CAPTION: Minister Dr Jiko Luveni and Special Administrator North Mr Vijay Chand while touring the Labasa market during minister’s visit to Labasa last week.
1. FIJI YOUTH TO TAKE ON SEA VOYAGING CHALLENGE – Fiji delegates to the 25th Ship of the World Youth Programme were officially farewell today by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Commander Viliame Naupoto and Japan’s Ambassador to Fiji, His Excellency Mr Eiichi Oshima.
2. MINISTER WELCOMES NEW SCHOOLS YEAR – As the new school year begins today, the Acting Minister for Education Viliame Naupoto has sent his best wishes to students around the country.
3. MSG SILVER JUBILEE GRAND LAUNCHING CEREMONY IN VANUATU – The Officer-in-Charge of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat and Chairman for the MSG Silver Jubilee Organizing and Planning Committee, Mr Jean Pierre Nirua is pleased to announce that the official launching of the MSG Silver Jubilee celebrations throughout Melanesia will be held in Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu on the 28th January 2013.
1 FIJI YOUTH TO TAKE ON SEA VOYAGING CHALLENGE
Fiji delegates to the 25th Ship of the World Youth Programme were officially farewell today by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Commander Viliame Naupoto and Japan’s Ambassador to Fiji, His Excellency Mr Eiichi Oshima.
Minister Naupoto in addressing the 10 member group, shared his 26 years’ experience in Fiji’s naval forces and reminded the delegates that this experience will develop their capacity as individuals in a very special way.
“Living on a vessel will build your character, like you could never have of imagined. The unique feeling of understanding that you are surrounded by the ocean will bind you and all the other participating youth”.
“You will learn to let go of prejudices, and tune yourself into becoming dependent on those around you. Living on a ship creates oneness; it will help you become adaptable to other cultures and personalities. It will help you understand the meaning of life, and it will enable you to realize that this ship is a tool that will build yourself and then others in life”
Ambassador Oshima told the ten young delegates that the SWY Programme is an opportunity to show the world who you are as Fijians.
“You have the chance to showcase your hospitality, your rich culture and the Pacific way, something very prominent here in Fiji. The youth of Japan are ready to welcome you and are looking forward to meeting you all.”
The delegation flies out to Japan later this week for a one month international, cultural exchange youth programme organised and funded by the Government of Japan.
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2 MINISTER WELCOMES NEW SCHOOLS YEAR
As the new school year begins today, the Acting Minister for Education Viliame Naupoto has sent his best wishes to students around the country.
Commander Naupoto says the new school year beings with it a lot of challenges especially for those that either would be going to school for the first time, entering high school or either or joining tertiary institutes.
“It would be a-miss of me if I do not welcome the children that would be going to school for the first time. We would like to wish them all the best as they start a new life in school.”
Commander Naupoto paid special tribute to parents and children of those affected by the cyclone last month.
“We must salute their resilience in jumping back into making sure that the education of their children is not affected,” he added.
“Government has always prioritised education as we want to mould future leaders to be the best.”
He thanked teachers that have returned to school and those that left the holidays in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone to help in the rehab of the schools.
The Minister also wished teachers that have retired the best in life, saying they had done a wonderful job during their tenure.
“Without our teachers we would not have been so successful and we have to thank them for their teaching. Those teachers that have retired, I take my hat off to you for your enduring perseverance and dedication towards your work.
We thank you for your part in the making of Fiji’s leaders.”
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3 MSG SILVER JUBILEE GRAND LAUNCHING CEREMONY IN VANUATU
The Officer-in-Charge of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat and Chairman for the MSG Silver Jubilee Organising and Planning Committee, Mr Jean Pierre Nirua is pleased to announce that the official launching of the MSG Silver Jubilee celebrations throughout Melanesia will be held in Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu on the 28th January 2013.
Mr Nirua confirmed that the launching ceremony to mark 25 years of Melanesian solidarity and growth will be officiated by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, Honorable Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, and added that this particular Grand Launching Ceremony will mark the beginning of the celebrations throughout Melanesia.
The Chairman of the MSG Silver Jubilee Organizing and Planning Committee expressed his satisfaction that the Committee for the special event that comprises of officials of the Vanuatu Government and other key stakeholders have planned to stage a memorable launching at the Independence Park.
Mr Nirua explained that as part of the regional celebration program MSG members such as the FLNKS grouping of Kanaky, New Caledonia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will also from February to June 2013 be hosting their one-week Melanesia celebrations. He said this is an initiative by the organizing committee and endorsed by the Leaders Summit in 2012 to enable all members to celebrate this Silver Jubilee in their respective countries.
The Chairman of the MSG Silver Jubilee Organizing and Planning Committee is also pleased to further announce that Papua New Guinea will hold their Melanesia Week in February, Vanuatu in March, Solomon Islands in April, Fiji in May and the people of Kanaky in June 2013 when Leaders Summit is scheduled to be hosted by FLNKS. He said Vanuatu who is the host country of the Secretariat of the Melanesian Spearhead Group in Port Vila, Vanuatu will host their Melanesia Week in March on the anniversary date of the birth of the MSG which falls on the 14 March 2013. “This will mark 25 years of the signing of the Principles of Cooperation between Independent States of Melanesia, the first agreement to give birth to the idea of strengthening Melanesian solidarity and cooperation,” said Mr Nirua.
Mr. Nirua was also able to confirm and reveal that as part of the launching ceremony in Vanuatu a symposium under the theme “Leaders’ Toktok-Tales from Our Founders and Pioneers” is being organized for founding leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group and current leaders of the MSG to share their perspectives on various key topics in Melanesia to highlight the history and future of Melanesian cooperation that began 25 years ago on 14 March 1988.
“This is an exciting time for our people and our leaders as the symposium will give opportunity to leaders of Melanesia to share with the people of Melanesia the vision and ideas that gave birth to the strong relationship and relations enjoyed by MSG member countries,” said Mr Nirua. He said this will also give opportunity to leaders to share their perspectives on issues that are of common interest to the people and Governments of Melanesia.
He further added that the launching ceremony will also see the official release of MSG souvenirs and memorabilia to mark 25 years of Melanesian Solidarity and Growth, the unveiling of the Melanesian carving by member country carvers and a public luncheon for all.
“This is a day to remember for the people of Melanesia so we will invite our Leaders, MSG pioneers and founders and our friends of Melanesia near and far to join us in marking this special day not just to remember the hard work of our Leaders, Senior officials and Governments but also to continue to embrace and enjoy our solidarity and cooperation for the many more years to come,” said Mr. Nirua.
The Officer-in-Charge of the MSG Secretariat confirmed that the official program will soon be circulated to all member countries, Governments and the people of Melanesia.
(The above is a joint statement by the Government of Fiji & the MSG Secretariat in Vanuatu)
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