Author: aniket

Young people must take the lead in protecting Fiji’s environment and addressing the growing impacts of climate change, according to Minister for Information, Climate Change and Environment, Hon. Lynda Tabuya.

Speaking during an interview on the University of Fiji’s Vox Populi programme, Minister Tabuya outlined the government’s key priorities for environmental protection over the next 12 months while calling on young Fijians to become active champions of climate action.

She emphasized that youth engagement remains central to the government’s environmental agenda.

“Mobilising our youth in environmental protection and climate change advocacy is most important for government,” Minister Tabuya said.

The Minister highlighted that approximately 65 to 70 per cent of Fiji’s population consists of young people, making them essential partners in building a climate-resilient future.

She noted that environmental protection is closely linked to the everyday wellbeing of families, affecting health, employment, food security and livelihoods.

One of the government’s major achievements, she revealed, is securing FJ$52 million from the Green Climate Fund to support the Ridge to Reef Forest Landscape Restoration Project.

The initiative aims to restore 80,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land while protecting more than 90,000 hectares of coastal ecosystems, benefiting around 200,000 people across Fiji.

Minister Tabuya also encouraged young people to embrace renewable energy by adopting solar technology and electric vehicles, describing them as environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives.

Addressing Fiji’s climate resilience efforts, the Minister praised Pacific youth for their leadership in the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on climate change.

“It was Pacific-led, it was Pacific youth-led, and it resulted in an advisory opinion that said countries need to take climate action seriously,” she said.

She also announced that Fiji will host the Pacific Pre-COP meeting ahead of the global COP31 climate conference, providing young people with opportunities to showcase climate projects and participate in youth dialogues supported by international partners.

Minister Tabuya urged students to pursue careers in climate change, environmental protection and marine conservation, noting that the growing sector will create employment opportunities across government ministries.

She stressed that protecting forests, biodiversity and marine ecosystems requires collective responsibility, warning that poor waste management and deforestation continue to worsen flooding and coastal degradation.

“Please, young people, become stewards of ensuring that rubbish is not dumped in our rivers and our drains,” she urged.

The Minister also encouraged citizens to become advocates for environmental conservation by reducing plastic pollution and supporting sustainable practices.

“Become a plastic-free champion. Become a nuclear-free champion. Become a sustainable and greener Fiji champion,” she said.

Highlighting government initiatives to promote sustainability, Minister Tabuya pointed to the successful Return and Earn Fiji programme, which rewards communities for collecting recyclable plastic bottles and aluminium cans.

She said the initiative is not only reducing waste but also providing young people with opportunities to earn extra income.

The government is also offering tax incentives for businesses importing biodegradable packaging and recognising companies investing in environmentally friendly operations.

Minister Tabuya encouraged university students to participate in internship programmes within the Ministry, community clean-up campaigns and environmental advocacy projects.

“Bring your innovative policy ideas, your advocacy, your skills, your passion and your awareness. We need to work together,” she said.

In her closing message, the Minister reminded young people that they are already leaders capable of shaping Fiji’s future.

“You’re not the future leaders. You’re the leaders now,” she said. “We need you to be the voice and the change that protects our environment, our ocean and our future generations.”

The interview forms part of the University of Fiji’s ongoing Vox Populi programme, which provides a platform for national leaders to engage directly with students and the wider community on issues of national importance.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Fiji and constitutional lawyer, Professor Shaista Shameem questioned the need for a supreme and entrenched Constitution in Fiji when ordinary laws can be made sufficiently robust to cover all relevant legal rights adequately.

Professor Shameem told the Constitutional Law Review Commission that she had asked her law students to justify the need for a higher law when international law as applied to the Fijian context was a more efficient way to ensure everyone could enjoy the same rights as everyone else and equality would be the cornerstone of all state services including the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.

She said that the Constitutions of independent Fiji, from 1970 to 2013 had brought nothing but instability in Fiji because there was no uniform agreement on what a Constitution should contain. Such political instability had thwarted economic growth which could have alleviated poverty. Instead, much public expenditure had been utilized to establish review commissions which drafted new constitutions only to see them being moved aside for yet another one. The longest lasting Constitution was the 2013 Constitution which had survived for 13 years so far, she said.

