Fijivillage
26 February, 2026, 2:03 pm
Central - 31°C Rain
26 February, 2026, 2:03 pm Central - 31°C Rain

AG says they want Australia and New Zealand to change the narrative on the travel bubble

AG says they want Australia and New Zealand to change the narrative on the travel bubble

By Semi Turaga
27/05/2020
Attotney General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum [Image: Parliament of the Republic of Fiji]

Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says what they are trying to get Australia and New Zealand to do is to change the narrative with regards to the travel bubble and to say they can open it to Fiji or respective countries within the Pacific region as opposed to treating everyone as a whole group.

Sayed-Khaiyum told parliament that the talk coming out from Wellington and Canberra is the Pacific will be included in the bubble but what Fiji has said is that different countries in the Pacific have different experiences and capacities pertaining to COVID-19.

He says Fiji is the only Pacific island country that actually has a WHO certified COVID-19 testing lab while all other pacific island countries sent all their swabs overseas.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the rate of testing in Fiji is also significantly higher and there have been no fatalities in Fiji.

He says as far as the conditions are concerned, they are hearing sometimes about having a health passport.

FEATURE NEWS
Rabuku calls for more funding for Navy and asset recovery to combat drug trafficking
Fiji has maritime borders that require increased funding, particularly for the Fiji Navy, as well as stronger narcotics diplomacy with countries such ...
1 hour ago
LATEST NEWS
Women and youth bearing brunt of online abuse, says PS Information
Phones are no longer communication tools, they are newsrooms, marketplaces, classrooms and public forums all in one.This is the message from ...
1 hour ago

Heavy rain alert in force for West and Kadavu
A heavy rain alert is now in force for the Western Division and Kadavu as a trough of low pressure with cloud and rain remains slow moving over ...
1 hour ago

State given 21 days to file supplementary affidavit in Pryde judicial review case
The Civil High Court has granted the State 21 days to file a supplementary affidavit in the matter where Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher ...
2 hours ago

Westpac Fiji to begin major renovations at Suva main branch tomorrow
Fiji's oldest bank, Westpac Fiji will commence significant renovations from tomorrow, Friday, 27th February at its main Suva Branch, reinforcing its ...
3 hours ago

FHL Group profit declines amid rising costs
The Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) Group has reported a decline in profitability for the six months ending on the 31st of December 2025, citing a ...
3 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Charlie Charters held at Nadi Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file
Fijian national, Charlie Charters is being held at immigration at Nadi International Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file.fijivillage News has ...
3 days ago

Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
20 days ago

Malimali and others filed for judicial review into COI
The application for leave for the judicial review has been made by former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali, former Attorney General Graham Leung ...
20 days ago

TOP