- FIJI’S MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT ADDRESSES ASIA-PACIFIC LABOUR MINISTERS AT INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE – The Minister for Labour, Productivity and Industrial Relations Hon. Jioji Konrote addressed the Asia-Pacific Ministers of Labour this week on the impact of climate change on employment.
- DELANA FIRST FOR KORONISAGANA: DEGEI– The Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon Iliesa Delana continued his visits to village youths in Nadroga this week and was the first senior Government official to set foot in Koronisagana village according to village elders.
- AKBAR MEETS WITH THE INDONESIAN BUSINESS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION – The Fijian delegation currently on an official tour to Jakarta in Indonesia had the opportunity to meet with the Indonesian Business Women’s Association (IWAPI).
- ‘MINISTRY WILL NOT ENTERTAIN OPPORTUNISTS’ – The Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon Iliesa Delana told the youth of Nadroga that the Ministry will not entertain opportunists or youth clubs who get registered just to receive assistance from Government.
- YOUTHS NEED A VOICE IN RURAL FORUMS – Sigatoka, June 09 – The Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon Iliesa Delana told the of youth of Nadroga that they need to regularly attend village meetings to raise their voice, needs, activities and development plans if they are to be recognised.
- Navosa farmers get collection centre at doorstep– Farmers in the highlands of Navosa will soon be able to sell their produce at Vatumali once the construction of the collection centre is completed.
- FIJI’S MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT ADDRESSES ASIA-PACIFIC LABOUR MINISTERS AT INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The Minister for Labour, Productivity and Industrial Relations Hon. Jioji Konrote addressed the Asia-Pacific Ministers of Labour this week on the impact of climate change on employment.
Minister Konrote said that the important reforms spearheaded by the Fijian Government on health, education and infrastructure, had limited meaning, if the people of Fiji were in danger of losing their land from under their feet. He said that the impact of climate change, and the intensity of natural disasters, had led Fiji to embrace a developmental agenda with incorporated the impact of climate change and natural disasters in the national development agenda.
Addressing Ministers of Employment of the region, he said;
“In our discussions with the international community we emphasise three things in particular; one, that we are not the responsible for the negative impacts of climate changes which our people are suffering from; two, that the collective conscience of the world must now push ahead to place a meaningful, and legally binding check on carbon emissions; and three, that where the damage is already done, solutions must be found for the loss of land, lives and livelihood.”
He told the meeting of the relocation of Vunidogoloa village;
“As a result of the impact of climate change, the entire village has been relocated to higher ground. What happens to labour then, when you push a fishing community to land where there is limited access to the sea and to traditional fishing rights? There is an immediate loss of income, as a result of the loss of livelihood. Worse, rising sea levels affect tourism, and agriculture. Certainly in Fiji, our economy depends on both tourism and agriculture.”
He said that some countries justified no or limited action on climate change, by referring to job losses as a consequence of more responsible industrial behaviour. He said however that;
“There needs to be a balance in thinking about short term and long term economic development. The future of work is surely in areas of green growth industries, in areas that provide long term sustainable means of industrial development. The world advances most when challenged the most, and the greatest challenge of the day is to maintain economic development in a manner that secures our future in the face of climate change.”
He said that there were significant job losses as a result of natural disasters and climate change, and that the Green Growth Framework, recently launched by the Prime Minister of Fiji, had demonstrated the feasibility of responsible and environmentally sensitive industrial development. He said;
“We have discovered this in Fiji, and are committed to a framework for national growth which reflects the need for job creation and economic growth but within a Government and private sector responsibility for the maintenance of a clean environment. We are not responsible for the rising sea levels, and the polluted land, water and air. But as a responsible nation State we are doing our best to reduce our own emissions to the best of our ability. In doing so, we are acutely aware of the close relationship between climate change and the availability and conditions of employment. We can and must do more to ensure the future of work in face of this challenge.”
- DELANA FIRST FOR KORONISAGANA: DEGEI
The Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon Iliesa Delana continued his visits to village youths in Nadroga this week and was the first senior Government official to set foot in Koronisagana village according to village elders.
On Tuesday afternoon, villagers and youths of Koronisagana welcomed the Assistant Minister to their village.
“Hon. Delana was scheduled to be here today and we wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity for our young people,” Turaga ni Yavusa and retired soldier Nemani Degei said.
“His willingness to stop here is a blessing for the young people and we are privileged to welcome the first Minister ever to set foot on our village and the first for the Ministry of youth as well.”
He added that the villager and youths were grateful to Hon. Laisenia Tuitubou and Hon. Iliesa Delana for caring for the youths of Fiji and for the empowerment to enlighten them – the backbone of a society,” said the retired soldier.
Degei said that if youths are empowered and their future secured, the communities and Government will be secure in the days to come.
Hon. Delana told the youth of Koronisagana that it was Hon. Tuitubou’s vision to visit the grassroots and hear the youth’s needs and ensure that they access essential services within their communities.
“These visits are testament of Government’s commitment to empower and develope the youth populace of Fiji,” Hon. Delana said.
“We will not only hear of their needs, but encourage them to get registered and revive their organisations and relationship with the youth Ministry to access Government assistance,” Hon. Delana said.
He told the youth on Tuesday to register and submit regular reports to the Ministry to prove their commitment of moving forward into a brighter future.
- AKBAR MEETS WITH THE INDONESIAN BUSINESS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
The Fijian delegation currently on an official tour to Jakarta in Indonesia had the opportunity to meet with the Indonesian Business Women’s Association (IWAPI).
The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Rosy Akbar and Director Women Mrs Arieta Moceica along with Director Social Welfare Mr Rupeni Fatiaki met with the executives of Indonesian Business Women’s Association at their headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday this week.
