SUVA (Fiji Sunday Times/PINA) — Fiji Attorney General Qoriniasi Bale wants an investigation into how two New Zealand agents recruiting nurses to work overseas were ordered to leave the country. Two Immigration Department officers stopped the agents, representing Healthlink New Zealand, from interviewing Fiji nurses for jobs in the United Arab Emirates. Bale said that as acting home affairs minister he was not informed of any order for the agents to leave the country or the reasons for it.
Health Minister Pita Nacuva has denied his ministry sought the action because of fears of further shortages of nurses. But Fiji Nursing Association officials say the Health Ministry was responsible, and the nurses were losing the opportunity for well paid careers.
