruited
to Ontario. We will remain mindful
of expenses in our government and
prudent all the way through as we work
on behalf of Canadians."

info@gobizz.ca

World News

778 278 4088

17

B.C. Woman Still Waiting For Moving Company To

Deliver Her Stuff More Than A Month Later
Company keeps demanding she sign
credit card authorization even though
she says she's paid in full
A woman who moved from Calgary
to Vernon is worried she will never
see her possessions again, because the
moving company she hired still hasn't
delivered her stuff and keeps asking for
credit card authorizations.
Tina Jensen packed up her onebedroom condo in Calgary at the end
of June for a move to B.C.
But she wasn't sure where in the
province she would end up settling
down, so she hired Green Moving
and Storage to pick up and store all
her belongings for at least five weeks,
with the understanding they would
eventually be delivered to wherever
she ended up.
The quote, she says, was $1,100.
'Entire home' picked up
Jensen gave the company her credit
card information, so it could charge her
a $100 deposit.
On June 29, a sub-contractor based
in Calgary, Mid-West Moving and
Storage Services, picked up her things.
"It was my entire home," said Jensen.
"Furniture and dishes and all my

memorabilia, all my pictures, all my

memories. It was everything."
Jensen headed to Vancouver Island,
where she planned to stay with a friend.
But that plan fell through.
"So, I was basically homeless," she said.
Jensen couldn't find a place to live on
the island, so she decided to move to
Vernon, which is where she grew up
and still has friends.
She took possession of her new place at
the beginning of August and contacted
Green Moving and Storage to arrange
delivery of her stuff.
By this point, the company had billed
her credit card almost $3,200, but the
company said it couldn't deliver her
things until she signed a credit card
authorization.
"And I said, 'why would I sign a credit
card authorization when you already,
without my authorization, charged
$3,200 on my credit card,'" said Jensen.
"I waited and waited. I emailed. I called
them. I talked to accounting, and I said,
'why is this not coming?'"
Paid in full
Jensen said she was told she was paid
up in full but still needed to sign the
authorization, as well as provide a

picture of the front and back of her

credit card.
"I was scared that if I gave them an
authorization, they would charge me
more."
On Aug. 9, Jensen cancelled her credit
card, so no more charges could be billed
to it. She then signed the authorization
and sent in a picture of the cancelled
credit card.
The next day, the company
acknowledged both had been received,
she said.
But when her stuff still did not arrive
in the following weeks, Jensen hired a
lawyer who sent the company a letter
demanding it deliver her stuff.
"They've never responded to my
lawyer," she said.
Called police
On Sept. 21, Jensen contacted the
Calgary police and an officer called the
company, she said.
"And they told [the officer], 'there's no
problem.' Even though I've sent them
emails, text messages and called them.
Nobody will talk to me or talk to my
lawyer."
Jensen said the officer told her the
company reiterated its stance that all

Jensen needed to do was sign the credit

card authorization.
"Apparently, they said if I do that again,
I will get my move next week. But I
don't trust this company," she said.
Still, Jensen has once again signed the
authorization and sent in a picture of
her cancelled credit card.
"I still don't know if I'm going to get
it back. I don't know if I have to give
them an active credit card in order for
them to bring me my stuff. It's very
frightening to have everything you
own gone," she said.
Other complaints
Green Moving has yet to respond to
CBC about Jensen's complaint.
Mid-West Moving and Storage Services,
the Calgary company contracted by
Green Moving and Storage to move
Jensen's stuff, declined to comment.
This is not the first complaint against
Green Moving and Storage.
A woman who moved from Bedford,
N.S. to Edmonton told the CBC she
waited 2 months for the company to
deliver her things.
And the Better Business Bureau lists
five complaints against the company
and gives it a grade of F.

Canterbury Woman Gambled Away Disabled Sister's

Funds

A woman stole $100,000 put aside

by her family to help support her
intellectually disabled sister.
Christchurch District Court Judge John
Strettell told the 67-year-old that her
offending was an "astonishingly and
reprehensible act of breach of trust".
It meant her sister's wellbeing was
not cared for to an appropriate level,
she had to go without, and was unable
to live in sufficiently appropriate
accommodation.
The woman, who was granted

permanent name suppression, was

sentenced on Tuesday on a charge
dishonestly using her sister's bankcard
to take $100,000 out of her bank
account, and term deposits.
Defence counsel Simon Shamy said the
woman paid back some of the money,
and she and her partner were going to
sell their home to pay the rest.
He said she was still close to her sister,
and was at a loss to explain why she
suddenly started stealing the money for
gambling.

