This paper examines the mediating effect of organisational commitment (OC) on the relationship between workplace training opportunities and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) of frontline retail sector employees in Fiji. The authors conducted a cross-sector survey with selected 37 small to medium sized grocery retail outlets executing workplace training strategies at their workplaces. The authors used structural equation modelling to verify the hypotheses. The findings suggest that small and medium-sized (SME) grocery outlets should focus on reinforcing the implementation of workplace training practices, whose synergistic effects may be currently neglected. The results show that constituents of training and development initiatives, especially providing avenues for support for employee training can significantly improve frontline and back-office employee commitment and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) in SME retail companies. Previous studies have primarily examined the relationship between workplace training components, OC and OCB in specific contexts, such as the manufacturing industry or have lumped training and development practices with other human resource management (HRM) practices. The present study aims to fill this gap by exploring the concurrent effects of components of a single HRM practice of workplace training on OC and OCB in the understudied services sector setting in a developing country context.

Commercial shipping has been associated with many introductions of marine invasive species globally. Unintentional transport stowaways in ship ballast water and biofouling account for the most unintentional marine introductions globally. Understanding vessel traffic and ballasting behaviours can aid managers in identifying research and biosecurity gaps. We provide a quantitative baseline assessment of commercial vessel activities in American Samoa between 2004 and 2021. Vessel traffic and ballast water data were downloaded from the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse and examined in R. Since reporting began, vessel arrivals in the territory gradually increased each year, reaching a peak of 229 vessels in 2017. Over a third of all arrivals are container ships. Although commercial vessels arrive from ports all over the world, most come from and remain in the South Pacific. Containers and tankers were responsible for most of the ballast water discharges in the territory. The use of alternative ballast water management systems began in 2015 and increased dramatically in the following years. Though American Samoa's vessel traffic patterns are similar with the United States as a whole, we highlight key differences in this small, yet important, South Pacific port. This article highlight the importance of assessments at individual ports to better inform biosecurity decisions with an emphasis on regional biosecurity measures and communication among the Pacific Islands.

This paper is a historical review of known epidemics that have afflicted Fijians since European contact in the late 1700s, with particular attention to the devastations caused by the measles epidemic of 1875 and the influenza pandemic in 1918. The impact of these outbreaks is documented in numerous archival sources, including government records, the ‘Proceedings of the Council of Chiefs, the Colonial Secretary’s Office (CSO) files, the Fiji Times, and a report of the Royal Commission to investigate ‘the decrease of the native population’ (1896). The paper argues that despite changing historical contexts and epidemiological circumstances, official responses to disease in Fiji were underscored by assumptions of European superiority and power that ignored how non-Europeans viewed Western medicine with suspicion and colonial rules as contradictory.

The iTaukei, or Indigenous people of Fiji, own 91 per cent of the land and makeup 57 per cent of the country’s multiracial population. Although critical in development discourses, these figures do not appear to translate into the development outcomes for the biggest landowners in the country. As it is, the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) revealed that 75 per cent of those living below the Basic Needs Poverty Line were iTaukei, the highest of all the ethnic groups living in Fiji (Fiji Bureau of Statistics, 2021). This statistic challenges the previous government’s rhetoric: ‘We are leaving no one behind.’ In 2010, the Bainimarama government amended the Leases and Licenses Regulations of the Native Land Act (1961) to ensure equal distribution of lease money to members of landowning units (LOUs) who lease their lands. There were claims of social, economic, and cultural benefits made by the Bainimarama government that were endorsed by the iTaukei Native Land Trust Board (TLTB) to validate the amendments. This article critically examines the government’s claims concerning EDIP to protect customary practices. The discussions are based on empirical evidence from a case study that examines the implications of land law literacy on village governance, political affiliations and the well-being of iTaukei in Narewa, western Viti Levu.

