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We now have a limited email connection with
Rabi and the beginnings of our first direct news service from
the island since 1997 and the efforts of our past correspondent
- Kaiea Bakanebo who worked using transferred fax messages and
the slow mail service.
A big 'ko raba' to the Rabi team and it is
great to be able to hear news from back home and even receive
photographs. If you have any new items you would like to share
please email: Ken or Stacey at
admin@banaban.com. Photos are also welcome.
Also you can also hear a live
broadcast of
Bwanan Rabi
(Rabi Radio Programme)
http://www.radiofiji.com.fj at 10pm Fiji time on
the first and second Monday of each month FIJI ONE
RABI NEWS
Bwanan Rabi News Update
By
Aren Baoa 8 July 2008
This is to inform you that our radio programme Bwanan Rabi now has
an email address.
The address is:
bananrabi@gmail.com
At the moment members of broadcast team are; Naunae Bakai,
Ranoba Baoa and Taumanibure Buratake for Suva and Terikano
Takesau and Rusan Tuari for Rabi.
For now we would appreciate your support in providing relevant
stories to our programme. We encourage that everyone to write to
our new email address in our local language. However, we still
appreciate your contribution in English text if this is going to
be difficult...but as long as it not in Chinese, Arabic or
other Foreign language (just joking). We will soon be
conducting a survey on our audience soon to allow us to deliver
a better programme format and content in the future. The survey
will be conducted here Suva and via email. A questionnaire is
now being composed for this.
We hope that the programme will be much improved by the end of
year. Once we are in a better position to sustain quality and
continuity of service, we would then apply to Radio Fiji for an
extension of time, from 30minutes to an hour.
In preparation for a more challenging air time the team would
require training in writing and diction, a lot of practice,
equipment and production funds. Your comments and support
to this service is appreciated.
Ti a manga bo.
Please respond to
bananrabi@gmail.com Aren Baoa
for Bwanan Rabi Radio Team.
RABI NEWS
Last Day of 15 December
Celebrations for 2007
By Australian visitors - Rod Edwards and Jenny
Smith
We met the councillors on 22 December and then spent a
day meeting people and viewing the high school and Tabiang
village. Jenny and I appreciated the hospitality and enjoyed
being there during the celebrations (although it rained all the
time).
RABI RUGBY GRAND FINAL
Here is some commentary on the footy grand final:
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FINAL
RESULTS:
Blue team
- Tabwewa 12
Yellow
team - Tabiang 3 |
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The A final of rugby was a highlight of the
final day of Rabi Island celebration. The conditions were very
wet and large puddles needed to be pumped from the ground before
play began. Once under way the players treated the large crowd
to some very high quality rugby considering the very muddy
condition. Tabwewa scored a try following a kick through mid way
through the first half. The try was well converted from near the
sideline.
Tabiang soon replied with a penalty goal leaving
he half time score as 7 – 3 to Tabwewa. Tabiang came back in
the second half and looked like scoring on a couple of
occasions, but it was Tabwewa who scored the next try late in
the second half to seal the game. The final score was 12 to 3
and Tabwewa are the Rabi Island champions for 2007.
FINAL DAY PARADE FLOATS
Torrential rain made the parade of floats difficult which has
was sad for the people who had worked so hard to prepare the
masterpieces for display.
The theme was Rabi into the future. From our
perspective the Tabiang float looked like a winner with their
Rabi Air float equipped with moving propellers and lights. It
was supported with fully uniformed pilot, flight engineer,
hostess and lawyer (I guess the lawyer was on hand should the
electrical system on the plane cause problems and a class action
lodged against Rabi Air).
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Children's float with Air Hostess,
Lawyer and Aircraft Engineer |
Atuara Buokira (Oh God Help Us!)
School float. |
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What a great float - RABI AIRLINES!!!! |
Jenny Smith making friends with the
locals. |
Thanks Rod and Jenny for your report… maybe
they included the lawyer with hopes there will be another court
case again in the future? S.M.K.
RABI NEWS
News Date Issue October 2007
Terikano Takesau
DISMAC WORKSHOP
The Dismac workshop was conducted on the island by the Dismac team
from the Northern Division in regards to Disaster awareness. All
schools on the island which includes the Banaban Primary school,
Buakonikai primary school, Tabiang primary school and Rabi High
School participated in the quiz, oratory and poster competition .It
was clearly indicated that disaster awareness programs begin at
school .People should know what to do when a disaster such as
Tsunami, cyclone, earthquake, fireflooding etc strike. The Rabi
Councilors including the village and youth leaders were also the
participants of the workshop.