The victim did not understand what

had happened, and was upset about
people criticising her sister, he said.
Judge Strettell said the offending was a
tragedy for the family.
The offending between May 2009
and February 2015 involved 450
transactions.
He said the woman's pre-sentence
report said she did not have a gambling
addiction, and she told them others
encouraged her to use the funds and
benefited from them as well.

He sentenced the woman to five

months' home detention, and said
there was still a degree of dependency
between her and her sister, and she
was still a person of importance in her
sister's life.
He said publication of her name would
cause grief to the sister. The new holder
of the power of attorney asked that the
woman not go to prison, and be granted
name suppression.
The judge also ordered reparation of
the remaining $61,000.

of their trip, and pay an administrative

fee of Can$7 (US$5.29).
After completing the online form,
permission to travel to Canada will be
sent by email and will remain in effect
for five years.
"Most applicants get approved within
minutes," the ministry said on its
website. "However, some applications
can take several days to process so
don't wait until the last minute."
The measure is similar to one set up
by the United States in 2008, and
will affect more than three million
travelers per year from more than 50
countries.

An Air Canada passenger who landed

in Ottawa Thursday morning says
it was "terrifying" to see two loose
trolleys in the cabin, one of which "was
like a rocket shooting down the aisle."
Ron Schmidt was sitting in row 33 at the
back of the plane during Air Canada flight
AC124, which was landing in Ottawa
from Calgary at about 1:30 a.m. ET
Thursday, when the incident occurred.
As the Embraer E190 aircraft with 93
passengers on board landed, one cart
shot down the aisle, striking five people.
It "was like a rocket shooting down the
aisle as soon as the plane landed and
braked," Schmidt wrote in an email to
CBC News.
Meanwhile, another trolley "was

smashing around" in the flight attendant's

galley at the back of the plane, he said.
"I was able to reach and hold it to the side
so it wouldn't go down the aisle," Schmidt
wrote. "It was a terrifying experience."
A 48-year-old woman one of the
five people hit by the trolley that rolled
down the aisle was later treated by
paramedics for a foot injury, Ottawa
paramedics said.
An investigation is ongoing, according to
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick.
The Air Canada component of the
Canadian Union of Public Employees,
or CUPE, refused to comment on
the incident until Air Canada's
investigation is complete, according to
spokesman Philippe Gagnon.

New Travel Restrictions

To Canada Take Effect
Sept. 30

Visa-exempt
foreign
nationals,
including Europeans, who fly or
transit through Canada will soon
need to obtain an electronic travel
authorization (eTA), the immigration
ministry reminded Tuesday.
A leniency period has been in effect
since mid-March, when the new
regulations were rolled out, due to
technical glitches. But that ends on
September 30, when officials will
begin to strictly enforce the rules.
US citizens are exempted.
Other foreign nationals, including
those passing through on a stopover,
must fill out an online eTA in advance

Runaway Food Trolleys

A 'Terrifying Experience'
During Air Canada Landing

18

info@gobizz.ca

Recipe

Sweet-and-Sour Chicken
Balls

Ingredients
1 package boneless skinless chicken
breast
1 diced small green pepper
1 can pineapple chunks
1 diced small red pepper
1 can tomato paste
Directions:
Cube chicken and parboil until cooked

through.
Drain water from pan, retaining chicken.
To chicken add pineapple, tomato paste
and peppers.
Simmer for 20 minutes and serve over
rice.
Substitution: Try canned stewed
tomatoes in place of the tomato paste
for a sauce with more body.

Warm Tuna & Vegetable

Salad

Ingredients
2 Tbsp. Becel Salt-Free margarine
8 ounces white mushrooms, quartered
(about 12)
6 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut
into 2.5 cm pieces
1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges
3 cups mixed salad greens
1 can solid white tuna in water, drained
and flaked
6 grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar or red wine
vinegar
1/4 oz. curls Parmigiano-Reggiano
cheese , (about 4 curls)
Preparation

Step 1
Melt Becel Salt-Free margarine in
large nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat and cook mushrooms, green
beans and onion, stirring occasionally,
vegetables are crisp-tender, about
6 minutes. Season, if desired, with
freshly ground black pepper. Cover
and let steam 3 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, evenly arrange salad
greens on 2 dinner plates, then top
with warm vegetable mixture and
juices, tuna and tomatoes. Drizzle
with vinegar and garnish with
cheese.

