Over 50 students of the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) were awarded with qualifications in 15 programs in Nadi on 22 April 2016. APTC is an innovative development project funded by the Australian Government, delivering Australian-standard skills and qualifications for a wide range of vocational careers for skilled workers across the Pacific. Since APTC’s establishment, the college has graduated more than 2840 Fiji citizens with Australian-standard qualifications. Culinary Ambassador for Fiji Airways and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism "Fiji Grown" campaign, Mr Lance Seeto delivered the keynote address. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Seeto said that it is an exciting time for Fiji's development as a nation. “We are undergoing an extraordinary renaissance of bridging the traditional with the modern. We see it in our food, agriculture, fashion, trade and tourism. But we need a highly skilled workforce to achieve and deliver world class ...

22 April 2016, FFA HQ SOLOMON ISLANDS  – Building on recent firsts in previous fisheries surveillance operations, Operation Rai Balang 16 saw the successful surveillance and apprehension of three Vietnamese ‘blue boats’ poaching for reef resources in the EEZs of FSM and Palau. Thanking the participating nations as the ten-day Operation ended this week, FFA’s Director General James Movick says, "it is this efficient coordination of aerial and surface assets that gives such strength to surveillance operations like Rai Balang, and contributes to the ability of the Pacific to manage and enforce their fisheries with the benefits being seen in the improved compliance trend across the region.” OPRB16 encompassed the EEZs of the seven participating FFA members and the associated high seas, a total area of 12.3 million sq. km. The 19 member command team based at the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre at FFA headquarters in Honiara comprised officers from the FFA secretariat, A...