FIJI DAY CELEBRATION
The Fiji day celebration was held at Nuku on Monday 8/10/07 and was
organized by the Banaba Ltd and the Rabi Council Administration. The
guests of the day were the elders from all over the island, who were
entertained by the staff and management of Banaba Ltd from Rabi and
Suva. The program included traditional dancing, hulas and dancing,
the morning tea and lunch was provided also. According to the elders
they were overwhelmed by the entertainment and were happy to meet
their old friends.
NEW CLASSROOM FOR BANABAN PRIMARY SCHOOL
The Banaban primary school new classroom has been funded by the
Government of Fiji to replace its classroom that was devastated by
the recent cyclone. The new classroom costs about $10,000.00 and
should be completed by end of the year.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS ON THE ISLAND PREPARE FOR
THE CLASSES 6 & 8 PRIZE GIVING
It’s an annual event for the three primary schools on the island
including Kioa primary school to hold the prize giving ceremony for
classes 6 & 8 who annually sit for the external exam. However
trophies are presented to the dux out of the four schools, the
highest mark and the highest average marks obtained. There is also
entertainment, creative dancing performed by the participants of the
various schools.Tabiang primary school will host the event this year
in November
NEW TOILET FACILITY FOR TABWEWA
KINDERGARTEN
The new toilet facility according to the class teacher of the
school, Mrs Rosite Barikitea was donated by the Social Welfare
Department the sum of $1,200.00.The project has been completed and
is now used by the students. It was built by the Rabi council
maintenance team, the villagers and other helping hands How ever
their next project will be the school verandah with the cost
estimated to about $1,524.00 and are still looking for the funding.
The school management is still looking for sponsors for this next
project, however should you be interested please contact Terikano
Takesau on the following address….terikanotakesau@yahoo.com.fj…as
she is also the chairperson of Tabwewa village where the school
belongs to
EASYTEL PROMOTION ON RABI
Telecom Fiji Ltd Savusavu branch has contacted Terikano in regards
to promotion of the Easytel for those who need it on the island. The
actual cost of this phone is $F179.00 however as it on promotion now
the cost is $F66.00. There are two kinds of phones one goes with a
radio while the other is with the internet. On purchase of the phone
there will be a free $15.00 recharge card. The Telecom staff from
Savusavu will be here next week to deliver and update the phones to
these who have submitted and paid their phones to Terikano. Such
promotion was introduced beginning of the year where more than
twenty people from Rabi especially those from Tabiang and Buakonikai
purchased the phones.
LABASA-BANABA NEWS -
UPDATE
News
Date Issue 13 August 2007
by
Akata Reia
LABASA-BANABAN YOUTH CLUB
Newly formed
Labasa-
Banaban youth
office bearers election will be held at Te unimane's residence Mr
Mote. Are this Saturday 18/8/07 at 1:00pm
The programme includes :
1. Competition in volley ball from different groups
2. Official election of :- Treasurer and Secretary as Mr Takaio.
Uriam is the Chairman.
Aim:
-promote youth skills
-Help Labasa-banaban community in house to house clean up campaign.
-Promote sports talent amongst Banaban youth etc.
All groups are invited to attend along with our brothers and sisters
staying on cane farms to organise one volleyball team.
LABASA-BANABA
NEWS - UPDATE
News Date Issue 10 August 2007
by
Akata Reia
RABI
COUNCIL VISIT TO LABASA
The Rabi Council Chairman : Mr Teatu .Rewi and council
members : Mr Tebaia and Temoai visited Labasa to attend the
graduation day at Naleba where our youth from Rabi island
attended 18 weeks trade courses like carpentry & joinery .
We are so
happy as the president Mr Taukoriri and Chairman were discussing
some issues regarding canecutters welfare.
They will
met the Labasa- Banaban community members this afternoon at 5:00pm
at Nabeia. Natu's residence and leave for Rabi Island on Saturday
11/08/07
Akata Reia
akatareia@yahoo.com
RABI NEWS - UPDATE
News Date Issue 25July 2007
by
Biara Touakin
RABI BOATING TRAGEDY
Two
other boys have been found on Friday 20th July, Mark and Boata. Only
Betero is still missing and the search was continued until today
25/7 when the search was called off by Fiji Police.
* The two cousins Wanikaie and Betero left
the other two with the upturned boat and swam for help. Out of the
two of them, Betero could not swim any further but asked his cousin
Wanikaie to ask his father to come and search for him.
Our thoughts and condolences go to Betero's family... and the
courage showed by the boys in saving the two left behind.
NEW
BOAT FOR RABI HEALTH CENTRE
Meanwhile a new fibreglass boat with 40hp engine for the Rabi Health
Centre arrived on Rabi yesterday 24/7. It was officially handed over
to the Chairman (Temaniba Reiati) of the Board of Visitors of Rabi
Health Centre in Savusavu by the SDMO.