778 278 4088

Spicy Szechuan BBQ

Chicken

Ingredients
900g chicken pieces (drumsticks,
thighs and breast pieces)
1 sachet Blue Dragon Szechuan Pepper
Stir Fry Sauce
2 tsp Blue Dragon Sesame Oil
1 tbsp Blue Dragon Hoisin Sauce
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely
chopped
1tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped
Instructions
Take chicken pieces and slash with a
knife to make incisions, then rub with
the stir fry sauce, sesame oil and hoisin
sauce. Set aside to marinate 1-2 hours

if time permits
Heat your BBQ or broiler to medium
high heat. Place chicken on a tray and
place on the grill, cook 40-45 minutes,
turning occasionally, and baste with any
leftover marinade as the chicken cooks
Place chicken on a large serving platter,
scaller over chilli, sesame seeds and
coriander and serve immediately.
Chef's tip: Large beef steaks or other
robust cuts of meat (e.g. pork chops)
also work really well with this flavourful
marinade. The chicken is cooked when
it has changed in colour and firm to the
touch. If in doubt, pierce the thickest
part, clear juices should run.

Ingredients
3 pounds chicken wings
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup all-purpose flour for coating
1 cup butter SAUCE
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons water
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
1 teaspoon salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175

degrees C).
Cut wings in half, dip in egg and coat
with flour.
Heat butter in a large, deep skillet
over medium-high heat. Fry wings
until deep brown. Place in a shallow
roasting pan.
In a small bowl combine soy sauce,
water, sugar, vinegar, garlic powder
and salt. Pour over wings.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 45
minutes, basting wings with sauce
often.

Japanese Chicken Wings

info@gobizz.ca

Health

Home Remedies To Curb

Cold And Cough

With the change in weather, viral

cough and cold are common ailments
that kids suffer from. Try some of these
remedies to treat the ailment and boost
your kid's immunity:
1. Steam: If your little one suffers
from cold and has trouble breathing,
get him/her to take steam. Simply heat
water in a wide bowl and make the kid
inhale the hot fumes for at least 10 to
15 minutes. Adding eucalyptus oil can
also help soothe your child's system.
2. Honey: Known for its soothing
effect, dip your finger in honey and
let your baby lick it two three times in
a day. If your child is older than five
years, mix a spoonful with cinnamon
powder and ask him/her to have it.
3. Carom Seeds: Boiling water along
with carom seeds (ajwain) and tulsi
leaves can help to keep soothe the
cough. It also helps in relieving chest
congestion.
4. Massage: Massages work best for
children who are below two years of
age. Mix mustard oil with garlic and
massage your baby's chest, back and

778 278 4088

19

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Good

For Heart Attack Patients

neck area. Also cover the baby's palm

and feet with the oil for a quick relief.
5. Keep your kid hydrated: When your
kid is going through a bout of sneezing
and coughing, it is very important
to keep him/her hydrated. Drinking
water at regular intervals will help
fight the common cold and reduce the
inflammation in the throat along with
washing out the infection. Other fluids
in form of warm soup or a fresh juice
are also beneficial for replenishing the
body's lost energy.
6. Salt gargling: A glass of hot water
with a teaspoon of salt can be useful
to ease a sore throat. Ask your kid to
gargle with salt water twice a day. The
saline water helps soothe the pain.
7. Turmeric milk: Due to its antiseptic
properties, turmeric is known to treat
viral infections such as cough and
cold. Add turmeric powder to a glass
of warm milk and make your kid have
it every night. It provides instant relief
for an aching throat and runny nose.
Since it is a rich source of calcium,
milk also provides energy to your kid.

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil have

some anti-inflammatory properties
which allows the heart to contract
better and reduces the fibrosis in the
undamaged muscle, a new study has
revealed.
According to the study, published in the
journal Circulation, giving heart attack
patients a high dose of omega-3 fatty
acids daily for six months after a heart
attack can improve its functioning.
A previous study found that omega-3
fatty acids from fish oil were associated
with improved survival for heart attack
patients but the role of omega-3 fatty
acids in improving the structure and
tissue of the heart in patients receiving
current guideline-based therapy after a
heart attack was unknown.
The study involved 360 heart attack
survivors, half were given a high dose
omega-3 fatty acids and half placebo,
beginning within a month of the heart
attack. Because the study participants
were given high doses of omega-3s

in addition to their other medications,

patients were under a physician's care
and observed for any potential adverse
outcomes.
The researchers found that compared
to those taking a placebo, patients
taking a dose of 4 grams of omega-3
fatty acids daily for six months
experienced a 5.8 per cent reduction
in left ventricular end-systolic volume
index and had a 5.6 per cent reduction
in a measurement of scarred connective
tissue (fibrosis) formation in the nondamaged heart muscle.
"Heart failure is still a major problem
after a heart attack despite all the
therapy we have and the advances in
interventional care. Our findings show
that omega-3 fatty acids are a safe
and effective treatment in improving
cardiac remodeling, so it may be
promising in reducing the incidence of
heart failure or death," said Raymond
Y. Kwong, Associate Professor,
Harvard Medical School.

