From Fiji Broadcasting Co. 31 August 2026)

Fuel prices rise, LPG prices fall from tomorrow

By Mosese Raqio

Fijians will pay more at the pump from tomorrow, with diesel, petrol and kerosene prices all increasing for September.

The Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission says diesel will rise by up to 30 cents a litre, while petrol increases by up to four cents and kerosene by up to 25 cents.

On Viti Levu within three kilometres of a public road, diesel will rise from $2.92 to $3.20 a litre, while petrol increases from $3.06 to $3.10.

On Rotuma, diesel will reach $3.76 a litre, the highest regulated price in the country.

The increases are based on July international fuel prices, freight costs and exchange rate movements, with FCCC pointing to continued geopolitical uncertainty and supply disruptions affecting global markets.

However, there is relief for LPG users.

The price of a 4.5-kilogram cylinder on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu will fall from $17.60 to $14.99, while a 12-kilogram cylinder will drop from $46.92 to $39.96.

On Rotuma, a 4.5-kilogram cylinder will fall by $3.40 to $19.50, while a 12-kilogram cylinder will drop by $9.05 to $52.

The new prices take effect tomorrow, 1 September 2026.

FCCC says the revised maximum prices are legally enforceable and retailers must not charge above the regulated rates.

Its enforcement teams will conduct inspections nationwide, while consumers are encouraged to report suspected overcharging.

From Fiji Sun (31 August 2026)

Women take the helm at Fiji Rotuman Association

The leadership change comes as the FRA looks to place development, accessibility and cultural preservation at the centre of its future plans for the Rotuman community in Fiji.

By Sosiveta Korobiau

Women have been elected to the Fiji Rotuman Association's (FRA) three key leadership positions for the first time in its more than 60-year history, as the organisation sets its sights on development while safeguarding Rotuman culture and language.

The milestone leadership change was confirmed at the Association's meeting on Saturday, with women elected Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer.

Four of the six members of the new Secretariat are also women.

The leadership change comes as the FRA looks to place development, accessibility and cultural preservation at the centre of its future plans for the Rotuman community in Fiji.

Speaking on the Association's strategic direction, Victor Rigamoto said development needed to extend beyond infrastructure, with cultural and language preservation remaining central to progress.

"I'm looking at infrastructure, development and accessibility. Is that something the Association is looking at to improve?" Rigamoto said.

He said the Association's strategic plan would help identify areas where development could be strengthened while maintaining connections to Rotuman identity.

"I think we have a connection in regards to the cultural preservation of our culture and our language as well," he said.

Culture at the centre

For the FRA, development is not only about physical infrastructure but also about creating opportunities to maintain cultural practices and strengthen connections among Rotumans living in Fiji.

Rigamoto said annual cultural celebrations such as Rutu Made remained important in bringing the community together and celebrating its heritage.

"It's a big day where everyone in Rotuma, in Fiji, comes together," he said.

The celebrations also give younger generations an opportunity to learn and participate in traditional practices.

"We come together, make merry with each other, and practise our dances," Rigamoto said.

The FRA is a non-government organisation with a large Rotuman membership in Fiji.

Its new leadership now faces the task of turning its strategic priorities into initiatives that improve development and accessibility while protecting Rotuman culture and language.

From Fijivillage (13 August 2026)

From 20 Cents to a Doctor-Dr Tukaha Mua

By Mikaele Liga

With 20 cents in his pocket, Doctor Alfred Tukaha Mua left his home in Malha'a, Rotuma to pursue his secondary school at Queen Victoria School with a promise in mind never to go hungry and live in poverty again.

This was shared by his daughter Makereta Mua during the launching of his book The Head of the Table at the Tanoa Hotel in Suva. 

She says at thirteen years old, her father said goodbye to his family and the familiar surroundings of Malha'a, Rotuma and was leaving behind the place he called home, the people he loved, and the simple island life he had always known.

Mua says that when he began his journey to Fiji, her father had very little in his possession and there was no guarantee of what lay ahead—only 20 cents and a heart filled with hope.

Mua stressed that what mattered was the determination he carried within him.

The daughter says her father knew that his journey to Queen Victoria School was more than just a journey to continue his education; it was the beginning of a new chapter in his life, and he was determined to make something of himself and to build a future different from the hardships he had known.

Many doctors and nurses families, friends and people from the medical field attended the launching tonight.

From Amazon.com (12 August 2026)

HEAD OF THE TABLE:
The Remarkable Story of Alfred Tukaha Mua, M.D. 

Head of the Table is a remarkable true story of service, sacrifice, and medical pioneering across the Pacific Islands.

Born in Rotuma, Dr Tukaha Mua rose from humble island beginnings to become one of the Pacific's pioneering specialists in anaesthesia and intensive care. His journey took him across Fiji, Vanuatu, and remote rural communities where healthcare was often delivered under extraordinary conditions — on horseback, across rivers, and in isolated villages far from modern hospitals.

Dr Mua helped shape the development of anaesthesia and intensive care medicine in Fiji and the wider Pacific. He later served as Head of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and helped establish the first decompression chamber in Fiji.

But this memoir is more than medical history. It is also a deeply human Pacific story about faith, family, cultural identity, resilience, and the sacrifices made by a generation who helped build healthcare in some of the Pacific's most challenging environments. Rich with stories from Rotuma, Fiji, and Vanuatu, Head of the Table is an inspiring memoir for readers interested in:

• medical memoirs and true stories
  
• Pacific Islands history and culture
  
• rural medicine and healthcare
  
• inspirational biographies
  
• Fiji, Rotuma, and Vanuatu

"This memoir is more than a biography. It is a guide for every young islander with a dream and every reader who believes in perseverance and groundedness."
— Professor Eddie McCaig, Professor of Surgery and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon (Ret) and former Dean Fiji National University, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Services
________________

From Makereta Mua

We had a successful launch for my father’s memoir, titled HEAD OF THE TABLE: The Remarkable Story of Alfred Tukaha Mua, M.D. last night.  .

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us. To family, friends, former colleagues, classmates, QVSOBs, members of the medical fraternity, and everyone who travelled and made the time to be with us — vinaka vakalevu for being part of this very special occasion.

Your presence, your stories, your memories and your support helped make the evening a beautiful celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Alfred Tukaha Mua, M.D.

 Every photograph captures more than a moment — it captures the people who came together to honour a remarkable man and celebrate the story he leaves behind.

️ Thank you for being part of the Head of the Table family.

See photos from the book launching

The book is available on amazon kindle and amazon paperback on: https://www.amazon.com/dp/982102338X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback