A national survey in Fiji on the prevalence of violence against women in relationships shows that women in rural areas are more at risk of being abused than others. The survey was carried out by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, which interviewed more than 3,000 women over two years, from rural and urban areas in Read more
Archbishop elect of Suva Peter Loy said the church had failed to take on the issue of sexual violence with a front-on approach. Loy Chong made the comment when asked about the church’s view’s about the increase in acts of sexual violence. He said preaching about the ills of sexual violence from the pulpit is not enough. Read more
Some news sources are saying Father Kevin Barr hopes to see out the last of his days in Fiji. Others are reporting that he is deciding whether he will renew his work permit. Barr, who has lived in Fiji for over 30 years, is an Australian citizen and his work permit expires at the end of the year. Read more
Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has expressed concern about NGO groups that are funded or sponsored to advance issues that are opposed to the the Government’s policies. In written submissions to the Constitution Commission, the military said these practices were aimed at undermining and destabilising the good work done by the government. The Military proposes that if Read more
The damage caused by Cyclone Evan is much worse than the 2009 tsunami according to the head of Caritas Samoa. Puletini Tuala says 20 people are missing, more than 4,500 people are in evacuation centres (with over 300 people in Caritas-supported centres) and over 4,000 homes have been destroyed. “This is worse than the 2009 tsunami, Read more
Pope Benedict has appointed Peter Loy Chong as the new Archbishop of Suva, Fiji, (population 1,297,683, Catholics 101,050, priests 81, religious 162). Fr Chong was born on January 30, 1961, at Korovou, Tailevu. He comes from a family of seven, three boys and four girls. He undertook his priestly formation at Pacific Regional Seminary. Ordained in 1992 Read more
On Friday the Standing Committee of the Methodist Church in Fiji announced that the Church is going to be serious with its work of reconciliation. President-elect Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu unveiled the principles of reconciliation in the lead-up to Christmas and the church’s continuing effort in nation-building through grace. Reverend Waqairatu said the principles of reconciliation had Read more
Catholic Archdiocese of Suva counsellor Brother Fergus Garrett said they had been very much part of preparation of two documents, “Fiji Inter-Faith Strategy on HIV/AIDS” and “Pacific Guide to HIV for Christian Ministers, Pastors and Communities”, from the beginning to the final stage. The documents were launched in Suva last Thursday by the President of Read more
The colonial policy practiced in Fiji of pitting one community against another has succeeded and its effects still remain according to a preliminary report from the Constitutional Commission. The report has been circulated for a meeting to get feed-back from local experts and public servants. It says that as a result of this colonial policy Fiji is Read more
Sixty percent of Pacific islanders have access to a mobile phone. Almost a million are Facebook users. As mobile phone use sweeps through the Pacific it is bringing a revolution of change in its wake. “In PNG in April social media brought together thousands of people for a political protest. Islanders have become more literate, more familiar with market prices Read more