Professor Shameem said that rather than arguing over provisions of another new Constitution, it would be more fruitful and sustainable to ensure that all ordinary legislation in Fiji complied with international human rights and humanitarian laws applied correctly. She said she was concerned that a number of bills brought to Parliament recently or under public consultation did not comply with international non-derogatory principles. These included the Marine Areas Bill, Indigenous Rights Bill and the Mining Bill. Many of these bills have the effect of causing inequities contrary to international law, she said.

Professor Shameem said that countries such as New Zealand, Australia and even the United Kingdom did not have supreme constitutions but were able to maintain stability due to robust laws.

Professor Shameem also said that some of the presenters before the Commission had advocated the return of policy that resembled the 1990 Constitutional provisions. Had the Rome Statute been in existence in 1990, those drafting it could have been reported to the International Criminal Court for promoting discrimination, for example in Chapter III and sections 31, 41 and 83(2), she said. Fiji signed the Rome Statute in 1999, however, while the Rome Statute contains the rule against retrospectivity, this rule can be set aside for continuing conduct or if the offence committed would be prosecuted domestically had it not been for state immunity granted to the perpetrator. Professor Shameem said that any person who advocated discrimination of any form by law would be subject to the full brunt of international law. She said the Constitutional Review Commissioners should not adopt any of the provisions of the 1990 Constitution even by implication.

Professor Shameem said that should the Commissioners decide that a new Constitution is required, a number of principles had to be incorporated in it to ensure legitimacy. The first was recognition that a Constitution represented the social contract between a state and the people and any breaches of that contract would result in lack of confidence in government and government institutions. Government was seen as the Trustee of people’s will constitutionally.

The second principle was that of equality of all the people and the right to be free from discrimination in access to government and resources. That meant no special privileges for anyone, she said.

The third principle was the right to equal representation whatever the mechanics of election or selection. She said it was important to realise that democracy was a spectrum and people could easily be dragged into totalitarian democracy if the wrong leader was chosen.

The fourth constitutional principle was that of separation of powers which meant that the legislature, executive and the judiciary had separate functions. The courts could not legislate, even impliedly, as that was the role of the legislature, Professor Shameem said.

The fifth principle was taxation for the public good. Taxation was pegged to a sustainable, circular economy and included taxing those who benefitted from access to natural resources, wherever or whatever they were, she said. Professor Shameem said she agreed with the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants’ submissions that finance and fiscal policies were a constitutional responsibility.

Professor Shameem also noted that section 173 of the 2013 Constitution, which contains the Constitution’s immunity clauses, is presently the subject of proceedings before the Supreme Court of Fiji, in which the University of Fiji is the petitioner. The issues concerning its interpretation, scope and constitutional effect are therefore sub judice. In those circumstances, she said it would be inappropriate for the Constitutional Review Commission, or for those appearing before it, to express views on the legal merits of section 173. Any consideration of whether section 173 should ultimately be retained, amended or repealed should properly await the Supreme Court’s determination. Accordingly, and out of respect for the independence of the judiciary and the judicial process, the University of Fiji does not propose to comment on section 173 while the matter remains before the Court.

Professor Shameem further said that offences committed against the Constitution or the people were already penalized under the Crimes Act 2009 Parts 10–12. A number of relevant offences had been included in the former Penal Code, for example Chapters VII and VIII, but these had been consolidated under the Crimes Act 2009.

She said that amendment of the Constitution as the highest law required the highest possible majorities and that a 10-year interval was sufficient for constitutional reviews.

Professor Shameem said that the constitutional role of the Disciplined Services, including the RFMF, Police and Corrections, was to look after the welfare of all the people of Fiji.

In conclusion, Professor Shameem said that a human values perspective on constitutionalism would be the best basis for a new Constitution. However, if that was not possible then it would be advisable to do away with the idea of a supreme and entrenched Constitution and instead make ordinary laws more robust and compliant with international law.

The University of Fiji has achieved the highest institutional Share among Fiji-based institutions in the internationally recognised Nature Index, highlighting the University’s growing contribution to high-quality global research.

