The plight of university students renting privately recently came to light at the panel discussion.
University of the South Pacific Student Association President Lepani Naqarase says rental prices around the Laucala campus in Suva are pretty high, and the flats are usually rundown.
Naqarase says many students walk door to door in the greater Suva area, looking for affordable flats.
“Local students are finding it difficult to cope with rental payments because the standard of homes are not worth the value. A two bedroom house can be shared between four to six students as desperate measures arise. The cost of living and rent is too much for students to handle while landlords are taking advantage of the situation.”
Naqarase adds that students who are on Toppers Scholarship or students loans spend most of their money on rent and barely have anything left for food and other costs.
The worst affected are students from poor family backgrounds.
The commission charged by real estate agents was the main issue raised during submissions to the Real Estate Agents Licensing Board yesterday.
REALB is in Vanua Levu to hold consultations and gather submissions on the review of the Real Estate Agents Act 2006.
Board Chair Abdul Hassan says they received submissions and suggestions on the issue of commission in Savusavu and Labasa.
Dr. Hassan says the submissions requested for the monitoring of commissions charged by agents as the most time it is excessive.
“Currently in the legislation, there is no limits for which the commission can be charged by the agents. So their view is that there should be some control in how the commission is charged by the agents.”
He adds the submissions have been taken into account and will be considered.
No fee is to be charged by traders for EFTPOS transactions as mandated by the Government.
The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission have pointed out some traders are continuing charging consumers for use of EFTPOS.
Abraham says EFTPOS fees were waived to ensure adequate consumer protection, in a move towards a more cashless economy.
“What we are doing is now we are looking at what’s happening in the market and we have pinpointed some traders who are charging this. Not just that we are also looking at instances where traders are saying that there is a particular percentage of surcharge. The surcharge is supposed to be passed down off cost.”
Abraham says commercial banks do not set a minimum payment amount for the use of EFTPOS terminal to pay for goods and services however, the minimum amount depends on the merchant.
The Bank of the South Pacific has made a profit of $25 million in the third quarter of 2019, $120 million profit in the past 10 years and $35 million profit last year.
While speaking at BSP’s 10th anniversary in Fiji, Chairman of BSP, Sir Kostas Constantinou says approximately 4,200 staff are employed by the bank in Fiji and the region and there is 100% local staff policy.
Constantinou says there are 119 ATM’s and 2030 EFTPOS terminals in Fiji.
He says 90% of the bank’s transaction in Fiji is electronic.
Constantinou says since 2010 BSP has contributed 9 million towards supporting rural communities, in projects and sponsorship in Fiji and throughout the pacific.
He adds that the bank has future plans to be the number one in lending market share in Fiji and opening a new branch in the Lau group.
Meanwhile, CEO of BSP, Robin Fleming says the bank’s success has resulted from focusing on customer needs, valuing and advancing their staff and promoting them.
Fleming has thanked all the staff and customers for their support in reaching the number two position in the lending market share in Fiji.
The event was also attended by the speaker of parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Reserve Bank of Fiji’s Governor, Ariff Ali, staff and customers of BSP.
Landlords cannot discriminate against you based on your race, religion, colour, gender, culture or any other factors as it is your constitutional right as a Fijian to be treated fairly no matter what background you come from.
Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission CEO, Joel Abraham has warned against such practices, especially those that seek to discriminate based on ethnicity.
Abraham says racial prejudices and discrimination have no place in Fiji.
Previously, a caretaker of a residential property in Suva had displayed a notice on the gate which stated “Flat to Let” and “Indian Students Only” for which they were subsequently charged and fined.
Under Section 26(3) (a) of the Constitution, unfairly discriminating against a person on the grounds of their race, colour, culture or ethnicity is a punishable offence.
FCCC regulates unfair trade practices including provisions of services in Fiji and proactively monitors the Fijian markets for any unfair behavior. This applies to traders and extends to landlords.
The mismanagement of the mahogany industry is a thing of the past as the Fijian Government is working on sustaining the industry.
As a result, the Fiji Mahogany Trust has received $250,000 in a grant from the Prime Minister’s office.
Speaking at the grant agreement signing yesterday, permanent secretary for the Prime Minister’s office Yogesh Karan said that the grant will help coordinate better communication between the mahogany landowners.
Karan says the grant is a boost for the mahogany industry.
Karan also urged the trust to be transparent and utilize the grant wisely.
Karan says the ministry also has other initiatives aligned for the mahogany farmers like capacity-building exercises, training on land management practices, chainsaw workshops, and financial literacy.
The Permanent secretary says they are working with relevant stakeholders to further educate the landowners.
Fiji has embarked on a new business partnership with China [Photo:Fijian Government]
Fiji has embarked on a new business partnership with China after a number of big local companies signed agreements with businesses in China.
While officiating at the signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary for Industry, Trade and Tourism Shaheen Ali says this is a context between companies or letter of intent for sales and purchase between Chinese and local companies like Noni, Ratu Rum, Pure Fiji and Vai Wai which can be marketed and sold by China through their companies that are presently representing Chinese businessmen.
Ali says this new partnership will be very beneficial because it will have a positive effect on the demand and supply of these products which he feels will also be effective in the employment industry.
He says with the presence of the Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Employers Federation and other private sector representatives there is a possibility of even more partnerships being forged and signed.
Ali says Fiji is not the only country that has entered this forum however Samoa also hosted a signing agreement a few days ago before the Chinese delegates moving it to Fiji.
