- PEACEKEEPERS CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE HONORED – Member of the disciplined forces that served under UN peacekeeping operations were today remembered for their contribution to restoring peace, dedication and courage in the cause of peace.
- MINISTER AKBAR LAUNCHES SENIOR CITIZENS FOUNDATION IN LAUTOKA – The launch of the new Senior Citizens Foundation (Fiji) Lautoka branch today will allow members to meet at a common place and create a caring environment for each other.
- PIGEON SHOOTING SEASON 2015 OPENS – The Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime and National Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu has declared the 2015 Pigeon shooting season open from 1st June to 13th of June, 2015 in accordance with Section 2 of the Birds and Game Protection Act Cap 170.
- FASHION HAS HUGE POTENTIAL IN FIJI – The fashion industry has a huge potential to become very successful in Fiji and stakeholders need to work towards a common objective whereby government can provide the necessary support and make it grow.
- WEATHER OFFICE RECEIVES $5M EQUIPMENT – The Fiji Meteorological Services received new state of art equipment from the Embassy of Japan to assist in providing accurate weather information to the region.
- PEACEKEEPERS CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE HONOURED
Member of the disciplined forces that served under UN peacekeeping operations were today remembered for their contribution to restoring peace, dedication and courage in the cause of peace.
The commemoration was held at the National War Memorial site this morning and was attended by His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Cabinet Ministers and Member of the Diplomatic corp.
Minister for Defence, Immigration and National Security Timoci Natuva said this year not only marks in history the first ever commemoration service to be held in Fiji but falls within the 70th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) to honour the invaluable peacekeeping services of the Blue Helmets in various missions under the UN banner.
“The significance of this day is to reflect and remember our loved ones who had paid the ultimate sacrifice at the expense of peace worldwide. Since the first deployment to UNIFIL in Lebanon in 1978, Fiji has lost more than sixty brave and courageous men in peacekeeping and to date we shall remember them,” Minister Natuva said.
“Peacekeeping is now a bargaining tool for Fiji as it further strengthens relations and establishes new friendship with developing and developed countries, and is the cornerstone of our foreign policy agenda.”
Minister Natuva said in the changing security paradigm, the involvement of the Fiji Police Force and the Department of Corrections as peacemakers consolidate our continued efforts and dedication towards peacekeeping.
Commander Republic of Fiji Military Forces Mosese Tikoitoga said in the spirit of remembrance, the RFMF keep alive the memory of fellow Fijians who have served as peace keepers around the world.
“The first UN peace keeping mission was established in 1948. They were noble men who left their peaceful homes and went too far away places to face danger with commitment and dedication, courage just to find peace,” Commander Tikoitoga said.
“They were good men and women who believed in making a difference in troubled areas around the world.”
- MINISTER AKBAR LAUNCHES SENIOR CITIZENS FOUNDATION IN LAUTOKA
The launch of the new Senior Citizens Foundation (Fiji) Lautoka branch today will allow members to meet at a common place and create a caring environment for each other.
Speaking at the official launch at the Lautoka Club this morning, Hon. Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar said work done by the foundation to empower senior citizens in society complemented her Ministry’s efforts.
The foundation, which started work three years ago, provided identification cards for its 850 members for discount at pharmacies, eye consultants, medical centres, testing labs and hair salons.
Minister Akbar said the formation of National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) ensured that the rights and interests of senior citizens in Fiji were looked after.
She stressed that the welfare of senior citizens was a priority for the Fijian Government.
“The NCOP financial grants, which started in the last year, have trickled down to the various institutional homes for the elderly, the handicapped and the underprivileged. A total of $110,000 has been given to seven institutional homes,” Minister Akbar said.
A total of 12,720 senior citizens, who are 70 years and over and have never received any form of superannuation funds, are benefiting from the Social Pension Scheme.
“They receive a monthly allowance of $50 and the age is to be reduced to 68 years from July this year. A total of 45,896 individuals including senior citizens aged 60 years and over along with the persons living with disabilities are benefiting from government’s bus fare scheme. The senior citizens pay only 50 per cent of the bus fare while persons with disabilities travel for free,” Minister Akbar said.
Minister Akbar has called on families to look after their elderly, respect them and show them compassion because they have contributed to Fiji’s development.
She said the National Ageing Policy through National Council for Older Persons will ensure the inclusion and empowerment of senior citizens in their homes and communities.
Senior Citizens Foundation Lautoka branch president, Pusp Raj said the idea to let senior citizens meet and greet, share lifestyle and receive health tips was well received by the members.
Mr Raj they looked forward to Government support in the near future to make the lives of senior citizens easier.
“We have put forward some recommendations to the Minister and she has assured us that our proposals will be looked into. One such proposal is that we need a general ID card issued to all senior citizens which will have several benefits contained in one single card,” Mr Raj said.
- PIGEON SHOOTING SEASON 2015 OPENS
The Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime and National Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu has declared the 2015 Pigeon shooting season open from 1st June to 13th of June, 2015 in accordance with Section 2 of the Birds and Game Protection Act Cap 170.
