Fiji

Fiji: Cyclone Tomas Bashes Northern Islands

Date: March 17th, 2010 |

Cyclone Tomas clobbered Fiji March 12-15, wrecking villages and causing major flooding in the northern Lau and Lomaiviti island groups. Storm surges were up to 23 feet and were expected to take 36 hours to diminish. The northern area of Vanua Levu was also hit hard. A state of emergency will remain in place for [read more]

Fiji: Bainimarama Flexes Muscles, Limits Freedoms

Date: April 15th, 2009 |

No Comments

Fiji’s Court of Appeals ruled that the government of Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup, is illegal. He responded by imposing a state of emergency, abolishing the constitution, firing all judges, expelling foreign journalists, posting censors in domestic newsrooms and cracking down on internet use. He said he would hold elections [read more]

Fiji: Floods Displace Residents, Strand Tourists

Date: January 15th, 2009 |

No Comments

The worst series of storms in years caused extensive flooding on the main island of Viti Levu where much of Fiji’s international tourism is based. Scores of homes in Nadi and other towns were inundated. Some 6,000 people were evacuated to shelters and thousands of tourists were trapped in their hotels or flown out on [read more]

Fiji: Military Lifts State of Emergency

Date: October 11th, 2007 |

No Comments

The state of emergency imposed last month when deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase returned to Suva was lifted Oct. 6 because, according to a military spokesman, there was no threat to the nation. The emergency allegedly was declared as a precaution against unrest but none materialized. Qarase has mounted a legal challenge against the military [read more]

Fiji: Nurses’ Strike Could Cause Tensions

Date: July 25th, 2007 |

No Comments

The Australian government warned its citizens about travel to Fiji in the face of a nurses’ strike that began July 24. Other unions threatened to join the strike amid rumors that the military state of emergency, which was lifted May 31, may be reinstated. All police officers on leave were called back to duty and [read more]

Fiji: Typhoid Outbreak Causes Health Ministry to Advise Against Kava Ceremonies

Date: March 10th, 2010 |

No Comments

An outbreak of typhoid fever is occurring throughout the islands and Fiji’s health ministry advised visitors to villages and settlements to be especially careful with local water supplies, preferably bringing their own water unless they can be sure the local water has been boiled. At least 113 cases have been diagnosed with the severity of [read more]

Fiji: Resorts Removed from Disaster List

Date: January 22nd, 2009 |

No Comments

Officials declared resorts in the main tourist area of Nadi and other regions of western Viti Levu out of the disaster zone following what meteorologists called the strongest and most relentless storm in 100 years. The tropical depression that dropped a week of non-stop torrential rain on the islands flooded wide areas of Viti Levu, [read more]

Fiji: Foreign Affairs Stamp Requirement Complicates Tourist Weddings

Date: June 19th, 2008 |

No Comments

Tourist weddings in Fiji have dropped by two-thirds since 2004 because of a government requirement for a special stamp on marriage certificates. For a marriage to be recognized in other countries, it must have a stamp from the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs. He is the only person authorized to use the special seal, and [read more]

Fiji: New State of Emergency Imposed

Date: September 12th, 2007 |

No Comments

Military rulers reimposed a state of emergency three months after the previous one was lifted. The move permits authorities to detain people without charge. Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who overthrew the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in December, imposed the measure because Qarase returned to the capital Suva after eight months in exile on his [read more]

Fiji: State of Emergency Lifted

Date: June 6th, 2007 |

No Comments

The state of emergency imposed by Commodore Frank Bainimarama after a bloodless military coup in December 2006 was scheduled to be lifted June 7. The regulations were necessary to ensure the safety of civilians and property, Bainimarama said, and anyone threatening public order will still face police action. Restrictions on the media and public gatherings [read more]