The Nature Index tracks research published in 178 peer-selected, high-quality journals across the natural, health, applied and social sciences. It measures institutional performance using indicators that assess both publication output and research contribution.

According to the latest Nature Index data for Fiji, the University of Fiji recorded the highest institutional Share, a metric that reflects an institution’s proportional contribution to published research. Unlike publication counts alone, the Share metric measures the depth of an institution’s involvement in the research process.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem said the achievement was a significant milestone for the University and reflected its commitment to research excellence despite operating within a small island developing state context.

“We are extremely overwhelmed by this news and proud of being awarded such international recognition. We are aware that Universities are established for research-based teaching and our research can now be recognized for helping to develop knowledge for the public good.”

The achievement reflects the University’s continued commitment to strengthening its research culture and expanding its contribution to scientific knowledge at both regional and international levels.

Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Science, Dr Ramendra Prasad, described the recognition as a significant milestone for the University and the School of Science and Technology.

“Though the Nature Index database tracks institutional and country-level research output across narrow fields spanning the natural, health, applied, and social sciences, it considers articles published in 178 peer-selected, high-quality journals. This indeed is fantastic news for the Science Department and SOST,” Dr Prasad said.

He said the recognition reflects the collective efforts of staff and researchers and affirms the University’s emergence as a research-intensive institution with a growing influence within the global scientific community.

Dr Prasad noted that the publication contributing to the University’s Nature Index standing emanated from a collaboration between KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and the Science Department.

He also acknowledged the authors of the publication, Associate Professor Ramendra Prasad, Ms Ayesha Reddy and Ms Dhrishna Charan, for their marvellous contributions.

The University’s performance in the Nature Index demonstrates the increasing impact of its research activities and reinforces its position as an emerging contributor to scientific knowledge within Fiji, the Pacific region and beyond.

As the University continues to strengthen its research capacity, it remains committed to fostering innovation, supporting academic excellence and building international collaborations that contribute to national, regional and global development.

The University of Fiji is calling for increased scholarship allocations for Mathematics and Physics Education programmes, warning that the growing shortage of specialist teachers in these critical subjects poses a significant challenge to the country’s education system and future workforce development.

The recommendation comes as the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) prepares to review and develop scholarship allocations for 2027 following the recent National Budget announcement.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem said the shortage of qualified Mathematics and Physics teachers requires urgent attention and long-term investment.

“National leaders need to find specific ways to encourage students to take up what are seen as difficult subjects and the University’s analysis shows that we need to provide incentives for Maths and Physics learning. There is no better incentive than scholarships.”

The University notes that Mathematics and Physics remain fundamental to national development, underpinning fields such as engineering, medicine, information technology, science and innovation. Ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified teachers in these disciplines is therefore essential for Fiji’s future growth.

The recommendation follows an analysis prepared by University of Fiji Mathematics Adviser, Ms Ayesha Reddy, who highlighted the continuing shortage of Mathematics and Physics teachers and the need for stronger incentives to encourage students to enter the profession.

Ms Reddy noted that teacher migration continues to place pressure on schools throughout the country, contributing to shortages in specialist subject areas. She said this often results in reduced student interest and participation in Mathematics and Physics, creating a cycle that further limits the number of graduates entering the teaching profession.

According to the analysis, Fiji has approximately 181 secondary schools and more than 74,000 secondary school students, yet concerns remain about the availability of specialist Mathematics and Physics teachers. Recent reports have also highlighted the significant number of teachers leaving the country in recent years.

Ms Reddy’s review of the 2026 TSLS Scholarship Policies Handbook found that under the Scholarships for High Achievers Local Scheme, only 35 scholarships are allocated to Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science teaching programmes out of 700 awards available. Under the Scholarships for Higher Education with Minimum Cut-Off Mark Scheme, only 140 awards are allocated to these programmes out of 3,000 scholarships.

She argues that increasing scholarship allocations for Mathematics and Physics Education would encourage more students to pursue teaching careers and help address the ongoing shortage of specialist teachers in secondary schools.

