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Archived News: April 2014

From Fiji Times Online (25 April 2014)

Roadworks on island

by Repeka Nasiko

ROADWORKS on the island of Rotuma have been made easier with a new excavation machine sent to the depot by the Fiji Roads Authority.

Speaking to this newspaper, FRA maintenance manager Dale Nicholls said the mini excavation machine would be used for minor roadworks on the island.

"We have a depot over there for staff that carry out minor maintenance work," he said.

"We've just provided our Rotuma depot with a mini-excavation machine that could do some of the excavation work over there."

He said a team from the authority was sent to the island once a year to carry out heavy maintenance work on all roads, bridges and jetties.

"When it comes to heavy maintenance work, contractors will send a team over there every once a year to carry out all of the maintenance work that the current team over there can't just do at the moment."

He added overall maintenance work on all infrastructures would depend on those that were in dire need of repair or maintenance.

"MWH Global does our inspections and there's over a thousand bridges that we are responsible for.

"So logistically, it takes time to inspect all of the bridges as well just because of the sheer number," he said.

© Fiji Times Ltd.


From Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (21 April 2014)

Rotuma here to compete

Report by: Jale Daucakacaka

The Rotuma athletics squad is hoping that their training over the past two months will pay off at the Maritime Zone tomorrow.

Rotuma coach Afrete Mua says they will be fielding 5 athletes at the meet to try and make the cut for the Coca Cola Games.

"Our first objective is to qualify from tomorrow's competition. Our wish is to earn a medal least this time."

The Coke Games will be held on Friday and Saturday at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.


From Fiji Times Online (17 April 2014)

Moana: The rising of the sea

by Torika Tokalau

THE Pacific message of climate change and the rise in sea levels was loud and clear in the world premiere of Vilsoni Hereniko's film Moana — The Rising of the Sea on Tuesday at the Oceania Film Festival.

Hereniko said the challenge during the making of the film was capturing the strong emotional effect from a stage performance onto film about the issues highlighted. And after a positive appreciation from film lovers on Tuesday, Hereniko was satisfied that that was achieved.

"The film focuses on the human dimension of climate change, how it feels to be forced to abandon your homeland and everything you hold dear," he said.

"There is an urgency, particularly for low-lying islands such as Kiribati and Tuvalu, that the film captures.

"It makes us realise that the threat of being inundated with water is here, and will never go away. It will become more and more intense, and what are we going to do about this?

"This is the message in this film."

Hereniko said the issue highlighted in the film was one everyone that had ever lived or lives in a small Pacific Island nation could relate to.

"For anyone who has lived or lives on an island surrounded by the deep, beautiful, but dangerous sea, the thought that one day your island will be submerged under water is a possibility too cruel to contemplate.

"And yet, this is happening in several islands in Oceania already, with more islanders contemplating their imminent demise and what that would mean to them as a people, a culture, even a nation."

He said it was important for him to stage the world premiere of the film in Fiji because the film originated from Fiji.

The film was funded by the EU. The issues highlighted were portrayed by a brilliant cast from USP's School of Performing Arts from the 2011 music drama production.

The stage production was directed and choreographed by Peter Rockford Espiritu, with original music by Igelese Ete.

© Fiji Times Ltd.


From Fiji Times Online (2 April 2014)

Jetty project to be ready before Rotuma Day

By Torika Tokalau

THE Fiji Roads Authority hopes to finish the Oinafa jetty project before Rotuma Day.

Authority capital works manager Ian Hunter said in a recent newsletter Oinafa jetty was in reasonably good state and the plan for this year was to dredge the sand that had silted badly since the previous dredging 38 years ago.

"We hope to have the jetty working by the time everyone goes home for Rotuma Day," Mr Hunter said.

For 2014, the authority has budgeted about $56million for the renewal and replacement of bridges and jetties and this includes the dredging of Oinafa jetty.

Meanwhile, more work is taking place on the Savusavu jetty with the Nabouwalu jetty also needing attention while the new jetty for Qarani has to go through a design process.

The authority said the jetties needed to be strong enough to withstand cyclone condition.

© Fiji Times Ltd.