Health Minister, Dr Neil Sharma says there is an urgent need to improve the food quality and presentation of meals served to clients in hospitals around the country.

“There is a distinct need to look upon meals as a commercial service to clients,” he said.

“The question of vegetarian meals have been raised. Our meals need to be reduced of the substandard meats and all the additional salt.”

Dr Sharma said international literature was constantly reporting on the association of meat and salt to obesity and non communicable disease.

“We need to address this issue head on. It is for you over the next two days to review your options on steamed, stir fried and grilled vegetarian meals on selective two days a week in all health establishments in Fiji,” he said.

Dr Sharma said a menu could be redeveloped and patients given an option within the basic framework of what we offer.

“Why we are offering so much tea and cocoa when the world is going to green tea with antioxidants? Why are we moving away from Oatmeal porridges? Why are we not utilising more of our local vegetables and perennial and seasonal fruit? Why are we not using the imprest system to locally purchase fresh fish and crabs, rourou, bele?,” he asked

“For fussy eaters and those who prefer home meals you can assist by developing meals which are brought from home for them.

“I am confident that you have been dined and wined in a Five-Star restaurant and appreciate the presentation and somewhat surprised at the volume.

“Why can we not improve on our cutlery, crockery and presentations with variations to the menu, especially, in the paying wards for starters?”

The Bligh Water Shipping vessel MV Westerland that was blown onto a reef near Lautoka during Cyclone Gene is still stuck on the reef.

This is after unsuccessful attempts to pull her off this morning.

The MV Westerland was sheltering in Lautoka Harbour during Cyclone Gene when she was pulled towards the reef in the strong winds and waves.

A statement from the company says that even running the engines in accordance with the company’s Emergency Procedures to avoid hitting the reef proved futile in the onslaught of the cyclone.

It says further attempts will be made when another tug from Suva is deployed to Lautoka to reattempt the salvage.

Initial inspection by ship’s engineers and insurance inspectors has revealed no hull breach and only superficial damage to the rudder and propellers.

It's a tripple celebration for the Central Division .

This is after Rewa lifted the prestigious Innk Mobile Battle of the Giants trophy - the Lelean Memorial School U19 rugby team defended the Deans Trophy and the Naitasiri team hoisted the Digicel Cup over the weekend.

Rewa beat Navua 1-0 in the final, while Lelean crushed Ratu Kadavulevu School 36-18 and Naitasiri edged last year’s champion Nadroga 25-24 in the finals.

The Rewa soccer team captain, Simione Tamanisau says, Naitasiri and Lelean’s victories challenged the team before the final at Prince Charles Park yesterday.

“Well, just before the final we had a talk with the boys, we just put our hands together and said if our brothers from rugby can do it, we can do it too. The message to the players at half time , it’s been two weeks of training and staying away from your families , we have to make it worthwhile, so hard work has finally paid off this afternoon.”

Rewa’s golden goal was scored by Solomon import Abraham Inga in the 11th minute of the second half after both teams were locked nil all at the breather.

The President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has commended Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, the founders of the University of Fiji for their foresight in establishing the university.

Speaking at the opening of the University’s Law school this morning(12/8)Ratu Epeli said that, "I’m very much impressed by the vision of the founders which is to provide high quality tertiary education to our citizens and education that is flexible, innovative, affordable and contemporary”.

“We are also here to recognize the contribution once again of a remarkable individual, Pundit Davendra Pathik, a proud Son of Fiji, we thank him for his vision, generosity and his tireless work for the past three years in making the law school not only a reality but a success.”

The School of Law was established in 2005 and is now in its third year.

Starting modestly in 2008 with about 40 students and two classrooms, a small library with a very committed and enthusiastic Dean, Justice Devendra Pathik, the school has made a lot of progress over the past years.

President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said that the Law school is in its third year and has close to 100 plus highly motivated students who have the opportunity to study law.

The University of Fiji was established to provide high quality, affordable higher education to the many students who had no access to other tertiary institutions.

