Father Kevin Barr says Fiji’s 2014 budget is the first “people-centred” and “pro-poor” budget for many years. Speaking as a panellist on the topic “Implementation of Socio-Economic Rights’” at the Attorney-General’s 15th annual conference, he congratulated government on its initiatives and said the generous allocations for education would bring a radical change in parents’ ability Read more
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Martin Krebs as apostolic nuncio to Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu. Archbishop Krebs was previously apostolic nuncio to New Zealand, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, and apostolic delegate in the Pacific Ocean. Source Vatican Information Service
The Archbishop of Suva, Peter Chong, says the church is faced with a dual commitment and faithfulness. The church has to be faithful to the church’s scripture, tradition, and teachings while at the same time being faithful when attending to the questions, problems and needs of the community. He argues this dual commitment can be Read more
The episcopal ordination of the Archbishop Elect Father Peter Loy Chong will take place on 8 June. He will become the 6th Roman Catholic Bishop of Fiji Loy Chong is currently in the US for his graduation where he will receive his Doctor in Theology at the St Clare University. An American priest, Father Robert Read more
People in Fiji have a fortnight to give their views on the regime’s draft constitution. Having scrapped its commitment to form an expert group to prepare a new constitution, Fiji’s interim government has instead given the people of Fiji a fortnight to provide feedback on the draft document. The draft document has been released and Read more
The Prime Ministers of Samoa and Fiji have expressed pleasure at the election of Pope Francis. Speaking to Radio Australia last Thursday, The Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilepe Sailele, who is a Catholic, said he was delighted at the election of a Pope from a developing country. The Prime Minster of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama,in Read more
Prime Minister John Key has expressed alarm over a video showing two men being beaten by Fiji police. Key said the New Zealand government was taking reports of the attack seriously. “And we expect the Fijian authorities to deal with them appropriately and hold those people who have undertaken those beatings to account,” Key said. Read more
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
The light shines in the darkness –and the darkness has never put it out. John 1:5 The family of Kula, the parrot, has flown around the Fiji coastland and bush for as long as anyone can remember. The ancestors of Mongoose travelled from India with people who came to work on the sugar plantations. Read more
Two senior ministers in Fiji’s Methodist Church have different views about a suggestion that the government legalise prostitution. Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, the incoming president of the Church, is opposed to any move to legalise prostitution while Reverend Tevita Nawadra, who replaces him as general secretary, says he is in favour “Personally and, I think, the position Read more