Testing May Not Predict

Heart Disease

A deficiency in the amount of vitamin

D in the body may lead to high risk of
chronic kidney diseases, especially in
children, says a new study.
Vitamin D deficiency has been
found common in children with
chronic kidney disease (CKD) -- the
longstanding disease of the kidneys
leading to renal failure.
Researchers have identified certain
modifiable and non-modifiable factors
associated with vitamin D deficiency
in children with CKD.
According to the study, nearly twothirds of children suffering from
vitamin D deficiency were also
suffering from certain abnormalities
like glomerulopathy -- a set of diseases
affecting the nephrons.
Vitamin D levels were found lower in
winter months than at other times of
the year.
"Vitamin D levels are influenced more

strongly by seasonal factors, the type of

disease and nutritional supplementation
than by common variants in vitamin D
regulating genes," said Anke Doyon,
at the University of Heidelberg in
Germany.
Deficiency in Vitamin D may also
increase the risk of osteoporosis, cancer,
cardiovascular disease and autoimmune
disorders, the researchers said.
Children with kidney disease who took
vitamin D supplements had vitamin D
levels that were two-times higher than
those who did not take supplements.
"Supplementation practices should be
reconsidered and intervention studies
are needed to define guidelines how to
monitor and treat vitamin D deficiency
in children with chronic kidney
disease," Doyon suggested.
The team analysed 500 children
affected with kidney diseases in 12
European countries

If you frequently suffer from acidity,

drink a glass of lukewarm water
every day before going to sleep and
immediately after waking up in the
morning.
-Eat an overripe banana to beat an
especially bad bout of acidity, as they
tend to contain more potassium which
makes it the perfect antidote.

-Have cold milk without any additives

like sugar. You could mix it with a
spoon of ghee to make the remedy
even more effective.
-Boil one cup of water and add 1 tsp
of aniseed (saunf). Cover and leave
overnight. Strain the water in the
morning and add 1 tsp of honey. Take
this three times a day to prevent acidity.

Increase Vitamin D Levels

Traditional Cholesterol To Cut Kidney Problems

Traditional testing for the level of a

specific component of high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) -the "good cholesterol" -- may not
be a better predictor of the damage
or disease in the heart's major blood
vessels, says a study.
Failure of drug trials to observe benefits
by elevating high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDL-C) in the blood has
raised serious doubts about HDL-C's
properties of reducing the formation
of plaques that block our blood vessels
and cause coronary heart disease, the
researchers said.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a
condition which affects the arteries that
supply the heart with blood.
The findings after adjusting for age, use
of statins, smoking, and other factors,
showed that small, dense, protein-rich
particles making up "good cholesterol"
may be more protective of our blood
vessels than large, buoyant cholesterolrich particles.
The more small and medium "good
cholesterol" particles were found in the
blood vessels, the less was the arterial
calcification present.
There was no association between
large HDL- particles and coronary
artery calcification.
The association with HDL- cholesterol
was weaker and inconsistent between
men and women.
"Our findings indicate that HDL-

particles and medium-sized HDL

particles are better independent markers
of coronary artery disease, as reflected
by coronary artery calcification, than
HDL-cholesterol," said Chobufo Ditah
from Hebrew University in Jerusalem,
Israel.
"The study support previous reports
suggesting that small dense HDL
particles are protectively associated
with risk of coronary heart disease,"
Ditah added.
For the study, published in the journal
Atherosclerosis, the team recruited
274 Arabs and 230 Jews residing in
Jerusalem.
The team used Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to
identify the numbers and sizes of
plasma HDL particles, and helical
CT-scanning to identify calcification
in their coronary arteries, reflecting
the overall burden of coronary
atherosclerosis.
With these data in hand, they
looked for associations between the
concentrations and sizes of different
HDL particles, and coronary artery
calcification.
"Based on the accumulating evidence,
incorporation of medium-sized HDL
particles or HDL- particles into the
routine prediction of coronary heart
disease risk should be considered,"
noted Jeremy Kark,Professor at the
Hebrew University.