The University's objectives include the provision of higher education relevant to Fiji 's needs within a global framework and to support Fiji 's development as a sustainable, peaceful, inclusive and progressive society committed to good governance.

President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau further added that the School of Law is a testimony of success even when it has not even gone into its third year, augurs well for the future of legal education in Fiji.

The structure of the LLB PROGRAMME was put together in 2007 by Curriculum Advisory Group in consultation with Professor Murray Raff, Dean of Law at the University of Canberra.

Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson, has been appointed to chair an open-ended working group aimed at increasing Pacific Islands representation in the UN system.

The working group is an initiative of the PSIDS organization made up of the eleven Pacific Islands Missions to the UN, namely the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The working group will examine how Pacific Island countries can gain a fairer share of representation on the many councils, committees and organs of the United Nations.

It will in addition look at means by which citizens of the Pacific Islands can more equitably participate as employees and officials of the United Nations.

Following its first meeting in New York on 3rd August, Ambassador Thomson said the working group was examining the scope of the challenge before it.

He said the first task was to prepare a matrix establishing what all the electable bodies, committees and councils were in the UN system.

He said the second phase will be setting targets and evolving strategies to assist Pacific Islands countries and qualified citizens to gain greater representation, particularly in the identified areas of relevance to the Pacific.

“The first principle of the United Nations is that the organization is based on the sovereign equality of all its members,” explained Ambassador Thomson.

“The eleven Pacific Islands represented at the UN are close to 6 percent of the total membership of the UN and we are over 20 percent of the membership of our UN regional grouping, the Asia Group.

“Our working group is examining the numbers, but I doubt the Pacific Islands currently have more than about a 0.3 percent representation in the running of the UN. So we have a lot of work to do.”

New Zealand import Adam Dickinson says soccer in Fiji is very tough and physical.

Dickinson who featured for Navua against Labasa in the first round of the Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants says the weather is a major factor when playing.

“Its really hot here its twenty to twenty nine degree so you know its really hot to play fast past soccer but I really enjoyed it and unfortunate to deserve win but will try to win next game”

Navua takes on Ba at 8pm on Thursday .

Commentaries of the Lautoka/Nadroga , Tavua/ Labasa and Ba versus Navua will air live on our sister station Radio Fiji Two with the voice of soccer Raymond Stoddart.

GRAY SUMMIT, Mo. – Two buses carrying high school band students to an amusement park Thursday slammed into a freeway wreck that happened right in front of them, crushing a pickup truck and killing its driver and one of the students. Dozens of other students were treated for injuries.

The wreck near Gray Summit, about 40 miles west of St. Louis, happened when the pickup truck rear-ended a semi cab that had slowed down because it was nearing a construction zone, state police said. The first bus, which was carrying female band members from John F. Hodge High in St. James, slammed into the back of the pickup, then was launched on top of it after it was rear-ended by the second bus, State Highway Patrol Cpl. Jeff Wilson said.

At least 42 students were taken to hospitals, most with injuries not considered life-threatening.

The students were on their way to a Six Flags amusement park some 10 miles from the crash site.

"My goodness. You send your children off to Six Flags, you don't expect this to happen," Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Dan Crain said. "Being parents, we cannot imagine how difficult this is."

Joy Tucker, the superintendent of the St. James school system, said the town was devastated.

"It's been a horrible, horrible day in our community, and we'll never get over this."

Ashley Wiehle, a spokeswoman for SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis, said 36 children were taken to that hospital, and that each appeared to be in good condition. They were to be examined as a precaution, Wiehle said.

Six more children were taken to St. John's Mercy Medical Center but their injuries and their conditions were not known, hospital spokeswoman Bethany Pope said. One of those victims later was flown by helicopter to Cardinal Glennon because that hospital had a higher-level pediatric trauma unit.

Four other victims were taken with minor injuries to St. Clare Health Center in Fenton, Mo., a spokeswoman said.

Highway Patrol Cpl. Jeff Wilson said the driver of the first bus moved into the passing lane to give a distressed vehicle in the shoulder more room. She was checking her rearview mirror while returning to the right-hand lane when she noticed the first impact but could not stop in time, hitting the pickup. The second bus then rear-ended the first, vaulting the first bus onto the top of the pickup, which was crushed.