During this visit, the Fijian delegation was taken on the tour of a Museum that displays the Indonesian hand-woven batik and silk materials made by women. Established 40 years ago, IWAPI provides advocacy platform for Indonesian business women. Today, IWAPI boasts a membership of over 30,000 women business owners; most of whom own and operate hotels, institutions of learning and cosmetic companies.
Through its partnership with the Indonesian Ministry for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, IWAPI promotes advocacy and advice to influence the Indonesian Government’s policy towards creating an enabling micro-enterprise environment for Indonesian women.
It provides training opportunities for capacity building and micro-financing. And when women business entrepreneurs join IWAPI, they are recognized through the presentation of a laptop and Microsoft software package that provides them with accessibility to the web, internet and e-marketing.
IWAPI membership comprises of 70 percent of women who own small and micro-enterprise businesses (SME), 28 percent own medium-sized enterprises while 2 percent own large businesses.
Minister Akbar commended the work of IWAPI and has extended an invitation to the executives of IWAPI to attend Fiji’s National Women’s Expo 2015 to allow for further information and knowledge sharing between the women entrepreneurs of the two countries.
The founder of Indonesian Business Women’s Association (IWAPI), Dr Dewi Motik Pramono said it was an honor to host the Fiji delegation and they looked forward for increased collaboration in terms of sharing ideas and resources to enhance the potentials of Fijian women into SME’s (Small Medium Enterprises).
- ‘MINISTRY WILL NOT ENTERTAIN OPPORTUNISTS’
The Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon Iliesa Delana told the youth of Nadroga that the Ministry will not entertain opportunists or youth clubs who get registered just to receive assistance from Government.
“The Ministry is aware of past trends where youth clubs get registered just to receive or get assistance from Government,” Hon. Delana said. “This opportunistic trend will not be entertained by the Ministry.”
“There are assistance available within the Ministry and other Government agencies, however, we have measures and strict guidelines in place that will ensure that the assistance proposed and offered are targeted and suitable for youth development,” Hon. Delana told the youths of Nadroga as he continues his visits this week.
“We urge you to get registered with the Ministry and when you do, ensure that your clubs submit timely monthly reports of all the activities you are involved in,” said Hon. Delana.
“The consistent and regular report submissions will augur well for your clubs as it will assist the Ministry in designing relevant programs that will boost your clubs and empower its members,” added Hon. Delana.
He emphasised to the youths of Nadroga that he will monitor each Nadroga youth club’s progress and will assist Ministry officials in scrutinising requests to avoid ‘double dipping’ and the prevailed ‘opportunistic syndrome’ of the past.
Youth worker for Naqalimare district Lorima Duaka said; “First of all we are so thankful to the Minister’s thorough visit to the province of Nadroga.”
“These visits have shed more light to the youths and most clubs will renew their registration and ensure plans are put in place in order of priority of the programs, activities, projects and training needs of the youths,” said Duaka.
“We will take heed of the Minister’s advice and ensure that we work together and harder in ensuring we create and strengthen our very own livelihood,” said Duaka.
He added that the talks by the Assistant Youth Minister and Ministry officials has empowered the youths to make changes and to create a new future for them.
- YOUTHS NEED A VOICE IN RURAL FORUMS
Sigatoka, June 09 – The Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon Iliesa Delana told the of youth of Nadroga that they need to regularly attend village meetings to raise their voice, needs, activities and development plans if they are to be recognised.
“These forums are essential for the youth to attend and air their concerns, program, activities and future plans. It is the best forum to get your plans and projects endorsed and supported at all levels of rural development,” added Delana.
“We are to respect these forums and its decisions as they are recognised by Government and they are development forums at all levels. Youth need to be part of it,” added Hon. Delana.
“You have to devise your plans and submit to these forums – especially your village meetings to receive support from your elders”.
Assistant Roko Tui Nadroga/Navosa Ilaitia Kurisaru said that the youth often abstain from attending village meetings and therefore have a lack of understanding of Government’s position and her own processes.
“The iTaukei Affairs Ministry’s partnership with the youth Ministry is ideal as it will empower the youth and create a broader awareness of such issues amongst many others especially those in rural areas,” said Kurisaru.
Mr Kurisaru was accompanying the Assistant Youth Minister and told the youths that “they are to respect these institutions – especially the village meetings and council as they are recognised by Government”.
- Navosa farmers get collection centre at doorstep
Farmers in the highlands of Navosa will soon be able to sell their produce at Vatumali once the construction of the collection centre is completed.
This would mean less transportation costs for more than 200 farmers in the four districts of the upper reaches of Nadroga and Navosa.
The ground breaking ceremony for the centre was held today at Vatumali by the Commissioner western Manasa Tagicakibau.
“This development once completed would put to rest a lot of issues for the farmers given the costly trips they make to take their produce to the markets,” he said.
“This collection centre is a true indication of Government’s commitment bringing the market closer to the farmers and also is positive indication of the public private partnership.”
Prime Minister Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama last year at a ceremony in Vatumali first alluded to the project which is being done in partnership with Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) – a Seventh Day Adventist Church group.
The project once completed will be managed by ADRA in partnership with representatives until the end of next year before it will be fully operated by the villagers.
“Currently there are three former agricultural officers that have retired who are undergoing training for the hand over process.”
For 39 – year – old farmer Alipate Kuna, the collection centre would provide the opportunity to further increase their yield.
Mr Kuna is one of the many farmers that pay up to $120.00 to be able to take his produce down the Valley Road to Sigatoka.
“There is a negative image of Navosa and we want to change that. We are also hardworking farmers and I feel that once the collection centre is completed, we would also be able to save a lot of money and use it for our children,” Mr Kuna said.
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