Home Remedies To Deal

With Acidity

OBizz.com

20

778 278 4088

info@gobizz.ca

Ranveer Singh And Sanjay Leela Bhansali Trying Hard

To Not Ruin Their Personal Equation Due To Padmavati
Look how Ranveer Singh is assuring
things don't grow sour between him
and Sanjay Leela Bhansali just because
of differences over Padmavati.
While the rumours of professional
differences between Sanjay Leela
Bhansali and Ranveer Singh (who
is set to play Alauddin Khilji in
Padmavati) abound, personally, all
is well between them. Its great that
they can keep work issues aside and
not let it colour their fondness for
each other. SLB and Ranveer have
shared a great equation since working
together on Goliyon Ki Raasleela:
RamLeela, and followed it up with
another blockbuster Bajirao Mastani.
Now, they are reuniting for the third
time. Now that Ranveer has signed
the film, the two celebrated with some
home-cooked Sindhi food from the
actors house. Sanjay cheated on his
diet for Ranveer. The actor, despite his
busy schedule, was also part of all the
festivities at Bhansalis house for the
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Says a source, Since the two share
such a great equation off-screen, they
cant wait to start work on the movie
and given their camaraderie and
chemistry, translate it into cinematic

magic. Ranveer is excited about the

role and is prepping for it in full swing.
Well, so be it then! But one cannot
forget the fact that recently there were
even reports on how Bhansali is tired
of dealing with Ranveers neverending demands and that Padmavati is
going to be their last film together. Add
to that, some also assumed if Deepika
Padukone is the only one whos
playing a peacemaker between the
two. Although everything mentioned
above is just a source quoted reality
but then, if at all everything is really
cool between Ranveer and Bhansali,
then how about starting the impending
shoot of Padmavati.
Hardik Patel is currently arguing with
Bhansali to present a narration of the
film before starting to shoot for they
believe the acclaimed director is going
to disrespect Rani Padmavati. They
have even asked Sanjay Leela Bhansali
to tell them the story or they ban the
film from shooting in Gujarat and
Rajasthan, which is Padmavatis actual
origin.
Nevertheless, lets see what destiny
holds for this film and its actordirector jodi Ranveer and Sanjay
Leela Bhansali.

OBizz.com

'Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai' Takes A Cue From Devdas!

The magnum opus `Devdas` has
completed 14 years but it still remains
fresh in the minds of the audiences.
Paying the film a small tribute would
be &TV's Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai. But
the show is of a comic genre and the
film is serious drama, so how do the
concepts meet?
The latest track will be showing
Anita (Saumya Tandon) and Angoori
(Shubangi Atre) trying to woo their
husbands Vibhuti (Aasif Sheikh) and
Tiwari (Rohitashv Gaur) respectively.
The husbands pay no attention to them
which leaves the bhabhi's frustrated.
With the help of Anita's acquaintance,
they will be seen using new tricks
to mesmerize their husbands. After
none of them yield results, Anita and
Angoori bhabhi will be seen reprising
Devdasi a.k.a Paro's look from Devdas.
When we asked Anita bhabi a.k.a
Saumya Tandon about the track she
said, `I have often been told by many
people that I look like a Bengali in
the getup. I love the Bengali look
throughout and thoroughly enjoyed
donning this look for Bhabi ji.`

`I researched for quite some time on

the internet to get the authentic Bengali
look. While shooting the sequence, our
sets was turned into a classic Devdas
style set up. Loved every bit shooting
for it`, said Angoori bhabi a.k.a
Shubhangi Atre.
Vibhuti and Tiwari will also be seen
going the Dev Baabu way and donning
long kurtas a la SRK from Devdaas!
Vibhuti a.k.a Aasif Sheikh said, `I have
done a lot of getups before, but this one
in particular was a little difficult. I had
a tough time managing the lungi as it
used to come out and I used to try and
grip it. (laughs)`
`The sequence which we are shooting
is very different from all that we have
shot up till now. Moreover, I also faced
a similar situation like Aasif bhai. The
Bengali dhoti is worn in a way that we
are not used to, so at one instance, the
dhoti actually came out and we didn't
realize that. Everyone in the set had a
hearty laugh though!` said Tiwari a.k.a
Rohitashv Gaud.
Will Anita and Angoori bhabhi's plan
prove successful?