More than 1400 families were assisted through the Habitat for Humanity Fiji (HHF) housing scheme in the rural and most remote islands in 2018.
This was revealed in the Habitat for Humanity Fiji 2018 Annual Report that was launched early this month.
The report stated that HHF had worked on building homes and hope through partnerships with Government, bilateral and non-profit organisations and international volunteers.
HHF director Masi Latianara said HHF has helped more than 4500 families through disaster response and over 2000 families in more than 55 communities through water and sanitation improvements and built over 1400 new houses to date.
Housing need in Fiji
” An estimated 140,000 people currently live in substandard housing conditions in informal settlements, and the number has increased by 5 per cent from 2007 to 2012. Poverty and inequality continue to be a challenge,” Mr Latianara said.
He said according to official statistics, 31 per cent of the population lives in poverty.
“The most vulnerable households also lack piped water, adequate sanitation, electricity and rubbish disposal in which we have stepped in to help.”
Habitat Addressing The Need
“Habitat for Humanity’s activities in Fiji range from new house construction to helping families rebuild after cyclones and other disasters to improving water and sanitation access to various communities.
“Habitat homes are typically built with a combination of locally supplied timber, concrete, and metal roofing. Families who partner with Habitat also contribute their own labour to build their new homes.”
Habitat for Humanity Fiji volunteers
Building Resilient Community Projects
According to Mr Latianara, they were able to help disater-hit families get back on their feet.
“Habitat works with donors and partners to increase local communities’ resilience.
“More than 1300 participants including women from over 260 communities have received Build Back Safer training, enabling them to assist other affected families to construct safer homes.
Habitat Fiji’s Build Back Safer programme won a certificate of merit and a US$15,000(F$32,853) grant at the 2017 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction.
“About 115 houses were constructed with the support of United Nations Development Fund, the Australian and New Zealand governments, International Organization for Migration, Shelter Cluster Fiji, the FIJI Water Foundation, Partner Housing Australasia and Habitat for Humanity Australia.”
Disaster Response
He said Habitat for Humanity Fiji forms part of the Pacific Task Force with Habitat Australia and Habitat New Zealand, helping families hit by disasters.
“In responding to 2016’s Cyclone Winston, Habitat exceeded its target by helping over 7000 affected families through the distribution of emergency shelter kits. In the recovery phase, programs include community training for water, sanitation and hygiene, cyclone retrofitting for homes, repairs and construction of houses, water and sanitation facilities, and “Build Back Safer” training.”
Volunteer Engagement
“In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. Habitat Fiji hosted more than 1100 international volunteers under the Global Village program who helped construct 21 homes.
“A Canadian team kicked off the annual Habitat Young Leaders Build campaign, supported by long-term donor Aqua Pacific in Fiji, with a house build in Sabeto.”
Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Premila Kumar says last year, imports from New Zealand was valued at $832.7 million but the balance of trade is in New Zealand’s favour and government would like to increase Fiji’s exports significantly.
Kumar highlighted this at a Breakfast Event today which was attended by the New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker and senior government officials.
She says New Zealand has been one of Fiji’s top 10 export destinations, with merchandise exports to New Zealand valued at $110 million on average, over the past 5 years.
She says the total two-way trade between Fiji and New Zealand last year amounted to over $975.3 million.
Kumar says the breakfast event provides an opportunity for the New Zealand delegation to meet the Fijian private sector and hear from them on what their interests are and how they can work together to continue growing trade and economic relationship between the two countries.
She says they recognise the growing strength of the New Zealand-Fiji relationship as their partnership is stronger today than ever before.
Kumar says the two nations are bound by strong economic relations and people-to-people ties.
She says going forward they can strengthen that relationship to match the friendship that has always existed between the two nations, its people and private sectors.
Kumar says the Fijian government is honoured that New Zealand does strongly support Fiji and the Pacific Island Countries in addressing challenges, that we face in particular the challenge of Climate Change which the Prime Ministers of the two countries have strongly advocated in regional and international fora.
As the People’s Republic of China celebrates it’s 70th anniversary tomorrow, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji, Qian Bo says China is here to assist Fiji and the people of the country in developments because China believes in mutual respect and good partners work together for development and mutual benefits.
Bo says China maintains that all countries are equal regardless of their sizes, respects the rights of the people in Pacific island countries to choose their own development paths, and respects the countries’ efforts in united self-improvement and equal participation in international and regional affairs.
Bo says China has assisted in many development projects and expects the people of Fiji to enjoy these benefits like the new Suva Civic Centre Auditorium. He also says they are in the negotiation stages for the development of the Valelevu Sports Complex amongst other projects like development of some jetties and community volleyball courts.
The Chinese Ambassador also says China has been supporting the island countries like Fiji in the development of the economy, improving people’s livelihoods and enhancing their ability in independent and sustainable institutions.
Bo also says that on the basis of the One China Principle, China has established official diplomatic relationships with 180 countries. Recently, Solomon Islands and Kiribati decided to recognize the One China Principle, sever diplomatic ties with the Taiwan authorities and re-establish diplomatic relationships with China.
The Chinese Ambassador also says China’s total economic output has increased by more than 450 times from 30 billion US dollars in the 1940s to 13.6 trillion US dollars last year. China has also become the world’ second largest economy, the largest country of manufacturing, trade in goods, energy production and foreign exchange reserves.
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