Our research has found that same independent approach has seen Fijians reinvent the age-old tradition of
solesolevaki – working together for a common cause – for the digital age. As Seattle-based Fijian Taniela Tokailagi explains, social media has enabled support networks to reach beyond the usual geographic or professional borders: “Solesolevaki in the digital era […] is about how deeply we are connected, regardless of where we are in the world.” Dashed hopes While these initiatives are positive, the fact they are necessary has been a blow to Fijians who had been optimistic after a year of being Covid-19 free since the first case was recorded on March 19, 2020.
Lorena de la Torre Parra Lecturer/Pūkenga, Institute of Development Studies, Massey University Regina Scheyvens Sophie Auckram Research Assistant, Massey University
With tourism stalled and the state seemingly unable to resolve the unravelling crisis, there has been a sense of deepening distress in the Pacific nation.
Instead, it has placed its faith and the fate of its population of 900,000 in the vaccination programme, a policy that has seen it accused of putting commercial interests ahead of the health of ordinary citizens.
Some village chiefs have been so dismayed at government inaction they have instituted their own 14-day mandatory lockdowns.
The current serious outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant in Fiji is pushing already stretched health and community resources to the brink.
With tourism stalled and the state seemingly unable to resolve the unravelling crisis, there has been a sense of deepening distress in the Pacific nation.
Instead, it has placed its faith and the fate of its population of 900,000 in the vaccination programme, a policy that has seen it accused of putting commercial interests ahead of the health of ordinary citizens.
Some village chiefs have been so dismayed at government inaction they have instituted their own 14-day mandatory lockdowns.
Felix Chaudhary
23 June, 2021, 11:19 am
Attorney-general and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum with representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) during the virtual consultation. Picture: FIJIAN GOVT
Attorney-general and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum held a virtual consultation with representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday.
The forum included members from the Fiji Council of Social Services, LifeFlight Fiji, Empower Pacific, femLINKpacific, Rainbow Pride, Asia Pacific Forum on Families International, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Citizens Constitutional Forum, Reproductive Health Association of Fiji, Foundation for the Education of Needy Children and Save the Children Fund.
According to a Fijian Government Facebook post, participants shared their views on the current challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and provided their recommendations for the upcoming 2021-2022 National Budget scheduled to be delivered on July 16 at 7.30pm.
Sharyne Fong
Leadership Fiji 2016 participants on a field trip to Koroipita, Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
James Pridgeon first heard about Leadership Fiji through close friends and family who also knew others who had participated in the program, learnt of their experiences and shared this with him.
In 2015, he applied for the Leadership Fiji 2016 (LF2016) program when he was the general manager of Uprising Beach Resort and was fortunate to have been accepted.
The Leadership Fiji 2016 program journey started within a month after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, and as we all know it was labelled as one of the most intense tropical cyclones in the southern hemisphere on record when it ravaged.