OBizz.com

778 278 4088

info@gobizz.ca

21

Horoscope
Aries
You may be feeling a little hesitant
today, and not really sure quite why.
Just when you thought you had it all
figured out, another aspect of the issue
comes up and offers a completely
different perspective. It may be hard
for you to choose one path and stick
with it. Keep in mind that your unique
path may incorporate many different
side-paths. That's fine! In fact, this is
one of your many gifts.
Taurus
Your expansive nature is eager to reach
out to others, but you may find yourself
running into opposition as you do this.
Keep in mind that not everyone wants
your advice. Give it to people only if
they ask for it. It may be in your nature to
just want to jump into people's lives and
fix things. Resist this temptation. What
people may need is just an ear to listen.
Gemini
Today, you will be introvert. You may
find answers to some existentialist
questions. Indeed you are asking
yourself, today, if your life is the way
you want it to be. Are your friends the
way you would like them to be? Or
are you always disappointed? Today is
an important day. You could decide to
change a few things in your life.

Cancer
Today there will be a great deal of
pressure on you, so try and go about
your day as diplomatically as possible.
In fact, if you would like people to
listen more to your advice, you need
to be frank with them and stop beating
around the bush once and for all.
This may not be a very restful period.
You are going to need to be able to
anticipate things.
Leo
Today, you will ponder over the role
you could lead in the humanitarian
field. You feel strongly about helping
the underprivileged. But have you
been thinking hard enough about the
consequences this change would have
on your life? The question is, are you
prepared to get involved and are you
courageous enough?
Virgo
One of the themes today is "opposites"
- giving versus receiving. You may be
asked to handle many tasks at once,
something that you are naturally quite
good at. You will find that there is
a strong need to take action and get
things done at the same time, you may
feel a strong inward pull that is asking
you to settle down and reflect. Both
are extremely valid emotions and both

should be honored equally as you go

through your day.
Libra
Today, you might feel a little bit lost.
Indeed, you are used to taking matters
in your own hands. You compulsively
give advice to people around you. But
today, you are the one who needs help.
You might need to go far away to get
things straightened out. Today might
be the right day to plan a vacation.
Scorpio
You will find yourself right in line with
your warrior instinct today, which is
reminding you to maintain alignment
with your dreams. The tricky part is
how exactly you are going to plan your
attack, so that there is an equal balance
of give versus take. Today's prevailing
energies may have you caught between
a rock and a hard place. Sometimes a
harsh, outer-directed, argumentative
approach is the only way to push
through the current roadblock.
Sagittarius
The day will appear under favorable
auspices and your life will benefit from
these great circumstances! But you will
have to refrain your impatience. Indeed,
this little fault in your nature could have
a negative impact on the day. You have
got to try to take your time! It is the only

way you can fulfill your dreams.

Capricorn
From time to time we all have to take
a hard look at our lives to see where
we are going. But when you think
about your life an inner voice tends to
criticize you. Today you feel that your
life is far from being the way you think
it should be. Try not listening to this
voice or try to prove it wrong.
Aquarius
In general, you are attracted to
individuals
with
very
strong
personalities and eccentric people.
But you have to realize that behind
this attraction lies a very strong need
for freedom. In your life, freedom
is more a fantasy than a reality! The
time has come for you to do some soul
searching. Try not to hide from the
realities of your life!
Pisces
You have always felt like some kind
of scholar! You feel that you need to
share your knowledge with the young
ones and you tend to get a real kick out
of it! But this role also incites you to
question yourself all the time. Today,
you will be confronted to a similar
situation, but this time, a person
will challenge your knowledge and
method.

Priyanka Chopras Twirling On Stage At Emmy Awards

Was Tom Hiddlestons Suggestion

Priyanka Chopra and Tom Hiddleston

flirting during the Emmy Awards is
an old news now. There is something
more to this story and you can read the
complete details below.
Priyanka Chopra is now the official
Twirling girl, thanks to her recent
outing at Emmy Awards 2016. The
actress who wore a red gown by Jason
Wu for the event never imagined that
her act would be the next hot topic in
west. PeeCee who returned on The
Jimmy Fallon show revealed that one
such twirling act lead to another and
that is how she ended up Twirling all
day and night during Emmys.
The actress stated that since her gown
was all flowy and had a long tail end,
she decided to utilize it for twirling and
make herself feel like a princess for
at least one day. However her this act
made photographers ask her to redo it
several times while they clicked her.
That is how we have so many pictures
of her from that day all in the similar
pose. Well she did flaunt the garment in
the best way possible and the act was
a quite refreshing than the usual poses
which actress give while getting clicked
And guess Tom Hiddleston noticed
this and later asked Priyanka to twirl
again during their entry on stage to

