- NEW AMBASSADOR THANKS FIJI, WELCOMES CONSTITUTION – THE new Philippines non-resident Ambassador to Fiji, Her Excellency Virginia Benavidez, has applauded Fiji’s support at various international forums and welcomed its democratisation efforts.
- INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY AT NADOGO – Five hundred and thirty students of Nadogo Central College and members of the Nadogo district community now have access to free internet.
- SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS UNDERGO LEADERSHIP TRAINING IN CHINA – The Public Service will be better equipped to deal with issues pertaining to strategy, public policies implementation, succession planning, projects implementation and service delivery through Leadership Training and Development.
- STAKEHOLDERS CARRY OUT AWARENESS IN FLOOD PRONE COMMUNITIES -Government is taking a proactive approach ahead of the next cyclone season and is conducting awareness programmes in flood prone areas in the western division.
1 NEW AMBASSADOR THANKS FIJI, WELCOMES CONSTITUTION
THE new Philippines non-resident Ambassador to Fiji, Her Excellency Virginia Benavidez, has applauded Fiji’s support at various international forums and welcomed its democratisation efforts.
As she presented her credentials to His Excellency the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at Government House this morning, the diplomat highlighted some the areas where the two nations have supported and assisted each other at the various forums.
“We will continue to work with Fiji as a fellow Asia-Pacific member in the United Nations and as current G-77 Chair in advancing issues of mutual interest to our two countries and collectively pursuing cooperation in such vital areas as climate change, disaster risk reduction and poverty eradication,” she said.
“At this important chapter in the political history of Fiji, the Philippines express its support for Fiji’s progress in its democratization efforts as reflected by the unveiling of the country’s new Constitution, and Fiji’s commitment to hold elections by September 2014.”
Mrs Benavidez said the Philippines Government attaches great importance to the people to people ties and interaction at all levels and values how Fiji has been a friend and strong supporter of the Philippines at various international forums.
“The growing presence of Filipinos working and living in Fiji strengthens the people based relationship the two countries enjoy and will further the reservoir of goodwill and understanding”, she said.
Furthermore, the diplomat said her nation will continue to “build on this strong foundation of friendship with Fiji” and “work hand in hand in advancing bilateral trade and economic partnership, human resource development”.
“In carrying out my mission in Fiji, I shall endeavour to nurture and strengthen Philippines-Fiji relations within the framework of our mutual interests, shared goals and inter-dependence,” Mrs Benavidez.
Prior to her appointment, Ambassador Benavidez was the Philippines Ambassador to Brunei and served in various capacities in their diplomatic missions in many other countries.
Ambassador Benavidez will be based in New Zealand.
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2 INTERNET ACCESS FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY AT NADOGO
Five hundred and thirty students of Nadogo Central College and members of the Nadogo district community now have access to free internet.
This follows the opening of government’s second telecentre in the Northern Division today by Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama.
The Prime Minister said that the opening of today’s telecentre gives ordinary Fijians access to the information superhighway and empowers them in a way that previous generations would have never imagined.
Commending the government initiative, Nadogo Central College head teacher, Sanjay Prasad said, “The opening of the telecenter marks a new era of information for the community at Nadogo as this will give us the opportunity to be linked to the rest of the world and be in par with the whole of Fiji.”
Form seven student, Kinisimere Vakamino said that now she and her fellow school collegues will be able to use the internet for school research topics.
“Previously we used to have limited access to internet and only a few students were allowed to use the computer,” Vakamino said.
Landowner and parent of Nadogo Central College, Ratu Solomone Catarogo said that he was grateful for government’s commitment to assisting the rural community.
“Our mataqali is thankful for the opening of the telecentre as our children will be able to work on their projects much better,” Ratu Solomone said.
“We will not have to travel far now to Labasa town as the telecentre is situated in a central location here in the school.”
The Prime Minister will also be opening the third telecentre for the Northern Division at Shri Guru Khalsa College this afternoon.
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3 SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS UNDERGO LEADERSHIP TRAINING IN CHINA
The Public Service will be better equipped to deal with issues pertaining to strategy, public policies implementation, succession planning, projects implementation and service delivery through Leadership Training and Development.
These are the comments of Mr Parmesh Chand, permanent secretary for Public Service as 20 Senior Officials prepare to leave for China for a Training Workshop for Senior Public Servants on Leadership Building.
The officials will undergo an intensive training programme from 16th – 29th September at the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELALP) in Shanghai.
Mr Chand said the PSC has been working closely with the CELAP and Chinese Embassy in Suva on this training and he is pleased that it has now become a reality.
“There is a good mix of public officials selected from the Civil Service and the statutory organisations. The whole idea is to get such senior public officials exposed to the ‘can do attitude’ as well as the manner and speed with which the public service responds in a rapidly growing economy such as China.”
H.E. Mr Huang Yong, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Fiji said that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is pleased to extend co-operation and assistance to the Fijian Government in this important area.
He said that he was confident the participants will make best use of the opportunity and that they will contribute productively to reforms and service delivery in the Fijian public service upon return from this training programme in Shanghai.
Attached is a list of participants selected by PSC for the Workshop as well as the Programme.
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4 STAKEHOLDERS CARRY OUT AWARENESS IN FLOOD PRONE COMMUNITIES
Government is taking a proactive approach ahead of the next cyclone season and is conducting awareness programmes in flood prone areas in the western division.
This is done to minimise the impact of damages following natural disasters especially floods.
Following the success of the National Climate Change Summit last month in Narewa Village in Nadi, preparation and awareness have been moved to other flood prone areas in the Nadi River basin.
A simulation exercise will be conducted in other villages in Nadi including Sabeto, Navoci, Namotomoto, Yavusania and Nawaka.
The exercise is being carried out by the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and is being conducted by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).
Commissioner Western, Commander Joeli Cawaki says the exercise is part of a holistic approach that government is taking is ensuring that no lives are lost in cases of natural disasters especially due to negligence.
“Just like Cyclone Evan last year, Government wants to ensure that no lives are lost in floods and other disasters,” he said.
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