Cyclone Winston

The auditor-general's report on this year's audits of schools' 2016 finances named four schools that spent large sums on overseas trips for staff and students, and three that spent "relatively high" sum on presents for departing principals.

The report found multiple faults in Blockhouse Bay Intermediate's accounting - including keeping relief fundraising money after Cyclone Winston devastated parts of Fiji in 2016.

"We drew attention to the school not passing on $3700 collected specifically for Fiji flood victims," it said.

The co-founder of Bula Coffee, Luke Fryett, has a newly acquired mobile coffee processor which allows the company to expand its coffee supply base to isolated locations in Vanua Levu, thus increasing its coffee supply and offering farmers new income opportunities.

The coffee processor was bought by the EU's Funded Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade Project as part of its Winston recovery initiative, which was implemented by the Pacific Community.

WHO estimates there are now more than 30,000 people in the country living with depression in the wake of Cyclone Winston, the worst storm in Fiji's recorded history.

The organisation's mental health officer for the Pacific region, Yataro Setoya, said that there was still a stigma attached to depression so many people don't want to seek help when they need it.

A European Union-funded project, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, has set up three new cocoa processing units, each of which includes a fermenter and cocoa dryer.

The co-founder of a Fiji-based chocolate company, Tomohito Zukoshi, built the units and says they will provide a consistent A-grade quality cocoa for export.

Mr Zukoshi said Cyclone Winston devastated Fiji's cocoa sector and it is still recovering.

The Ministry of Agriculture said there had been an increase in rhinoceros beetles feeding on fallen trees and other vegetation ruined in the intense storm which hit Fiji nearly a year ago.

The beetle feeds on the soft immature fronds in the crown of the palms, weakening the plant and reducing its production.

The ministry's research director Apaitia Macanawai said farmers could get help putting in place traps infected with a fungus and virus which kill the beetles.

Photo: John Ska (A male oryctes rhinoceros) 

 Dr Paunga made the comment while officially handing over the Samoa appeal for Post Winston Save the Children’s Fundraiser to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Save the Children’s Fund (SCF), Iris Low-McKenzie, at Laucala on 5 August.

Coordinated by USP’s Pacific Outreach Programme for Polynesia (POPP) Coordinator, Allan Alo and Fiji Airways, Dr Paunga acknowledged his hard work for spearheading the event at the Alafua campus.

Head of The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Apia-based Pacific Outreach Programme for Polynesia (POPP), Mr Allan Alo, orchestrated the drive to raise funds for the children of Fiji, as part of USP’s Tropical Winston Appeal. 

POPP, which runs under the Faculty of Arts, Language and Education’s (FALE) Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies (OCACPS) promotes the value of connection and interaction between cultures and peoples through the use of artistic works and performances that stimulate people in the many communities in the region.

National Disaster Management Office Director Akapusi Tuifagalele said a woman in her 70s died at the CWH Hospital in Suva after she was airlifted from Koro Island following serious injuries.

14,799 people are still living in 476 evacuation centers in the Eastern, Northern and Western division.

Fiji TV reports damage to Fiji's roading infrastructure has been put at US$64 million.

The agriculture sector is estimated to face costs of more than US$100 million and education's losses are US$25 million.

18,154 homes and buildings were damaged by the cyclone.

The Health Ministry is working very closely with UNICEF for integrated communication with disaster-affected communities.

Normally during a Cyclone mosquitoes are washed away, and in two or three weeks affected areas have issues of an outbreak.

However, the Ministry of Health has warned possible outbreak of dengue and Zika virus.

The quick response by the Ministry and WHO in providing basic health kits has helped curb an outbreak.