present the award. Apparently it was

Taylor Swifts ex-boyfriends idea to
make a hatke entry on the stage. So
while you guys may think that we are
making these stories, let us tell you that
Priyanka Chopra herself has accepted
this fact on The Jimmy Fallon show
where she clearly mentions, Tom
made me twirl on stage. Ahem! Seems
like actress already likes listening to
Mr Hiddleston.
A lot of Western media shared news
of how Priyanka and Hiddleston really
hit it off at the after party of Emmy
Awards. In fact, sources were even
quoted telling E News, Tom had his
arm around her and held her close.
Afterwards, Tom and Priyanka talked
closely and were holding hands at
one point for a few moments, our
insider said. Priyanka fixed Toms
bow-tie and then the two kissed on
both cheeks. Well, well, looks like
theres something cooking there. And
it could just be too hot to handle. Now
theres no confirmation on the same as
it seems like some harmless flirting but
it sure would be interesting to see these
two get along. But a lot of them have
confirmed the same that they were
openly flirting with each other! The two
were even branded as HiddleChops!

OBizz.com

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info@gobizz.ca

TS Times Sports

Ben Ryan: Pacific Islands Becoming Rugby's 'Wild

West', Says Ex-Fiji Sevens Coach

Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are being

stripped of their rugby talent by crooked
agents and dodgy backhanders, says
Olympic-winning coach Ben Ryan.
He says the lack of licensed agents
has turned the Pacific Islands into the
"Wild West" and claims players are
being lured overseas on false promises.
He now wants significant changes to
protect the smaller nations.
"Anyone can do anything, so it's the
Wild West in that respect," the former
Fiji sevens coach told BBC Scotland.
The Englishman also warned that:
Top clubs are actively harvesting
Pacific Island "freaks" of increasingly
young ages;
Impoverished islanders are lured
overseas to provide for their families
but end up representing other countries;
There are good agents but many are
unregulated and unsupervised;
The game needs fresh ideas to create
fair opportunities for the islanders.
What's going on?
In August, BBC Scotland detailed the
anxieties of Shaun Longstaff, a former
Scotland international and agent who
scouts the Pacific Islands on behalf of
some of Europe's elite clubs.
He claims he was told to find them
"a freak". Not a playmaker, nor a
goalkicker, they want the next hulking
phenomenon and they want him cheap.
With players of athleticism, an intangible,
un-coachable flair and a humble
obsession with the game, the islands are
a goldmine of box-office talent.
But without a professional league and
given the Fijian national minimum
wage - only introduced in 2014 - is just
87p per hour, players move abroad to
earn for their families and fight for a
Test jersey.
There are currently:
Nine Fijian-born or Fijian-capped
players in England's Premiership;
Six in the Pro12, featuring teams from
Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales;
Thirteen in the southern hemisphere's
Super Rugby competition;
And 35 in France's Top 14.
Gaining a foothold in a top league
overseas can mean players switching
international allegiances.
"Unless you've got a full Test cap, you
can't come into the Aviva Premiership,"
explains Ryan.
"It's a lot harder to come into the UK,
so the French are poaching everyone."
He says the closest professional league
to Fiji is the ITM Cup in New Zealand,
but claims players from the Pacific
Islands can only go there if they are
qualified to represent the All Blacks.
"They get a Super Rugby contract
dangled in front of them and they don't
then come back across to play for Fiji,"
says Ryan. "Australia's the same."
How bad has it got?

A distinction should be made between

islanders "poached" from overseas and
those whose families emigrated while
they were infants.
Many are products of diverse
bloodlines and thus eligible for several
nations, but more and more Fijians
are choosing to play for their adopted
homelands.
After serving a three-year residency
period, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Henry
Speight both played for Australia.
Tevita Kuridrani also plays for the
Wallabies after moving to Australia as
a 16-year-old.
Elsewhere:
France has wingers Virimi Vakatawa
and Noa Nakaitaci;
Waisake Naholo, who moved to New
Zealand aged 17, is a regular on the
wing for the All Blacks;
And number eight Nathan Hughes has
chosen to play for England.
"In 10 years' time, if things don't
change, I see an Australian side with
half their team coming from the islands,
at least," says Ryan.
"I've heard of at least another dozen
coming through the Australia ranks.
"There will be four or five others in
France without doubt, because I know
there are young kids there who are
phenomenally talented and a year off
getting residency, so it's inevitable
unless we make something happen
quickly."
In May, World Rugby's vice-president,
Argentinian former scrum-half Agustin
Pichot, spoke of his distaste for the
present eligibility criteria.
But Ryan fears extending the residential
period to five years, as has been
mooted, would only drive scouts and
clubs to recruit ever-younger players.
"I went to Toulon in pre-season and
they knew about 15-year-olds that were
playing in Fiji school competitions,"
he says.
"They'll go to the villages, they'll give
some money or incentives to their
family to get them to go overseas.
Then they'll take them to their French,
Australian or New Zealand clubs or
schools or academies.
"Some guys will make it, some guys
won't. It's an educated gamble that
more often than not pays off."
So what's the answer?
There is no regulation of agents and
no compulsory registration. Ryan
worries honest souls, like Longstaff,
are outnumbered by those eager to
plunder.
"There are dodgy agents and people
on the islands cutting deals and taking
backhanders," says Ryan, claiming
players are often contacted via
Facebook.

