- FIJIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN BOLIVIA-Fijian President His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has arrived into Bolivia’s city of Santa Cruz ahead of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Group of 77 plus China (G77).
2. BRAZIL PROPOSES ASSISTANCE TO FIJI IN AIR FORCE OPERATION-The Government of Brazil is willing to assist Fiji in setting up its air force wing with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. - FIJIAN LABOUR MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH ILO DIRECTOR-GENERAL-The Minister for Labour, Mr Jone Usamate had a fruitful meeting with the ILO Director-General, Mr Guy Ryder in Geneva on Friday 13 June 2014.
4. COMMUNITY PRAISES BAINIMARAMA GOVERNMENT FOR PEOPLE’S ORIENTATED PROGRAM -The Vatukacevaceva village in Saivou district in Ra has commended the Bainimarama government for implementing programs which is bearing positive results for the community.
- FIJIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN BOLIVIA
Fijian President His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has arrived into Bolivian city of Santa Cruz ahead of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Group of 77 plus China (G77).
He was accorded a traditional guard of honour on arrival at the Santa Cruz International Airport.
Ratu Epeli is visiting Bolivia on the invitation of the Bolivian President His Excellency Avo Molares who is also the current chair of the G77, the largest voting bloc within the United Nations.
The Fijian Head of State will join 27 other Heads of States during the celebration dinner tomorrow evening, which will also be attended by the Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki – Moon.
Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Ambassador Peter Thomson and the President’s Official Secretary Pene Nonu Baleinabuli are part of the Fiji delegation.
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2. BRAZIL PROPOSES ASSISTANCE TO FIJI IN AIR FORCE OPERATION
The Government of Brazil is willing to assist Fiji in setting up its air force wing with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
The Brazilian Air force Commander, Air Marshall Juniti Saito made this known to the Fijian President His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at a recent meeting in Brasilia.
Air Marshall Saito said Brazil had indicated to the Fijian embassy earlier this year and was happy to further discuss the issues should the RFMF show interest.
“It is very hard especially in terms of surveillance and monitoring of Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone and because no Pacific island nation has an air force and Brazil is ready to assist in setting up an air force wing for the RFMF,” he said.
“We can have trainings together and also we could supply equipment for the setting up of the air force should Fiji wish to start.”
The Fijian Head of State welcomed the proposal and added that Fiji was grateful to have friends such as Brazil who were willing to assist not only Fiji but other small Pacific island nations that have limited resources.
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- FIJIAN LABOUR MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH ILO DIRECTOR-GENERAL
The Minister for Labour, Mr Jone Usamate had a fruitful meeting with the ILO Director-General, Mr Guy Ryder in Geneva on Friday 13 June 2014.
During the meeting, the Minister assured Mr Ryder that Fiji was committed to the principles of the decent and productive work that was the hallmark of the ILO.
The meeting took place at the margins of the International Labour Conference, where Fiji was represented by a tripartite Delegation that included Workers Representative, Mr Daniel Urai and Employers Representative, Mr Harvey Probert.
The Minister was pleased to note that the historic protocol and recommendation on Forced Labour had been agreed during the Conference. This was a major achievement and it will have a significant impact in addressing the plight of those who suffer from this scourge.
The ILO Director-General expressed his appreciation that work on the September 17 national elections had progressed well, and that discussions on the ILO Direct Contacts Mission to Fiji were progressing well.
The contacts mission of the ILO will be visiting Fiji shortly after the elections in September 2014.
The Minister took the time to also inform Mr Ryder of the regional work that Fiji was doing in partnerships with other Pacific countries.
“We have just finished the final draft of the Papua New Guinea Occupational Safety & Health Bill, and a copy of this was presented to the PNG Secretary for the Department of Labour; Mr George Vaso in Geneva. We are now looking at progressing our assistance to Kiribati in the area of Labour Inspection,” said the Minister.
The Director-General congratulated the Minister for Fiji’s willingness to be of assistance to other Pacific Island nations.
The ILO Director-General was also informed that Fiji had just completed the review of the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007 (ERP) and that this has been possible through robust social dialogue with workers and employers reps, through a total of 38 one-day discussion meetings conducted over a 2 year period.
Mr Ryder advised the Minister that he was pleased with the positive social dialogue in Fiji, and he hopes that the direct contacts mission will achieve the desired outcomes for all parties.
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- COMMUNITY PRAISES BAINIMARAMA GOVERNMENT FOR PEOPLE ORIENTATED PROGRAM
The Vatukacevaceva village in Saivou district in Ra has commended the Bainimarama government for implementing programs which is bearing positive results for the community.
The village which has a population of 575 is one of those communities in the Ra province that has successfully completed the nine months of awareness programs and has been declared as the 87th violence free community in Fiji..
The official declaration took place today at the Vatukacevaceva village where the Minister for Women and Social Welfare Dr Jiko Luveni unveiled a billboard commemorating this development.
The turaga ni koro (village headman) for Vatukacevaceva, Mr Samuela Sema revealed that since the awareness programs began, positive changes have been witnessed in the lives of his people.
“A gatekeepers committee that has been formed and it continues to work with the police to keep a close watch and ensure that all the homes in this village are violence free. Everyone in the village is well aware about the laws like Domestic Violence Decree and it has awakened the youths to champion the violence free initiative.
“We would like to thank the Bainimarama government for also assisting with the free education system and free bus fare that ensures quality education services for our children. Dr Luveni is the only minister who has reached out to us and has even created development projects for the community,” Mr Sema said.
In her opening address Dr Luveni reiterated that women are key agents of change in their communities and the government stands ready to assist the women’s groups through various programs provided under the Women’s Plan of Action (2010 to 2019).
“One of the key components of the violence free initiative is the socioeconomic empowerment of women’s groups whereby we also assist them with various income generating programs. They are also given training programs to develop their skills and resources which will help them walk out of poverty.”
“Economically vibrant and confident women are able to effectively participate into decision making and carry out their leadership roles in their homes and communities,” Dr Luveni emphasized.
While speaking on behalf of 200 women members, Mrs Ateca Nabusa, president of Vatukacevaceva Women’s Group thanked Dr Luveni for the timely assistance provided to help them with their first ever women’s project.
“It is through Dr Luveni’s initial meeting with us last year; we had secured the financial assistance of $5000 from the Ministry to start our poultry project which is near completion. We will be harvesting 100 layer birds and for the first time, the women are managing the economic project which will boost their income earnings.
Through the violence free campaign, women and children in this village are now better protected from issues like violence and we have also been assisted to exercise our economic rights through a poultry project with which we have been assisted this year,” Mrs Nabusa explained.
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