- FIJIAN DELEGATION PRESENTS REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD – A high level Fijian delegation was in Geneva to present Fiji’s report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
- REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT BRINGS RELIEF TO CUVU COMMUNITY – Community members of Nadovi in Cuvu, Sigatoka havecommended government’s $3.6m Cuvu Squatter Upgrading Project.
- VENDORS WELCOME NEW MARKET EXTENSION WORKS – Market vendors in the North have welcomed extension works carried out at the Savusavu market.
- FISHERIES DEPT TO INCREASE LOMAIVITI PRODUCTION – The Fisheries Department in the Lomaiviti group is looking into increasing its distribution of spat collectors for pearl farming during thebreeding period.
- TAILEVU VILLAGE JOINS IN INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY FESTIVAL – THE Library Services of Fiji marked the International Literacy Day inFiji with the establishment of a community library in Tailevu.
- TUVALU GOVERNOR GENERAL VISITS MINISTRY EXHIBITION – Staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had an early morning surprise at the Ministry’s exhibition tent in heart of Suva on Saturday when Tuvalu Governor General His Excellency Sir Iakoba Italeli visited them.
1 FIJIAN DELEGATION PRESENTS REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
A high level Fijian delegation was in Geneva to present Fiji’s report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The delegation among other things informed the Committee of recent legal reforms, including the Child Welfare Decree, the Constitutional Bill of Rights with its specific rights for children and persons living with disabilities, and the effect of ratification of the Convention on Inter Country Adoption.
The Committee was also briefed about the comprehensive work carried out at the Child Labour Unit within the Ministry of Labour.
The delegation entered into a dialogue with the Committee on questions about Fiji’s laws and policies in relation to the civil and social rights of children, health and education policies including the free education policy of the Government. They also discussed the work of the National Coordinating Committee for Children, breastfeeding and teenage pregnancies and social welfare programmes for children in care.
The Committee hoped that the recent reforms for the advancement of children adopted by the Bainimarama Government would continue. The Committee thanked the delegation for the work and commitment shown in the preparation of the Report and to the reporting process.
The delegation was led by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation permanent secretary Dr Joseva Koroivueta. The other members of the delegation included Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Nazhat Shameem, Chief Paediatrician of the Ministry of Health Dr Joseph Kado,Director Social Welfare Rupeni Fatiaki and Chief Education Officer Satyendra Singh.
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2 REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT BRINGS RELIEF TO CUVU COMMUNITY
Community members of Nadovi in Cuvu, Sigatoka have commended government’s $3.6m Cuvu Squatter Upgrading Project.
This groundbreaking ceremony for this event was officiated by the Attorney General and Acting Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
A proud member of the settlement, Josua Kasowaqa thanked the government for the upgrade which he said would “benefit the people and the future generation”.
“I commend the Bainimarama government for making this project possible”, Kasowaqa said.
“This long awaited project brings relief to the many worries of the community and will contribute to the sustainable livelihoods and benefiting the future generation,” Mr. Kasowaqa said.
Another happy resident, fifty nine year old Suruj Singh said she appreciated the upgrades that will be carried out in the area to the roads, drainage system, sewerage and water.
“We have been living here all our lives and this upgrade is a historical moment because this is something we have been pleading for and now it is being done,” Mrs. Singh said.
The Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that the development project would benefit and empower the people of Nadovi.
“It has been fundamental objective of the Bainimarama government to empower people. Empower by giving them access to transportation, education, new roads, also having access not only to transportation but also to technology and also empowering people who maybe living in rural or maritime isolated areas”, the Attorney General said.
“Empowering people across the spectrum should be the objective of any government”, he added.
Mr Khaiyum assured the members of the settlement that plans to improve the drainage system, roads, sewerage, water and fire services are all underway with close collaboration with the relevant stakeholders; Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), Water Authority of Fiji, and National Fire Authority.
He also urged the members of Nadovi area to take pride and commitment in looking after the environment once the project reached completion.
The project will benefit 105 residents and will be completed in 2015.
(Photos Attached)
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3 VENDORS WELCOME NEW MARKET EXTENSION WORKS
Market vendors in the North have welcomed extension works carried out at the Savusavu market.
The Prime Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama officially opened this latest development in the Northern division today where he highlighted how developments like these would benefit ordinary Fijians and contribute to the nation’s socioeconomic growth.
Market vendor Sairusi Vesukula commended the project adding that vendors have been waiting for this project for a long time.
“This extension has given us great relief and at the same time we are able to give consumers better and presentable produces.”