As stipulated under section 11 of the Act, Reserved Areas within which it is unlawful for any person to shoot, capture, take or destroy any kind of game are as follow–
1) the islands of Makogai and Makodraga;
2) the area between Nabukalou Creek and Vatuwaqa Creek;
3) the area from the source of Naivuivuinikawai Creek to Nabiro Creek [Suva Creek];
4) Koro No. 1 to Wainivesi Creek [Tavua Area];
5) the area of land situated about Korobaba comprising an area of about 100.4ha;
6) Suva and Namuka Harbours including Draunibota Island [Quarry Island], Labeko, and Vuo [Admiralty Island];
7) the area of Taveuni known as Taveuni Forest Reserve containing about 10.965ha;
8) the area of Taveuni known as Taveuni Forest Reserve containing about 4019.67ha;
9) the area known as Nadarivatu Nature Reserve containing about 93.07ha;
10) the area known as Nadarivatu Nature Reserve containing about 6915.05ha;
11) the area known as Naqaranibuluti Nature Reserve and containing about 279.23ha;
12) the area known as Yarawa Forest Reserve and containing about 159.5ha;
13) the area known as Galoa Nature Reserve and containing about 17.2ha;
14) the area known as Qoya Forest Reserve and containing about 49.52ha;
15) the area known as Colo-i-Suva Forest Reserve and containing about 1083.35ha;
16) the area known as Korotari Forest Reserve and containing about 2679.10ha;
17) the area known as Vunimoli Forest Reserve and containing about 18.70ha;
18) the area known as Lololo Forest Reserve and containing about 6870.45ha;
19) Mangrove Forest bounded in the West by the Namosi/Rewa Provincial Boundaries and in the east by the main course of the Rewa River;
20) the Lautoka water catchment area;
21) the Ba water catchment area; and
22) the Tavua water catchment area.
Please take note that according to section 9 of the Act, every person intending to take part during this Open Season shall–
- obtain a valid “Licence to Kill Game” (‘Licence’) for 2015 and pay the prescribed fee;
- carry the valid Licence at all times whilst engaged in killing or taking game;
- provide the Licence upon demand by game rangers; and
- hold a licence to possess, use or carry arms and ammunition issued under the Arms and Ammunition Act 2003 and produce the same upon demand.
A person shall not take or kill more than five (5) pigeons per day during the 2015 Open Season.
- FASHION HAS HUGE POTENTIAL IN FIJI
The fashion industry has a huge potential to become very successful in Fiji and stakeholders need to work towards a common objective whereby government can provide the necessary support and make it grow.
These were the highlights of the remarks by Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya at the annual Fiji Fashion week which was held on Thursday night.
“In fact, under the Fijian Made-Buy Fijian Campaign we have a logo dedicated to our designers, that is, Fijian Designed. Currently there are 6 designs licensed to use the logo, belonging to 1 company with over 1417 products and 225 products benefiting from being part of this campaign,” Minister Koya said.
“As the Minister responsible for the campaign, I am putting a challenge to all the designers here tonight to acquire the logo, to take ownership of the logo and make it grow.”
Minister Koya said the show is an opportunity to be part of the “Fiji” brand, and to market and promote designs and creations under the successfully recognised banner of Fijian Designed.
“The Fijian Government is targeting new markets in the Southeast Asia region – visitors from this region are both high spenders and interested in only high-end designer products,” he said.
“We want tourists in Fiji to buy Fijian designs so the Fijian clothing and fashion industry needs to think big and make our Fijian designs better than well-known high street brands. One day we will have our own Louis Vuitton, Paul Smith or Chanel.”
Minister Koya said government has been undertaking discussions with renowned fashion colleges in India to assist in further developing the fashion curriculum offered by local tertiary institutions.
FJFW Director Ellen Whippy-Knight said the event has grown over the years.
“Our aim is to expand the industry and will allow designers to get more exposure to market their products to other countries,” Mrs Knight said.
“We hope to get more sponsors for next year and designers too.”
- WEATHER OFFICE RECEIVES $5M EQUIPMENT
The Fiji Meteorological Services received new state of art equipment from the Embassy of Japan to assist in providing accurate weather information to the region.
In a ceremony, held at the National Forecasting Centre in Nadi today, the Japanese Ambassador His Excellency Takuji Hanatani said the equipment will boost and strengthen services provided by the centre.
“We (Japan) have experienced first natural disasters are thus the reason for our continued assistance towards modern infrastructure and we hope these equipment would further strengthen the work of the weather office,” he said.
Ambassador Hanatani said the equipment is part of a grant aid scheme to promote international cooperation in disaster risk management.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Hon. Praveen Kumar accepted the equipment on behalf of the Fijian government.
He said the assistance was timely, given the weather office’s role in tracking weather patterns.
“Our (Fiji – Japan) bilateral relations have always been strong and this hand-over further signifies the strong bond we share,” Minister Kumar said.
“This equipment will assist the National Forecasting centre in providing more accurate and timely weather updates not only for Fiji but the region as well.”