CAPTION: Part of the 27 new lawyers that was sworn in today.
1. TOURISM EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIJIANS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Jone Usamate today announced that more employment opportunities have opened up in the United Arab Emirates for Fijians in the tourism sector.
2. MINISTER KUBUABOLA ATTENDS SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM MEETING – The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola left this morning to attend the High Level Ministerial Meeting regarding the New Approaches to the Security Council Reform, scheduled on 4th February 2013 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, Italy.
3. MOU TO STRENGTHEN MONITORING OF FISHERY ACTIVITIES – The Fisheries department today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Safety Authority as part of efforts to legalise and record all fishing activities taking place within Fiji waters.
4. SERVICE EXCELLENCE TRAINING FOR EDUCATION – The Ministry of Education recently participated in the Service Excellence training as part of its efforts to improve efficiency and customer service in the Ministry.
5. GOVT TO REGULATE SECURITY FIRMS – The Ministry of Defence, National Security and Immigration will commence the registration and licensing of all security companies as Master License Holders in March 2013.
TWENTY SEVEN PRACTITIONERS ADMITTED TO THE BAR – Twenty seven newly admitted legal practitioners made their affirmations today before Chief Justice Mr Anthony Gates in the Supreme Court in Suva.
1 TOURISM EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIJIANS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Jone Usamate today announced that more employment opportunities have opened up in the United Arab Emirates for Fijians in the tourism sector.
Minister Usamate revealed that the newly commissioned Foreign Employment Service (FORES) at the Ministry’s National Employment Centre (NEC) continues to work around the clock with Fiji’s embassy in the UAE and relevant agencies in Fiji to ensure more Fijians are exported as workers to the UAE.
“In the tourism industry, Fijian workers are known around the globe for the warmth in their exceptional customer service and their ‘bula smile’. Endowed with these assets and the ability to work in a cross cultural environment, our workers are in demand in the United Arab Emirates,” Mr Usamate said.
The Minister highlighted that the additional request for hotel workers was received from the UAE tourism sector this week, even as applications for healthcare work continue to flow into the office. These positions will be advertised in the Fiji Sun tomorrow, Saturday 2nd February 2013.
There are a total of 21 vacancies and the invitation of Expressions of Interest in this area include waitress & waiter, chef, food & beverage personnel (4 categories), front office personnel, housekeeping (2 categories), guest services (spa & retail), fitness instructor – recreation, executive butler, events executive – sales, guest activities coordinator, information technology supervisor, kids club/child care attendant, security officer – control room administrator, maintenance technician, A/C technician – engineering and plumber – engineering.
“Potential applicants should know that the UAE market is very competitive as Fijian workers will be assessed by the UAE clients against other applicants from the rest of the world considering the fact that other workers from the Americas and Europe are also seeking work in the UAE in the wake of the US and European financial and economic crisis. However, I am confident that we can hold our own against these challenges based on the proven versatility of our workers in the international arena,” the Minister said.
The FORES has developed a comprehensive and modern International HRM best practice governance framework benchmarked to ISO 9001:2008, ISO 26000 and Business Excellence criteria on which to assess applicants to ensure that all the clients’ specifications for candidates are more than adequately met.
Minister Usamate revealed that this modern framework does not only assess the core technical competencies of applicants, but also the essential generic skills and needed behavioral skills compatible with the religious, cultural and social values of the host country, including the legal, political, economic, security, technological and other environmental factors.
The FORES has also designed a modern and progressive value-based pre-departure training package and counseling sessions for successful candidates to be exported to the UAE based on the anticipated challenges faced by Fijian workers overseas.
Mr Usamate said he is hopeful that the negotiations in the UAE will bear fruit so that Fijian workers will be exported under Government’s newly established Foreign Employment Service. He also confirmed that 100 security personnel have been processed under the Ministry of Defense targeting the UAE market for regularization under the FORES.
FORES invites all interested candidates to visit the following websites, www.nec.org.fj or www.labour.gov.fj for more information and instructions on how to apply for these positions.
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2 MINISTER KUBUABOLA ATTENDS SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM MEETING
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola left this morning to attend the High Level Ministerial Meeting regarding the New Approaches to the Security Council Reform, scheduled on 4thFebruary 2013 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, Italy.
This is a joint invitation extended by the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Giulio Terzi and the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Hose Gracia Margallo.
Both Spain and Italy are co-chairs to this meeting. Italy and Spain as co -chairs intend to promote a political dialogue to reflect on previous reform efforts of the UN Security council and address key issues of support to the President of the General Assembly and to the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations.
In addition the meeting is expected to intensify open dialogue to bridge various positions of members in support to the intergovernmental exchanges on the Council reforms.
The meeting is expected to bring about constructive inputs to the Intergovernmental negotiations, whilst acknowledging the fact that the General Assembly will remain to be the sole legitimate forum for decision-making on UN reforms.
Being a member of the UN and the holding the current Chairmanship of the G-77 and China, Fiji’s attendance in this meeting is paramount.
