Page 9 - IB FEB 2019

Whispers

of an inter-island ferry last year in which as well as the district and national court
over 80 people, mostly school children, buildings then breaking into the nearby
died. airport and torching an Air Niugini plane,
all walked free from the Mount Hagen
t district court last month. The presiding
magistrate knew exactly where the blame Front Page Limited
lay, with the police investigating team. 10 Tower Street
Proper investigation processes were not
followed, the magistrate ruled, including PO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
even the basic requirement of conducting Tel: +679 330 3108, 773 1118.
an identification parade for eye-witnesses Email: advertising@islandsbusiness.com
to identify the offenders. The judge also Circulation & Distribution
felt that local police did not offer to assist Joseva Ratabua
detectives that were flown in from other
Scholarships fail the test provinces to probe the people behind the jratabua@islandsbusiness.com
TWO different countries have been hit by riot in Mendi, in the Southern Highland subs@islandsbusiness.com
the same scandal over allocation of schol- province in June last year. Finance
arships to study abroad. The Solomon Sara Vafoou
Islands state broadcaster is reporting that
some officials of the national training unit, t finance@islandsbusiness.com
which oversees government scholarships, Regional and local magazine sales agents
were selling scholarships for as much as Getting on with the job
SB$5,000, about uS$628. At least one se- THe Secretary-General of Fiji’s parliament Amy Strreet Pharmacy - Amy Street, Toorak
nior officer has been moved to allow for a could very well win the award, if one exist- Kays Kona Shop – Dolphin Plaza, Suva, Fiji
thorough probe. In neighbouring Vanuatu, ed, for the most harassed civil servant ever. Kundan Singh Supermarket – Arts Village, Pacific
a similar scandal looms. Over 60 students Her job was advertised even before the Harbour, Fiji
are crying foul after learning that their term of the previous parliament expired, Kundan Singh Supermarket – Tamavua, Suva, Fiji
names have been dropped from the initial and when parliament was finally dissolved
shortlist of recipients. They also claim that months before the November general elec- Lami Pharmacy – Main Street, Lami
the names of 17 of the actual recipients tions last year, Viniana Namosimalua was Methodist Bookstore – Stewart Street, Suva, Fiji
were not even in the first shortlist. already put on an acting position. Since the MHCC – Suva, Fiji
reconvening of the new parliament this Nausori Airport Bookshop – Nausori
t year, her job has been advertised twice, Samabula Drugstore – Samabula, Suva, Fiji
with the third ad out this month again. The
Police inaction scrutinised highly-experienced public administrator Sanatan Bookshop - Tebara Shopping Complex
14 men charged with settling alight the meanwhile continued working regardless, Suva Bookshop – Downtown Boulevard, Suva, Fiji
residence of their provincial governor, albeit in an acting mode! Tappoo outlets – Fijiwide
Textbook Wholesalers – BSP Centre Suva, Fiji
Total Lami - Lami Town
Follow us on Twitter Total Lautoka - Vitogo Parade
twitter@IBIupdate USP Bookcentre – USP, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji

Boroko Foodworld – Boroko, PNG
Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Hachette Pacifique – Papeete, French Polynesia
National Stationery Supplies – Honiara, Solomon
Islands
Nouvelle Messageries Caledoniennes de Presse –
Noumea, New Caledonia
Pacific & Occidental Capelle & Partners – Yaren,
Nauru
Pacific Supplies – Rarotonga, Cook Island
Robert Reimers Enterprises – Majuro, Marshall
Islands
South Seas Traders – Alofi, Niue
Stop Press – Port Vila, Vanuatu
Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP, FSM

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Islands Business, February 2019 9