"There are some terrible agents, mainly

the ones that have been kicked out of
Australia and New Zealand.
"They end up trying to get islanders
across, saying how they helped them.
It's the opposite. I've had players left
high and dry.
"Where there is un-regulation, you're
going to get cowboys out there that
don't care and are just looking to make
a quick buck."
Ryan, who quit as Fiji sevens head
coach after the Rio Games, also wants
more tangible assistance from those
who hold the power in international
rugby.
England's last Test in Fiji was in 1991
and they have never played in Samoa
or Tonga. Neither have South Africa
nor Australia, who haven't been to Fiji
since 1984.
New Zealand have played recent
internationals in the USA and Samoa,
while two of their franchises, the
Chiefs and Crusaders, played a Super
Rugby fixture in the Fijian capital,
Suva, in July.
However, the All Blacks themselves
have never set foot in Fiji.
Meanwhile, Wales haven't toured the
Pacific since 1994, France since 1998
and Ireland 2003. Of the Tier One
nations, only Italy and Scotland have
played Tests on the islands in the past
five years.
Ryan says Fiji's recent success at the
Olympic Games in Rio represents
a good opportunity to take positive
action.
"For the greater good of the game, you

need a bigger top table," he says.

"You need these teams trying to fight it
out for quarter-final places at the World
Cup - and that's not happening."
What else can be done?
Aside from losing players to richer
nations, having so many internationals
abroad makes preparing for Test
matches extremely difficult.
Of last year's 31-man Fiji World Cup
squad, 28 played club rugby overseas.
There are, stresses Ryan, diligent
and savvy World Rugby operators on
the islands striving to provide better
governance and sharper infrastructure,
but with limited success.
Ryan says a World Rugby-backed
Pacific draft would help protect both
players and countries.
He also advocates a percentage of a
player's wages going back to their home
union to "drive high performance" on
the islands.
"If we have domestically contracted
players that are earning good money
and if all the boys were earning the
same money they earn overseas, none
of them would leave," he says.
Ryan says having a Fijian national team
in Super Rugby competition would be
"a game-changer", too.
He also suggests franchising the Fijian,
Samoan and Tongan national teams
would boost their earning potential by
attracting all sorts of sponsorship.
Until then, he says, the Pacific Island
teams - especially the 15-a-side teams
- are going to suffer because they get
very little contact with their players,
"90% of whom are based overseas".

Finance Pacific Backs Suva

Football
Finance Pacific Corporation Limited
(FPCL) stepped in to sponsor the Suva
Football team for the Courts InterDistrict Championship (IDC).
The sponsorship is worth $7500 in
which $5000 will be given in cash
while $2, 500 will be in kind.
Suva Football Association president,
Mahendra Prasad said the return of FPCL
brings good luck to their campaign.
This is not the first time they have
come on board, they sponsored us in
2012 and that was the year we won the
IDC after a lapse of 20 years, Prasad
said.
I thank them for this IDC sponsorship
because as you know, sponsors are a
major part of any team. I think Finance
Pacific has come at the right time to
finance Suva football and it is good to
see that we will be known as Finance
Pacific Suva. It is not an easy thing to

get sponsors and we are lucky to have

their support.
Company director Siddharth Nandan
said they are fulfilling their corporate
responsibility and hope that Suva bring
the title back.
We have done this in the past so we
have some history with Suva soccer,
FPCL does majority of its business out
of here so we feel that it is part of our
corporate responsibility to give back to
the community, Nandan said.
Sponsoring a sports team is a
small part of what we do in terms of
giving back and we hope to continue
the relationship we have with Suva
Football in the future as well. We hope
just like in 2012 we can be a lucky
charm for the Suva team and may they
bring the trophy back. The IDC will
be held at the ANZ Stadium, Suva
from October 5-10.