Fiji

Rabuka, who has assumed the role of head of government for the second time in his political career delivered his inaugural statement to the people of Fiji via the state's social media.

Fijian voters voted out Frank Bainimarama's FijiFirst government's stronghold on the nation's governance after two terms in power, signalling their appetite for change.

Rabuka's message to his fellow citizens was one promising a better and united Fiji for all.

"Our country is experiencing a great and joyful awakening," he said.

Pio Tikoduadua says the commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho has however asked that they follow the process of the Constitutional Offices Commission.

Minister Tikoduadua said he respects his decision, and we will let the law take its course.

The Minister added he has no issue with the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

A border alert has been issued by Fiji's Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for Opposition MP and former Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

In a congratulatory letter, Fiame said Rabuka’s election as leader of the multi-party coalition demonstrates the confidence and trust of the people in his deep-rooted leadership.

Fiame adds she looks forward to working closely with Rabuka to further enhance and strengthen the friendship, cooperation and partnership between the two countries as well as advancing regionalism in our Blue Pacific continent through the 2050 Strategy.

Rabuka was elected Prime Minister following a secret ballot in Parliament last Saturday.

Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti told Tala Fou that Police are trying to determine how the woman allegedly got past the normal departure processes including immigration, customs and security clearance.

The woman is suspected to have hidden in the plane’s toilet during the flight.

According to Papalii, the suspect managed to hide on the plane and was only discovered when the Fiji Airways aircraft touched down in Fiji.

The suspect was then apprehended and returned to Samoa on the same flight.

One of the hallmarks of Fiji's tourism industry is the world-class hospitality of the Fijian people.

Thanks to this kind of dedication from Fijian hospitality staff like Asenaca Nitayaqa - who you will meet properly a little later - the industry is on track to smash all its expectations for a recovery in 2022.

Fiji Tourism chief executive Brent Hill said at the start of the year they had set a goal to try and achieve visitor numbers of around 400,000.

They are now on track to almost doubling that number.

Rabuka was elected with 28 votes to 27.

"It was a very close margin," Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) youth forum president Ben Daveta said.

From the polls to parliament, every decision was balanced on a knife's edge.

First, no party gained an outright majority to rule.

Then it took the king-makers Sodelpa two split-votes to choose a coalition partner -- and even in the final secret ballot to elect a prime minister, someone in the opposition ranks voted for the other side.

It has been a frantic time, Daveta said.

There were jubilant scenes in Suva overnight as the kingmaker in Fiji's general election, the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) declared it was partnering with the People's Alliance (PA) and the National Federation Party (NFP) to form a new coalition government to end FijiFirst's eight-year reign.

The decision was made in a secret ballot by Sodelpa's 30-member management board - 16 voted in favour of the PA-NFP alliance and 14 for FijiFirst - after three days of intense negotiations.

After more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures, the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcano eruption and tsunami, this trip was going to be special.

He was taking a big group of 15, including his mother, son, his two sisters and their children.

“It’s Christmas, and it’s a time for family – we’re all just looking forward to being back home together,” he said.

“Mum is really looking forward to seeing her sister who is old now, so we just want to spend as much time with her as we can.

The Samoa Observer reports the Samoan government has an agreement in place with the Fiji Police Force to use their forensic pathologist, Dr James Kalougivaki, as Samoa has been without one for many years.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Papali'i Monalisa Tiai-Keti, confirmed that the forensic pathologist will have until December 23 to complete nine post-mortems to clear the backlog created by not having a forensic pathologist in Samoa.

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With Election Day on Wednesday, the FEO said there will be provisional results rolled out all night until 7am Thursday.

All the results will be loaded and the outcome will be released at least four days after poll day.

Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem said this all depends on what happens with the provisional results.

“This is not predictable unless, of course, it’s a major difference in votes. But if it is not conclusive by 7am like the US election, you will have to wait until we finish data entry of all the results in four days.”