FIJI  –  Seven tourists in Fiji have been sent to hospital with suspected alcohol poisoning and are reported to be in a critical condition. It is believed they drank cocktails at a resort bar last Saturday night local time and shortly afterwards, displayed nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms.

Four of the seven are Australian, with ages ranging from 18 to 56, according to local media reports citing the health ministry. The incident comes weeks after the deaths of six tourists in the South East Asian nation of Laos because of suspected methanol poisoning. The tourists in Fiji, who were reportedly staying at a resort on the Coral Coast, were initially taken to Sigatoka Hospital.

They were all later transferred to Lautoka Hospital, according to the Fiji Times. Two Australian families in Fiji are receiving consular assistance, an Australian foreign ministry spokesperson told the BBC. (BBC)

Photo: Fiji’s Coral Coast. (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON – A new report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has underscored the need to prioritise primary health care to advance toward universal health in the Americas, including the Caribbean. The report highlights both the progress made and the persistent challenges faced by countries in the region in their efforts to ensure access to health services without imposing an unsustainable financial burden on individuals.

“Progress in universal health in the Americas: addressing unmet healthcare needs, gaps in coverage, and lack of financial protection through primary health care,” was presented on the occasion of Universal Health Day (known globally as Universal Health Coverage Day), celebrated each year on December 12. PAHO said this day highlights “the urgent need to overcome the barriers that limit access to health services for millions of people.” PAHO’s Director, Dr Jarbas Barbosa, emphasised that “the report reflects PAHO’s commitment to advancing towards universal health in a region that has made great progress, but also faces persistent challenges that require innovative solutions, particularly regarding primary health care.”

In this context, he stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in health systems, such as fragmentation, access barriers and inequalities that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The report emphasises that unmet health care needs affect more than one-third of the surveyed population in the Americas, primarily impacting the poorest communities. It added that while higher-income countries report fewer unmet needs, in lower-middle-income countries, these needs exceed 40 percent, contributing to higher rates of preventable mortality. (Jamaica-Gleaner)

Photo: PAHO Director, Dr Jarbas Barbosa. (CMC photo)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo remains hopeful that the final draft of Guyana’s oil spill legislation will be tabled in the National Assembly before the end of the year.

Jagdeo expressed optimism, despite telling reporters, at his weekly press conference, that the Attorney General’s Chambers has been “very delinquent” in completing the final draft of the legislation. “I’ve been pressing them… they’ve been very delinquent at this but I’ve been pressing them to get this done, because we made certain commitments that we want this tabled before the end of the year,” Jagdeo said. While providing updates on the oil and gas sector and plans for the new year, Jagdeo explained that the AG’s office has had some challenges. “So first of all, I’m expecting the AG’s department has had some issues. They’re overloaded with getting the Oil Spill Legislation… the draft completed so I can table it in the National Assembly,” he said, noting that if the legislation is not passed before the end of this year, then it will definitely be passed early next year. “Under the Petroleum Activities Act there are several regulations that are being drafted, have to be approved and those two hopefully will be approved by the National Assembly,” he told reporters.

On December 2, this publication reported that Jagdeo told reporters that he is hopeful his government’s oil spill legislation will be tabled in Parliament by the end of the year. Asked by Kaieteur News to give an update on the bill, which was scheduled to be tabled before the August recess but was not, Jagdeo said, “We are going through this… the technical agencies have given their views, we have sent it up back to the consultants.” He explained that he is awaiting the final draft of the bill, which will have the stakeholders’ views included “and then we will have a discussion at the level of the cabinet and, hopefully, we will get it to the parliament before the end of the year. It is still my hope to table it before the end of the year.”

The Oil Spill Act is aimed at ensuring that the country is protected during the transportation of crude oil. Jagdeo in the past had said that the legislation, once in place, will cover Guyana from “all sorts of liabilities”. (Kaieteur News)

Photo: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. (Kaieteur News)

BEIJING  – An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on deeply advancing the Party’s self-reform will be published on Monday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s 24th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee. The article states that the CPC pursues lofty ideals and is tasked with arduous missions. Only through self-reform and by improving its capabilities in leadership and governance can the Party remain a strong leadership core that advances socialism with Chinese characteristics.

As the situation and tasks facing the Party change, there will inevitably be all kinds of conflicts and problems within the Party, the article says, adding that it is imperative for the Party to eliminate negative impacts through self-reform and ensure that it always retains its vigor and vitality. The article emphasizes that the CPC always represents the fundamental interests of all Chinese people. Without seeking self interests, the Party can keep its spirit of thorough self-reform, and by swiftly detecting and resolving its own problems, the Party can take strong countermeasures against any interest group, power group or privileged stratum from preying on or corrupting Party members, according to the article. The article underscores that to deeply advance the Party’s self-reform, upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee is the fundamental guarantee.

Efforts are also needed to improve the system for exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, and to build strong Party organizations and strengthen the ranks of officials, it adds. The article also urges efforts to improve Party conduct, enforce discipline, and fight corruption, while integrating Party self-supervision with public oversight to deeply advance the Party’s self-reform. (Xinhua)

Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)