The service was held at Albert Park Pavilion in Suva.

Employers had been asked to let as many workers as possible attend the ceremony which was led by the president Jioji Konrote.

Representatives of some of the worst affected communities were invited to attend

A minute of silence was observed for the 44 people who lost their lives in Cyclone Winston after a roll call of the 44 people and the Last Post.

Family members of the 44 people and students from a number of schools were also present.

People came as far as Koro, Vanuabalavu and

Diplomats and government ministers also attended but opposition party leaders stayed away.

An opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka said the service was inappropriate given thousands are still suffering in tent homes and classrooms one year on.

He said the funds spent on getting school children and civil servants to attend the event would be better spent on rehabilitation.

Ro Teimumu Kepa is not answering her phone while NFP Leader, Biman Prasad said that he had prior commitments and was attending a funeral.

The Australian minister for International development and the Pacific said i was not only an event to commemorate the death and destruction brough about by Winston, but it also celebrated the resilience of the Fijian people.

Cyclone Winston was the biggest storm ever to make landfall in the Southern hemisphere.

60 percent of the population was directly affected by Cyclone Winston, about 40,000 homes were destroyed and hundreds of schools were damaged.

Source

• www.fbc.com.fj
• fijivillage.com
• radionz.co.nz
• fijisun.com
• Image: Twitter/Faiyaz Koya

This was clarified in Parliament by Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy, who said Opposition MP Salote Radrodro incorrectly informed the House that more than 85,000 students were studying under tents.

"This is far from the truth. There are only 4484 students currently in tents. This is only 2.1 per cent of the 211,385 students we have in our schools," he said. Continue reading

Habitat for Humanity Fiji has provided more than 1000 families with emergency shelter-kits in the Northern Division.

The non-profit organisation served 500 families in the Province of Bua last month reaching out to Wainunu, Nadi and Kubulau districts.

They have assisted 700 families from 20 communities in Taveuni Island.

An emergency shelter-kit includes items such as tarpaulins, ropes, buckets, mosquito nets, solar lanterns, spades, hand saw, shovel, machete, binding wire, roofing nails, pinch bar, bending wire, hammer and other small items.

Since cyclone Winston hit Fiji Habitat for Humanity Fiji has reached out to more than 3000 families as a whole with emergency shelter-kits.

This involved distribution of emergency shelter kits in more than 150 communities in Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Ovalau.

Who are Habitat for Humanity?

Habitat for Humanity Fiji is a non-profit organisation founded in 1991.

It is a member of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), founded in 1976 to eliminate poverty housing.

Habitat for Humanity Fiji builds and repairs homes for low-income families and is one of the biggest single entity housing providers in Fiji next to government.

They believe every Fijian family should have access to their basic right to adequate housing in the most practical and cost-effective way.

The Help for Homes initiative

The Fiji Government has established the Help for Homes initiative to help people who have not received help from donors or NGOs.

In a number of villages, Catholic schools have been used as a meeting place for local people to meet the Help for Home teams.

Help for Homes is designed to give affected households the resources they need to rebuild their damaged homes, including roofs, to withstand severe weather events.

Homes that have sustained damage from Cyclone Winston can be issued electronic cards that can be used at selected hardware retailers to purchase materials to rebuild.

Households are eligible to receive assistance if the…

• household has an annual income of $50,000 or less
• home was located in the declared path of Cyclone Winston
• home sustained roofing damage in Cyclone Winston.

The first phase of distribution targeted homes in the declared path of Cyclone Winston.

Homes located outside of the declared path will not be eligible for assistance until the second stage of distribution. Those dates will be announced.

Source

• fijisun.com.fj
• fijitimes.com
• Image: fijisun.com.fj

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama told Parliament that Fiji was a secular state and the Government would not give priority to one faith over another.

He was responding to a question asked by Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu on why the government won't assist in rebuilding churches and village halls damaged by Winston.

"As the Prime Minister and as a Christian, I respect the important role religion plays in our lives."

"And they (Opposition) are playing on this. I know the reason why they (Opposition) came up with this question," Bainimarama said.

"We are a multi-faith nation and we have a Constitution that guarantees religious freedom and establishes Fiji as a secular state."

"Fijians practice many different faiths, it can do so knowing that they are protected under our laws and that Government does not favour any one religion over another."

He said Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and other denominations could all practice freely in Fiji.

"What about the mosques and temples that suffered damage, are those also the responsibility of Government to rebuild?"

Mr Bainimarama said Government was not in the position to decide whose churches were worthy of rebuilding and it was not Government's job to build any house of religion in Fiji.

He said village halls and churches are more capable of financing their own repairs than the many distraught families who have no homes.

Bainimarama says communities should be responsible for rebuilding their places of worship and village halls.

