The Bougainville House of Representatives had recently passed the 2025 ABG Budget, under the theme “Budgeting for Nation-Building”. The Budget Statement was presented in parliament, providing a detailed overview of Bougainville’s 2025 financial landscape by Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Minister for Finance, Robin Wilson. Minister Wilson during the presentation of the 2025 ABG Budget emphasized the importance of the budget in charting a deliberate pathway toward Bougainville’s development goals. “We have set ourselves a very deliberate pathway, and this budget will assist us in walking this path together.” The total budget estimate for 2025 is K856.66 million, comprising recurrent and…
Author: Kerebi DAVID
A Heavy Rain Warning is now in force for Viti Levu, the Northern Division, Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups while a Flash Flood Alert is now in force for all low-lying, flash flood prone areas and small streams of Fiji. A Heavy Rain Alert is also in force for the rest of Fiji. The Weather Office says an active trough of low pressure which is associated with cloud and rain affects the Northern, Western and Eastern parts of the group. It is expected to gradually spread to the rest of the country by tonight. Meanwhile, Tropical Disturbance 02F has been downgraded…
Papa Community’s Health Centre sees about 40 to 60 patients per day covering communities from as far as Baruni, Tatana and even beyond Lealea to Kido, Manumanu and Gorohu villages. It’s need for a sustainable power source was recently met through BSP’s annual Community project initiative. The Waigani Banking Centre team, led by Branch Manager Samuel Okti recently donated a solar powered kit, now enabling the medical team to deliver crucial health services during power outages. Mr Okti along with project coordinator Gabe Gaoma and his team also donated chairs for the clinic’s use on Friday 20th December 2024, reaffirming…
Several roads in the Western Division are currently closed due to flooding while surface flooding is impacting portions of Kings Highway, but Queens Highway remains accessible. The Fiji Roads Authority is advising people not to travel to the Western Division due to heavy rain and flooding. In Sigatoka, Emuri Road, Ciri Road, Nabaka Road, Nasaucoko Road, Bukuya Road and Wauosi Road are closed. In Nadi, the Wailoko Road Junction, Mate Road, Narendra Singh Road 1st Crossing and Keolaiya Road Crossing are closed. Vaivai Road 1st Crossing, Saru Back Road, Navula Road, Vuda Back Road 2nd Bridge and 1st Crossing, Drasa…
The streets and roads of the National Capital District were generally quiet and mostly empty today as most people stayed home for Christmas Celebrations today. However, despite the empty streets and roads, ATM machines at some shopping centres that were open today had long queues. Shoppers doing last minute shopping for Christmas packed the few shops that were opened today, and the few shops that opened today had very long queues at the checkout counters today. Even the parking lot spaces were all full, with vehicles lining up to secure the next available spot at the car park area. However,…
With so much regret, the Transport and Civil Aviation Minster Walter Schnaubelt has announced tragic news regarding the plane P2 -SAM. Minister Schnaubelt highlighted that the rescue and medical team finally reached the crash site of P2- SAM, and doctors have confirmed that there were no survivors. “It’s now confirmed that all five passengers on board including the pilot died on impact when the plane ran into the thick forest and mountainous terrain en-route to Nadzab airport, Lae around 10:30am on the 22nd of December, 2024.” “As Minister and all agencies under my portfolio, we grieve with the family of…
A Heavy Rain Alert remains in force for the whole of the Fiji Group. The Nadi Weather Office says a Northerly wind flow prevails over the country. They say an active trough of low pressure is expected to approach the group from the North and gradually affect it. The Nadi Weather Office adds that localised heavy falls may lead to flash flooding in low-lying areas. Stay with us for updates. Source: Fijivillage.com
Twenty New Caledonian children who suffered the shock of Port Vila’s 7.3 magnitude earthquake have been repatriated from Vanuatu onboard a French military CASA aircraft. The special operation was conducted on Thursday, as part of relief operations conducted by the Nouméa-based French Armed Forces in New Caledonia in response to the destructive quake that shook the Vanuatu capital, where several buildings have collapsed. The group of children, from Northern New Caledonia (Népoui, Koné, Pouembout, and Poia), are aged between 8 and 14. They were visiting Vanuatu as part of a holiday camp organised by their sports association. They were supervised by four…
A cheque of K150million was handed over the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Willam Duma on Thursday by the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) Managing Director Mr. Wapu Sonk, the cheque was the final dividend payment for the year 2024. Before handing the cheque over to the State Own Minister, Mr. Sonk said this year 2024 was a tough year financially for KPHL, as they had to meet the PNG LNG Projects JV Cash calls associated with the finalisations of the connection of the Angora Field, raising the finance necessary to acquire an additional 2.6% in the PNG LNG Project and…
There are conflicting reports of the official death toll from a massive earthquake in Vanuatu as rescue teams continue to scour the rubble for survivors. On 17 December, the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office reported 14 deaths. It said four people had been confirmed dead by the hospital, six others were killed in a landslide and four others died in a collapsed building. But on Wednesday, the disaster management office reported only nine people had been confirmed dead by the hospital and made no mention of the deaths it had earlier attributed to the landslides and collapsed buildings. On Thursday evening,…