For 60 year old Vilimaina Livia, this new extensionbrings a “sigh of relief” after years of selling items in the open. She added that she would no longer have to sit in the rain to sell her produce; a similar sentiment expressed by other market vendors.
Prime Minister Bainimarama said the improvements to the Savusavu market would benefit so many people in the town and surrounding regions.
“This is government’s determination to assistFijians who grow crops and make handicrafts and other goods to be sold in amore pleasant and hygienic surrounding.”
As 60 additional stalls were built, the Prime Minister said vendors who have been forced to sell on the streets are now able to move away from the hot sun and rain.
“Markets all over Fiji are being improved, modernised and upgraded so that vendors are able to display their goods and get their returns”, the Prime Minister said.
Special Administrator Savusavu/Labasa Vijay Chand said Savusavu has been progressing well with government developments carried out in the Northern division.
“The current Buca bay road that just opened links up to the market creating more network for the rural areas.”
(Photos from this event can be accessed at the Ministry’s Facebook page)
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4 FISHERIES DEPT TO INCREASE LOMAIVITI PRODUCTION
The Fisheries Department in the Lomaiviti group is looking into increasing its distribution of spat collectors for pearl farming during the breeding period.
Lomaiviti fisheries officer Tomasi Peckham said that officers from the Department haddeployed spat collectors in the island of Gau earlier this year and found that all spat lines had attracted oysters.
“Based on their findings this year our officers found that all the spat lines were attachedwith oysters and they are recommending that during the breeding period thisyear more spat collectors be deployed to Somosomo,” Mr Peckham said.
“We are also recommending that our officers deploy spat collectors to other islands in Gau.”
Highlighting other fisheries projects in the Lomaiviti province, the fisheries office said that their seaweed farms in Gau, Narai and Batiki were progressing well.
“Our seaweed projects are ongoing and it’s moving to other islands in Lomaiviti,” Mr Peckham said.
“For the first two quarters of this year we managed to harvest about 4.2 tonnes of seaweed and we have identified three new sites for seaweed farming.”
The new sites are Yanuca and Daku in Motoriki and Natokalau.
Mr Peckham added that the villagers engaged in this activity are able to have their own bank accounts with as much as $2000 at times from seaweed harvesting.
Most of the seaweed sites in the Lomaiviti group are funded by the Integrated Human Resource Development Program.
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5 TAILEVU VILLAGE JOINS IN INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY FESTIVAL
THE Library Services of Fiji marked the International Literacy Day in Fiji with the establishment of a community library in Tailevu.
The new library, which was opened in the village of Lomanaisau today commit’s the Fijian Government to this international day and to strengthening literacy development in the country. The event which is commemorated worldwide on the 8th of September saw staff at the Department reach out to rural communities across the country including this village in Tailevu.
Staff at the Department of the Library Services of Fiji visited the village to open the new library and also carried out various literacy awareness programs. This included literary tools for the women in the village such as books embroidery, craft work, fan making, fold dip and dye, and jewellery making . The Department identified these tools as a mechanism for the women to learn from and to also implement income generating projects.
The Ministry of Education Acting permanent secretary Mrs Basundra Kumar commended the consistent efforts by the Library Service Fiji on the theme “Literacy and Sustainable Development”.
“I commend the Library Services of Fiji for their consistent contribution to the sustainable development of all communities, individuals and the economy through the provision of literatures that will help our citizens irrespective of age, gender, or beliefs to acquire appropriateknowledge for development” said the Acting Permanent Secretary for Education.
The department has so far assisted in the establishment of more than 70 school libraries and 4 Community libraries this year.
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6 TUVALU GOVERNOR GENERAL VISITS MINISTRY EXHIBITION
Staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had an early morning surprise at the Ministry’s exhibition tent in heart of Suva on Saturday when Tuvalu Governor General His Excellency Sir Iakoba Italeli visited them.
Last week the Ministry held an exhibition at the Government Information Referral Centre in heart of Suva. The exhibition wasdesigned to allow the public to understand the role and services provided by Fiji’s foreign ministry.
H.E Sir Italeli who was in the country to officiate as chief guest at the University of the South Pacific’s graduation ceremony last week commended the Ministry for the public awareness.
Members of the public were informed of the roles of the six divisions within the ministry- Political and Treaties, International Cooperation, Protocol and Consular Services, Climate Change, Roving Ambassador Division and Corporate Service Division.
Members of the public also queries on Fiji’s bilateral relations with other countries. Fiji has formal diplomatic relations with 163 countries.
The European Union Mission in Fiji, the French Embassy and the British High Commission joined the Ministry during the exhibition.
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