RABI
NURSES STRIKE
Nurses
on Rabi are also on strike.
RABI
NEWS - UPDATE
News Date Issue 20 July 2007
by BiaraTouakin
BREAKING NEWS FROM RABI
Four Rabi boys went fishing last night and their boat capsized.
One of them swam safely ashore while the other three are still
missing. The four are: Wanikaie, Betero, Boata and Mark.
Wanikaie reached Tabiang at about 3.00am and was found
unconscious on the beach.
The search for the three still continues by the Police team and
the villagers. They left Tabiang yesterday afternoon. Wanikaie
said the sea was so rough and the boat capsized at about 8.30pm.
Kam raba and we'll keep you updated as soon we get more updates
on the news.
RABI
NEWS - UPDATE
News Date Issue 11 July 2007
by
Nawaia Touakin - Suva Fiji
OBITUARY - THE LATE REV ITAAKA ERI
In deep
sorrow we just lost one of our strong Banaban voices in the above
person.
According to his wife, one of his last wishes was, despite our
losing him so prematurely, that we (his fellow Banabans) must pursue
the cause we had started off together for our Banaban people -
justice for our people.
What
greater challenge could we get than that from a fellow Banaban last
words in his death-bed - the onus is on us all
RABI
NEWS - UPDATE
News Date Issue June-July 2007
by
Terikano Takesau
RABI ROADS
Road
maintenance on Rabi is in progress as the workers from Public
Works Department and their respective contractors are working on
it. The road was partly damaged during the last cyclone in March
with the school children, workers and the public having to walk
to and fro on the island as buses, and the vehicles were on a
stand still due to bad road condition.
NEW RABI FIJI POLICE STATION
The new Fiji police station is nearing completion and is relocated
near the Rabi council police and court house. The carpenters from
Fiji police force are currently working on it, however the old
building located in the hub of Nuku village will be used as a
barrack for police officers.
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New Fiji Police Post just next to the
Local Police |
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The Fiji police on the island are working closely with the local
police, and the community as a whole in trying to prevent crime, the
consumption of local home brews and marijuana. Cleaning up campaign
and community work have also been introduced in villages to better
the standard of living conditions on the island
DONATION FOR BANABAN PRIMARY
SCHOOL
The Latter Day Saints Church donated to the Banaban Primary School
35 desks and chairs, a teachers table and chair and black board for
the Class 8 pupils. In March this year Cyclone Cliff
completely destroyed the Class 8 single classroom and also left
students without text books and books. A new classroom is under
construction with aid from the Fiji Ministry of Education, and other
kind hearted donors sponsored books text books etc etc.
AID FUNDS NEEDED TO REBUILD
TABWEWA COMMUNITY HALL AFTER CYCLONE CLIFF
Tabwewa Community hall was partly damaged by Cyclone Cliff and now
is in the good hands of the village
committee and the community to repair it. According to the carpenter
Amota Teke said that the repair and maintenance cost is about
$F2,709.15
Due to lack of community funds the committee is requesting Tei
Tabwewa (people of Tabwewa Village) to contribute a sub of
$12.50 per married couple and is also seeking aid and fund-raising.
The hall is called Teitinikauriri and will always be the
pride of
Tei Tabwewa is being used purposely by the Banaban community
and the Rabi Council should there be important functions held at the
village. The Hall was built by our community elders years back
therefore we as Tei Tabwewa now would like to maintain and
also add new phases to the hall.
UPGRADE FOR TABWEWA PRE SCHOOL
The department of social welfare has kindly funded Tabwewa Pre
School with material for its new two flush toilets. The construction
of the toilets is underway with the help of the officer in charge
maintenance Rabi Council of Leaders, the kindy committee and the
parents at times the community youths do lend their helping hands.
RABI RUGBY UNION
The Rabi Rugby Union has been informed by the Fiji Rugby Union to
participate in the Island zone which is to be held in August.
According to Cr Tebaia who is also the president of the Rabi Rugby
Union the team from the Fiji Rugby Union will be on the island next
week to do the selection. He also mentioned that there will be rugby
competition amongst the village teams and they will be playing with
teams from outside Rabi before the selection of the Rabi team is
finalised.
The team will need about $11,000.00 to accommodate all expenses,
however their major sponsors are the
Fiji Rugby Union, Rabi Council and the Banaban community. The Fiji
Rugby Union is also sponsoring two sets of jerseys. According
to the boys even though the time frame is short for preparation they
are going to do their best so we wish them GOOD LUCK!
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