-
Source

• fijitimes.com
• fbc.com.fj
• Image: livingdreams.tv

Julie and her team have raised $102,000 with over $44,000 to food and $58,000 going to building materials. Donations continue to come in.

She said they had managed to raise money from former guests in their hotel to kind donors who had responded to their appeal on Facebook.

Julie said "The best part of the relief effort is to see so many people from different groups come together as one tribe.

"Initially my mom and I with a friend Seraina Brunett, all from Nakia Resort and Dive, raised over $100,000 from amazing people, mostly our friends, family, previous guests and even strangers for food rations, while donations are still coming in," she said.

"With the help of non-governmental organisations like Shelter Box, Loloma Foundation and countless others we have been able to begin restoration of affected homes in the South and North end of the island."

Kelly said the response from people willing to help on their Facebook page was just overwhelming.

Cyclone Winston was the strongest cyclone ever recorded in the southern hemisphere and the south coast of Taveuni Island, took a direct hit.

Winds were recorded at over 300 km/hr and an 18 metre tsunami-like storm surge ravaged the coastline and ripped away countless homes, community centres, schools and even resorts that were in its path.

Approximately 70% of all homes have been destroyed along this coastline with over 5000 people affected.

Source

• facebook.com
• fijitimes.com
• padi.com
• Image: facebook.com

The call came as Indonesia's Co-ordinating Minister for Political Affairs, Law and Security visited Fiji.

Luhut Binsar Padjaitan was reportedly delivering Fiji an assistance package worth up to US$5 million, plus a contingent of engineers, to help the country recover from Cyclone Winston.

But in Jakarta, a senior government official told Indonesian media last week that the ministerial visit was to suppress regional support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

As the ULMWP was recently granted observer status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Jakarta has increased its diplomatic overtures to the region.

PCC general secretary, Rev. Francois Pihaatae, said Indonesia's offer to Fiji should be welcomed.

But the reverend noted that Mr Padjaitan's visit had glaring political overtones.

Rev. Pihaatae noted the minister had been "extremely vocal against groups seeking self-determination in Papua" and had publicly called for West Papuan activists to be removed from the country.

Any bilateral talks between Indonesia and Fiji on the issue of West Papua should not be influenced by assistance to cyclone victims, the reverend said.

"We call on all donors - including NGOs - not to attach conditions to their aid and to refrain from providing assistance along with a discreet message to support a political cause," he said.

The reverend said that New Zealand and Australia - long seen as opponents of Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama - had rushed to Fiji's aid following the cyclone, setting no pre-conditions for humanitarian assistance.

Last month, Mr Padjaitain, who is a former military leader, announced Indonesian government intentions to have a number of human rights abuses in West Papua probed.

Sources

• Radio New Zealand
• Image: Benny Wenda

Archbishop Peter Loy Chong was one of the leaders at the event at Ratu Sukuna Park titled "Rise with Christ: A Vision of Hope for the Future".

Among the other church leaders present were United Church Programme co-ordinator for Pacific Reverend Dr Cliff Bird and Church of God Pastor Sikeli Vadei, as well as many others.

At the event, the general secretary for the Fiji Council of Churches, Rev. Simione Tugi, spoke of the Easter hope that can conquer even death itself.

"Tropical Cyclone Winston has taken and threatened many lives in Fiji and reports have highlighted that the many affected have taken their own initiatives and collectively rebuilt their lives," Rev. Tugi said.

"The Easter celebration of Christ's victory over death is a significant reminder of hope as we rise together as brothers and sisters in Christ despite this trying time.

"Our rising together as one in Christ to build a new Fiji is the test of this moment," he said.

People were brought together at the Easter Sunday event by the Fiji Council of Churches and the Ecumenical Centre of Research for Education and Advocacy.

Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces personnel took a break from relief efforts to attend an Easter service in Suva alongside their Fijian armed forces colleagues.

A New Zealand Defence Force statement noted that the NZDF's humanitarian aid operation in Fiji was one of its largest peacetime deployments to the Pacific.

Meanwhile, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is working with the Archdiocese of Suva's Commission of Justice and Development to help Fijians build houses that have better resilience against cyclones.

Sources

• Fiji Times
• Fiji Times
• Caritas
• Image: Fiji One

"I also wish to assure my closeness to the peoples of the Fiji Islands, harshly lashed by a devastating cyclone," the Pope said last week after praying the midday Angelus with those in St. Peter's Square.

"I pray for the victims and for those who are committed to the relief operations." Continue reading

New Zealand Marist Mission promoter, Fr Tim Duckworth, SM, confirmed the move on Tuesday evening.

"The people of Fiji are resilient, but in many cases will have to start again from the foundations," Fr Duckworth said.

"With so many communities and villages flattened, local infrastructure is really stretched.

"Frequently people have lost everything: homes, schools, churches, food sources, livelihood, drinkable water and crops.

"It is going to take a lot of help to get up and running again."

Fr Duckworth's initiative comes in response to the massive trail of destruction left by monster Cyclone, "Winston".

Late last week, the New Zealand province of the Society of Mary made a substantial donation to the society's Oceania province.

One of the areas badly hit was "Tutu", the rural training centre in Tavenui, where 22 buildings have either been partially or completely destroyed.

Tutu was established in 1969 and helps people become more autonomous - training them to return home to farm their own land.

It offers five courses catering for young farmers, married couples, young single women, and new parents.

The Pacific Island Famers Organisation Network has said the Tutu "experiment" has been highly successful.

"The urgent needs (for Tutu) right now are $125,000 building materials, and food for 25 families and 72 course participants," said Fr Pio Fong Waqavotuwale, SM.

St John's College has also sustained extensive damage.

Those wishing to donate are encouraged to contact Fr Tim Duckworth:

• Email: duckworth@smnz.org.nz
• Phone: 04 499 3060

100 per cent of all donations will be sent to the Marist Fathers' mission in Fiji.

Any administration costs will be met by the Society of Mary New Zealand and one third of all donations is tax-deductible.

Sources

• Society of Mary
• Image: Marist Oceania Provincial Administration (supplied)

At the Tutu Rural Training Centre in Taveuni, 22 buildings were either completely or partially destroyed.

These were staff houses, dormitories, workshops, hall and kitchens.

Tens of thousands of kava and dalo plants, many belonging to student farmers, have been damaged.

The urgent needs in Tutu are for building materials, with an estimate cost of $125,000, as well as food for 25 families and 72 course participants.

St John's College in Cawaci, Ovalau, sustained extensive damage to school buildings, girls' dormitories, teachers' and staff quarters, the church, convent and presbytery.

The only buildings that were intact, with minor damage, were six dormitories for the boys.

But the ablutions block for these dormitories was blown down.

The church has half of its roof ripped off, including the roofs of the two steeples.

The presbytery also has half of its roof blown away and its balcony upstairs wrecked.

The convent by the girls' dormitories has its roof completely ripped off as well

Principal Fr ‘Ekuasi Manu said the rebuilding of the school will be administered by Fiji's Ministry of Education.

The heritage group has been to assess the damage to the church and so the urgent need now is the repair of the presbytery and the convent, for which the ministry will not take responsibility.

Loreto primary school in Sacred Heart parish, Levuka, has been completely destroyed.

The Marists' holiday house at Dawasamu has been destroyed.

Cyclone Winston resulted in some 42 deaths in Fiji, and has seen widespread devastation.

Sources

• Oceania Marist Provincial Administration
• Image: Oceania Marist Provincial Administration

He said in an interview on Tuesday that they were trying to get the more than 400 students on the next available ship so they may be able to join their families.

Rokoduru said a lot of the damage that was also done to the Old Capital was caused by a tidal wave.

"Part of the sea wall in town has collapsed."

Landmark buildings that had stood over a century and witnessed a number of changes over the years in Levuka have been destroyed.

Businessman and owner of Lomaiviti Studio in Levuka, Mahesh Vithal, said: "We are saddened we have now lost the buildings that made Levuka a National Heritage town and all we have now are memories of those buildings that have stood the test of time.

"It is sad seeing all this building collapse right before our eyes and witnessing how the waves forced its way in to town smashing, damaging and breaking down all our sea wall leaving nothing left but debris of what was once a piece of Levuka Town."

The Morris Hedstrom Hardware, the Old Copra Shed, Lomaiviti Studio, Katudrau Trading and St Vincent De Paul were severely damaged.

Click here to view photographs of damage caused by cyclone Winston.

Source

• fijitimes.com
• fijisun.com.fj
• Image: dailymail.co.uk

The Catholic nuns who run the hospital are calling for help to rebuild.

The roof of their quarters was ripped off during the cyclone and the delivery room and sterilisation unit are damaged.

The 44 year old hospital has been operated by the Catholic Church since 1970.

According to the Ra Maternity Hospital records, at least 10,354 women have come through the facility between 2009 and 2014.

There has been widespread damage in the Ra province.

"Ra is an ugly situation and even the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) team were victims of TC Winston," said Commissioner Western Manasa Tagicakibau.

Forty one villages in the Province have yet to report their status to the Ra provincial administrator's operation team in Rakiraki.

A team from the Fiji Times was in Rakiraki on Wednesday where it was confirmed that out of the 93 villages in the province, 41 have yet to establish contact with authorities.

Ana, 22, gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday evening in the hospital, the first post cyclone baby to be born in the Ra province.

She is recovering in the hospital's delivery room.

Naming babies born during storms after particular cyclones is a common tradition in the Pacific.

But the baby probably won't be called Winston.

Ana is considering the name Philomena for her baby girl.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• fijione.tv
• fijitimes.com
• Image: radionz.co.nz