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Fijian Post and Telecommunication

Post

Fiji's postal system is generally efficient. Because of numerous international flights to and from Australia and North America, delivery time to destinations outside the country is usually no longer than a week.

Those wishing to receive mail at the post office may do so at the general delivery window. American Express clients can pick up mail from the American Express representative, 4th Floor, ANZ House, 25 Victoria Parade, Suva.

Telegrams and phone calls can also be made from any post office.

Telephone

Telephone services in Fiji have improved since the telephone company's recent privatisation, and the phone system now gets a pass grade. In the last few years, services have been overhauled and most of the outer islands can now be dialled direct from overseas. Just a few years ago one had to go through the Suva operator.

Although public telephones for local calls are available in post offices, the main problem seems to be a lack of functioning public phones. In an emergency a shopkeeper or neighbour will always oblige. The cost for a local call is about 20 cents.

The long-distance service is quite adequate: Fiji is linked with every country in the world via satellite. Calls can be placed at post offices or from any hotel. To make a long-distance call or send a telegram in Suva, the best idea is to visit the modern Fiji International Telecommunications (FINTEL) office on Victoria Parade, near the public library.

TIME

Fiji skirts the International Date Line (180th meridian), so arrivals from the west coast of the USA will find upon landing that they have lost a day: Sunday becomes Monday, Tuesday becomes Wednesday - you get the idea. When you go in the opposite direction a day is gained.

Fiji is two hours ahead of Australian Eastern Standard Time, 12 hours ahead of GMT and 20 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard Time - so when it is noon Monday in Fiji, it is 10 am Monday in Sydney, midnight Sunday in London and 4 pm Sunday in Los Angeles. Once in Fiji you realise it doesn't matter what the clock hands or digital read-outs say. Fijians have a time standard of their own, regulated by 'Fiji time' - which is usually slower than the time you're used to.

ELECTRICITY

Throughout Fiji the current is 240 V, 50 cycles AC. Most hotels have 110-V converters for razors. Outlets are in the Australian/New Zealand mode - a three-pronged configuration. Adapters are available in the numerous duty-free shops and in electrical supply stores around the country.

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