The buses were segregated by gender, with girls in the first and boys on the other, Wilson said.

The pickup was barely recognizable in the tangled wreckage. Hours later, crews using a crane gently lifted the buses off of the crushed wreckage to try to clear the freeway, which was closed going eastbound. Traffic backed up in that direction for as much as 10 miles.

Wilson said it was too soon to say if any of the drivers would face charges.

___

Associated Press writers Jim Suhr in St. Louis, Chris Blank in Jefferson City, and Heather Hollingsworth and Bill Draper in Kansas City contributed to this report.

Fiji will be more efficient in its border security according to Director of Immigration Nemani Vuniwaqa. He made the comments at the signing of the new Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) at Immigration Headquarters in Walu Bay today.

Chief Guest at the signing was Permanent Secretary for Defense, National Security and Immigration Jale Fotofili.

“This is one of the Department’s main target output (IBMS) - and today’s events marks a very important achievement for Government,” Mr Fotofili said.
“The Department of Immigration and Information Technology and Computing Services (ITC) should be commended for their tireless efforts and partnership towards this project.

“Fiji should be in par with the rest of the world in Immigration Services and Boarder Security soon - with the introduction of IBMS,” Mr Fotofili said.

The culmination of today’s signing was possible after years of consultations between Department of Immigration and ITC.

According to Acting Manager Compliance and Investigation: “The project should be in operational by December 2010.”

“When completed and implemented, the system should be compatible and integrated with other national information database.

“This is to strengthen networking between border and security agencies,” he said.

Director of Immigration Mr Vuniwaqa highlights: “In future, IBMS should integrate with digital and biometric passport systems compatible with International Civil Organisation (ICAO) standards.”

“This will enhance the level of security at our borders.

“IBMS will also be compatible with Advanced Passenger Information System and Advanced Passenger Processing applications.

“This will advanced passenger list while conducting watch listing processing.

“We will also be equipped with scanners, which are of international standards and will help us detect fraudulent or tampered travel documents,” he added.

Mr Vuniwaqa said currently every documentations and filing are done manually, which he said is archaic and sometimes cant keep track efficiently illegal activities at our boarders.

The new IBMS system he said will detect all fraudulent activities or bring it to a negligible level.

ITC representative at the signing, Assistant Manager Operation Uraia Rokoca said it has taken them years of preparation, consultation and hard work to reach this far.

“The first programme was designed in 1995 and it’s been on-going until this year,” he said.

“The software will be integrated with most security agencies and be compatible with Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS), Births, deaths and marriage database and eGov sites.

“Our national security agents should be able to access it as well but all inputs and updates of data will be the prerogative of the Department of Immigration.

“They will the entry point of all data into the system together with ITC,” he added.

Director of Immigration Mr Nemani Vuniwaqa said the achievement is timely for the Departments as it is one of their required output highlighted for this year.

The onus is for his limited staff to ensure that their maintain consistency in their service delivery.

He said they have continued to reduce days required for passport processing and with the introduction of IBMS, he is optimistic of more efficiency by the Department.

The mini trade fair organised at the Engaging with the Pacific meeting of leaders at Natadola Intercontinental Resort has raised interests from visitors.

Pacific leaders toured the mini trade fair today and expressed their interests in having a few companies in their country.

Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Solo Mara said close to 40 companies are using the opportunity to explore new markets during the Natadola meet.

“We have close to 40 companies and we are helping these local companies make the most of this opportunity,” he said.

“It is not every day these Pacific island leaders get to come to Fiji and would like to help these companies get here and showcase their products.

Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama said the fair was well organized.

“The trade fair looks wonderful with a varieties of products currently on display,” he said.

Most Pacific island leaders said they would like to engage in further talks of trading a wider range of products with Fiji.

Some companies at the trade fair include Telecom Fiji, Digicel, Fiji National University, Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji, Air Pacific, Tourism Fiji, Crest Chicken and Tuckers.