The University further notes that while the 2026–2027 National Budget highlights the expansion of scholarships for high-demand fields such as nursing, medicine and technical skills, there is no specific mention of Mathematics and Physics Education despite longstanding concerns regarding teacher shortages in these areas.

The University of Fiji therefore encourages TSLS, the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders to consider increasing scholarship allocations for Mathematics and Physics Education programmes as part of the 2027 scholarship framework.

 

By Avitesh Ram (16/6/2026)

SUVA, Fiji – Creativity, storytelling and community voices took centre stage at the University of Fiji’s Suva Central Campus on Tuesday evening as second-year Journalism and
Media Studies (JMS) students premiered their documentary productions as part of their major
course assessment.

The documentary screening, held at 6pm, featured six original productions created by JMS201 Documentary students. The documentaries formed a significant component of the students’ final assessment, accounting for 60 percent of their course grade. The event provided students with an opportunity to present months of research, filming and editing work before lecturers, university staff, industry stakeholders, family members and fellow students. Throughout the production process, students received guidance and mentorship from lecturer Josefa Mainavolau and Mr Hurstel Yee. The documentaries screened included A Life of a Florist by Milika Rabulu, Petals of Perseverance by Sereima Adi, Our Modern Tongue by Joseph Balolo, Disconnect to
Reconnect by Eseta Yavuvata, Life Made from Scratch by Ramisese Saunivalu and A
Fading Craft by Kelera Verenasau.

Speaking during the event, JMS Documentary Lecturer Josefa Mainavolau said the project was designed to provide students with practical experience in visual storytelling while exploring issues of social, cultural and community significance. “This documentary project was designed to give students practical experience in storytelling through visual media. The objective was to allow students to identify issues of social, cultural, environmental or community significance and present them in an engaging and informative manner,” he said. Mr Mainavolau said documentary filmmaking was a vital part of journalism and media education because it combines research, interviewing, scriptwriting, camera work, editing and ethical reporting.

“We wanted students to develop strong research skills, critical thinking, teamwork, communication abilities and technical production skills. Most importantly, we wanted them to understand how powerful storytelling can be in raising awareness and inspiring social change,” he said.

University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem highlighted the importance of filmmaking skills in modern media education. “All media students need to know how to make films. This course teaches them the techniques,” Professor Shameem said. She encouraged future students to embrace creativity and innovation in their storytelling. “Use your imagination and creativity,” she advised. University of Fiji Suva Central Campus Coordinator Ilana Burness said the screening allowed students to demonstrate their documentary-making abilities while engaging with media professionals and stakeholders. “These events give students a chance to display their documentary-making skills while presenting to lecturers, university staff and industry stakeholders. It allows them to interact with people in the media industry and receive constructive feedback,” Ms Burness said. She urged students to be courageous in delivering important messages through their work.

“Be bold in your messages. Ask the relevant questions and do not be afraid to take risks when presenting key messages through your filming,” she said.

Among the student filmmakers, Milika Rabulu’s documentary A Life of a Florist explored the lives and struggles of flower vendors often overlooked in everyday society. “People walk past florists in the market every day, but after doing this documentary, I discovered the stories and struggles behind the flower arrangements they create and sell,” Rabulu said. Sereima Adi’s documentary Petals of Perseverance focused on a flower seller’s journey and determination to support her family. “The message I learned from doing my documentary is to keep pushing whatever you believe in and never give up,” she said. Meanwhile, Joseph Balolo’s documentary Our Modern Tongue highlighted the importance of preserving the iTaukei language and cultural identity amid social change. “As Fiji becomes more modernised, some traditional words used by our elders are no longer common among young people. I wanted to encourage the younger generation to preserve our culture and identity,” Balolo said.

The screening concluded with positive feedback from attendees, who praised the students’ dedication, creativity and commitment to telling meaningful stories from their communities. Mr Mainavolau said he was proud of the quality of work presented and hoped the documentaries would inspire audiences to think critically about the issues explored. “Documentary filmmaking has the ability to spark discussion, promote understanding and motivate positive action within communities,” he said. The documentary evening marked another milestone in the University of Fiji’s commitment to developing future journalists, filmmakers and media professionals through hands-on learning experiences that give voice to stories that matter.