- FIJI RESPONDS TO SOLOMON ISLANDS DISASTER – Fiji will stand in unison and support with Solomon Islands following flash floods in the Melanesian nation that have caused severe destruction and death.
- CÔTE D’IVOIRE AND FIJI FORMALISE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS – The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Republic of Fiji formalised diplomatic relations in a ceremony at the Fiji Mission to the United Nations in New York today.
- EDUCATION MINISTRY REMINDS SCHOOLS TO MAINTAIN CLEAN ENVIRONMENT – The Ministry of Education is reminding schools around the country to maintain a clean and hygienic environment to avoid any diseases including dengue fever.
1 FIJI RESPONDS TO SOLOMON ISLANDS DISASTER
Fiji will stand in unison and support with Solomon Islands following flash floods in the Melanesian nation that have caused severe destruction and death.
This week Solomon Islands faced severe destruction following flash floods which also claimed the lives of 16 people. The flash flooding has displaced thousands of her citizens in most parts of the country and mainly in the nation’s capital, Honiara.
In a message to his Solomon Is counterpart Gordon Darcy Lilo, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama conveyed the sympathies of the Fijian people in response to this disaster.
“On behalf of the people and Government of Fiji, I convey to you and the people of Solomon Islands, our sincere sympathies,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said.
“Our condolences also go to the families of the victims, and we pray to Almighty God to give them patience and fortitude, and to grant all the souls eternal rest.”
The head of government added that Fiji knew from past experience the terrible damage that flooding and similar disasters can reap not just on land and houses but on the lives of those affected.
“The Government and people of Fiji therefore are with you at this difficult time and my Government will lend you and the people of the Solomons whatever support that we can in the coming weeks,” PM Bainimarama said.
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2 CÔTE D’IVOIRE AND FIJI FORMALISE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Republic of Fiji formalised diplomatic relations in a ceremony at the Fiji Mission to the United Nations in New York today.
At the ceremony, the Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations, Ambassador Youssoufou Bamba, and his Fijian counterpart, Ambassador Peter Thomson, signed a joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The communiqué expresses the desire of the Governments of Fiji and Côte d’Ivoire to promote and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between their two countries in political, economic and cultural fields. It also states that diplomatic relations between Côte d’Ivoire and Fiji will be guided by the objectives and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Following the formalisation ceremony, Ambassadors Bamba and Thomson held talks on areas of common interest between their two countries. Ambassador Bamba thanked Fiji for the leadership provided to the Group of 77 and China in 2013 and said his country looked forward to continuing to work with Fiji in forwarding the interests of developing countries.
Ambassador Thomson thanked his counterpart saying that it was an honour for Fiji to host such a big and important African country at the Fiji Mission. The Côte d’Ivoire Permanent Representative said his country would also look to Fiji for guidance in tourism and rugby development.
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3 EDUCATION MINISTRY REMINDS SCHOOLS TO MAINTAIN CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
The Ministry of Education is reminding schools around the country to maintain a clean and hygienic environment to avoid any diseases including dengue fever.
At the close of the recent National Clean Up Campaign, the Ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Brij Lal highlighted that despite the close of the cleaning campaign as a response to dengue fever cases in the country, schools should maintain clean surroundings as a proactive approach.
“The National clean – up campaign is also a good reminder to our students and teachers to priorities cleanliness in schools, at home and in their individual lives, retorted the Permanent Secretary for Education Dr. Brij Lal
The Ministry of Education was actively involved in the Inter -Sectoral National Clean up against dengue fever since its launch on Saturday, March 8 until the official closing of the programme on 29th March.
In response to this campaign, the Ministry of Education had instructed all his Divisional and Principal Education Officers to coordinate the programme in their respective divisions.
“All education officers in the divisions and the districts are to actively involve yourselves in the programme as it will benefit our students, their families as well as the entire community we live in.” retorted Dr. Lal
In the Northern Division, principals, teachers and students of schools as Labasa Sangam [SKM] College, Holy Family secondary and primary, Labasa Muslim Primary, St. Andrews Primary in the North and Lami High and Primary School and Adi Maopa primary and secondary in Vanua Balavu from the Eastern Division joined in the clean – up.
MINFO