This study examines whether establishing domestic standards for public sector auditing instead of following international standards, may improve perceived audit quality. We also explore the improvements and challenges that are perceived to arise if public sector auditing standards are legally binding. This study is motivated by a proposal from Samoa’s Controller and Auditor General to establish domestic public sector auditing standards, which is contrary to the global trend of adopting international standards. We employ a survey instrument to collect data from a sample of accountants and auditors working in various organisations and at different levels in both the public and private sectors. We find that an overwhelming number of participants support the establishment of domestic public sector auditing standards and the intention to make them legally binding. We also find that participants anticipate that domestic standards will result in consistent application and improved transparency of public sector audits with consequential improvements in audit quality. However, such benefits may be short-lived when perceived challenges are considered, particularly if the standards are legally binding.

This study aims to examine the differences in the perception of male and female employees towards diversity management and their work outcomes in a highly male-dominated culture in the Public Sector. A quantitative survey of 114 public sector employees was analysed using structural equation modelling. Overall, the findings reveal that diversity management has a positive and significant impact on both genders’ work outcomes of affective commitment, organisational commitment, job satisfaction, work group performance and inclusiveness of organisational culture. However, the male employees reported lower levels of organisational commitment than the female employees. This study highlights key suggestions for policymakers and public managers, such as diversity strategy, top leadership commitment, diversity training programs, team bonding exercises, strengthening of family-friendly programs and other suggestions. The theoretical contribution of this research is the integration of representative bureaucracy theory, commitment management theory and social cognitive theory for a robust argument for diversity management in the public sector. Studies on gender perceptions in developing small island countries are rare. This study is the first of its kind in the subject country. It identifies the distinct gender norms in society and the role of diversity management.

This study recognises and addresses short message service (SMS) advertising research deficits. The empirical study, grounded in the Uses and Gratification theory, presents the perceived advertising values and attitudes (PAVA) of consumers of different age groups and gender towards SMS advertisements. Data was collected from 261 mobile phone users and analysed using SPSS AMOS. The results suggest that the age and gender of consumers - matter when it comes to their PAVA towards SMS advertisements; thus, the need to tailor-make advertisements, particularly if the target markets are segmented by age and gender. The major and original contributions of this study are the different age groups and gender comparisons, using Uses and Gratification theory and a field study of a smaller South Pacific developing economy, unlike prior studies. Such a study is useful in setting the foundation for more research focussing on different age groups and gender comparative studies in smaller developing countries, larger scale research, country comparative studies, as well as ongoing SMS-related studies. Our findings provide a practical reference for marketing companies that use SMS advertisements to persuade consumers.

The Greater Suva Urban Area (GSUA) is the most densely populated area in Fiji and was greatly affected by the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. This study explores how lockdown and other COVID-19 safety protocols impacted the diets, eating behaviour and food purchasing behaviour of iTaukei (indigenous Fijian) families living in the GSUA. In-depth interviews with 13 iTaukei mothers from diverse socio-economic and occupational backgrounds highlight that loss of income was related to food insecurity, which also affected access to balanced meals and dietary diversity. Women also noted positive changes, including (1) reduced consumption of red and processed meat, (2) increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, (3) reduction in eating out and greater reliance on home-cooked meals, (4) reduction in food wastage, (5) increase in home gardening, and (6) greater concern for health and well-being. Unhealthy eating behaviours were also recorded, including greater reliance on energy-dense foods, increased cooking and baking of unhealthy foods, increased snacking, and replacing dinner with tea, snacks and sugary foods. These findings raise concerns about the long-term effects of COVID19 safety protocols on health and well-being and provide insights into opportunities for promoting healthier eating lifestyles, better management of resources, and enhancing food security.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries around the world have resorted to restricting some human rights. Different measures from limiting the freedom of movement and assembly to the conditions to the right to work have been enforced to protect the right to life. Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are no exception; since the beginning of global outbreak, several PICs have enforced different limitations to human rights, and have done so even when the communities have not been directly exposed to the coronavirus at the time. This paper analyses these restrictions in four PICs (Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga) through the literature on limitations and derogations of international human rights law. While Pacific Island Countries should be praised for quick responses to the pandemic that have saved lives from the COVID-19, this article argues their governments must also be critically scrutinised for the consequences of the adopted responses from a broader human rights perspective