Minister Kubuabola is accompanied by the Ministry’s Political & Treaties Division director Mr Esala Nayasi.
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2 MOU TO STRENGTHEN MONITORING OF FISHERY ACTIVITIES
The Fisheries department today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Safety Authority as part of efforts to legalise and record all fishing activities taking place within Fiji waters.
The legal document will enable monitoring, control surveillance of flagged vessels operating within Fijis’ fisheries waters and beyond and access to vessel monitoring systems.
The Department of Fisheries and Forest permanent secretary Inoke Wainiqolo said that illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has been a global phenomenon which has prompted authorities to act at local level.
“This matter cannot be tackled in isolation but we will need collective efforts by those having stakes in the fishing sector worldwide such as flag states, coastal states, market states, government agencies to ensure a sustainable and well managed fishery biodiversity,” the permanent secretary said.
Mr Wainiqolo said these activities continue to deprive coastal states of fishery resources and the revenue when compared globally IUU fishing is valued at USD25 -30billion.
“We need to localise these concept so an ordinary fisherman at our rural communities can understand how it can affect their families considering the fact that many families rely on our marine reserves for livelihoods,” Mr Wainiqolo said.
Mr Wainiqolo stressed that government will be working with various counterparts to better address this issues at local level with awareness programs and programs provided to divisional offices.
Meanwhile the Maritime Safety chief executive officer Neil Slack said that the maritime authority will ensure that all fishing vessels comply with the various laws.
“We have a legal framework and the capacity to ensure that flagged vessels and foreign vessels using our ports are not involved in illegal fishing,” Mr Slack said.
Mr Slack said last year teams from the European Union were in the country to see if Fiji was complying with IUU regulations however it was unfavourable as Fiji was identified among countries combating IUU fishing issues.
The two agencies are adamant that Fiji will improve its fisheries industry through this new cooperation.
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3 SERVICE EXCELLENCE TRAINING FOR EDUCATION
The Ministry of Education recently participated in the Service Excellence training as part of its efforts to improve efficiency and customer service in the Ministry.
The training involved senior personnel from the Ministry and the focus is on improving efficiency and productivity for the year 2013.
The Service Excellence is an award conducted yearly by the Public Service Commission to reward and appreciate the effort injected by various government ministries that perform exceptionally well in the year.
“The training is a timely one equipping our ministry with the background knowledge of the PSC’s expectation. As we embark towards achieving sustainable peace and progress, training as such comes in handy,” said the Ministry of Education permanent secretary, Dr.Brij Lal.
“2013 is a year of ‘Step Up’ for the Ministry of Education in the implementation of new projects and initiatives. The training should impart the needed guidance for the provision of quality education to make effect the changes needed for sustainable peace and to progress beyond the achievements of 2012,”Dr Lal said.
The training provides the framework for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to the public sector.
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4 GOVT TO REGULATE SECURITY FIRMS
The Ministry of Defence, National Security and Immigration will commence the registration and licensing of all security companies as Master License Holders in March 2013.
The provision of security services in Fiji has become a lucrative business. Not only is the industry growing on the local front, security services rendered by our nationals is in demand on the global market especially in high risk areas such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.
It was recognized that the Security Industry needed to be regulated and Cabinet in December 2010 endorsed the Security Industry Decree which was gazetted as Decree No. 57 of 2010.
Currently the ministry of Defence, National Security and Immigration is responsible for the proper administration of the Security Industry Decree and the regulation of the private Security Industry.
The Security Industry Licensing and Registration Board held its inaugural meeting on 24.10.2012 and have endorsed the licensing arrangements for all security companies, locksmiths, sellers of electronic security equipment, overseas recruiters and security consultants.
The ministry will be issuing public notices for licensing requirements and fees in due course.
For more information on requirements and processes to be licensed under the Security Industry Decree 2010, the public is advised to contact the Ministry of Defence, National Security and Immigration at Government Buildings, 1st Floor New Wing.
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5 TWENTY SEVEN PRACTITIONERS ADMITTED TO THE BAR
Twenty seven newly admitted legal practitioners made their affirmations today before Chief Justice Mr Anthony Gates in the Supreme Court in Suva.
Chief Justice Gates reminded the new practitioners on the purpose of today’s ceremony and its significance to Fiji’s legal system.
“It is the hope of us all and especially of the general public that the oath will constitute a meaningful oath to you. It will remind you of your duties to act at all times as a practitioner, professionally devoted to your clients and to act as responsible, honourable and noble officer of the court”, Justice Gates said.
The Chief Justice told the newly admitted lawyers that a principled bar is an important factor in the maintenance of the Rule of Law and it’s not the sole responsibility of rulers and judges.
“The conduct of advocates in court, the ethical behaviour of contract and property lawyers of government law officers, and members of the public in not seeking to bend the system to their will, all contribute to the state of affairs by which others will judge its state and quality of the Rule of Law in Fiji,” said Chief Justice Gates.
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