1. PRESIDENT FAREWELLS NATIONAL U-18 RUGBY TEAM – The Fiji Under-18 rugby team presented its traditional ‘itatau’ to His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau this morning.
2. H.E RECEIVES JAPAN’S MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT – His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau today received Japan’s Minister for Environment, Mr Nobuteru Ishihara.
3. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND FRCA CELEBRATE 10 YEAR PARTNERSHIP – A 10 year partnership between the Department of Environment and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA) has seen the country reach its target in eliminating production and consumption of ozone depleting chemicals through better cross border control.
1. PRESIDENT FAREWELLS NATIONAL U-18 RUGBY TEAM
The Fiji Under-18 rugby team presented its traditional ‘itatau’ to His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau this morning.
The President encouraged the team members to play to the best of their ability because their career at international level was still wide open.
“Hardly any other generation have had the opportunities that you have and you have to keep that in mind,” Ratu Epeli said.
The 28-member team will be touring Australia from September 18 to October 6 and will be playing Australia and New Zealand.
Ratu Epeli added that the two countries they would be playing against were two of the top rugby playing countries and His Excellency urged the team to give them good opposition.
“They will be expecting good opposition from Fiji and you have been selected from here to go to another level and to give your top performance during this tour,” Ratu Epeli said.
He emphasized that rugby is now a career and for players to make a mark individually and for Fiji rugby.
The Head of State wished the team and management all the best in this tour.
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2. H.E RECEIVES JAPAN’S MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT
His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau today received Japan’s Minister for Environment, Mr Nobuteru Ishihara.
Mr Ishihara, who is also the Japanese Minister of State for the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness, was given an official welcome at the Government House by Ratu Epeli.
Mr Ishihara holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Keio University and has held various ministerial posts in the areas of administrative and regulatory reform, land, infrastructure, transport and tourism promotion.
Minister Ishihara was re-elected to the Japanese House of Representatives in 2012.
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3. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND FRCA CELEBRATE 10 YEAR PARTNERSHIP
A 10 year partnership between the Department of Environment and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA) has seen the country reach its target in eliminating production and consumption of ozone depleting chemicals through better cross border control.
This was highlighted today by the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment acting deputy secretary, Mr Kolinio Bola as part of a 10 year Memorandum of Understanding anniversary celebrating “A decade of effective enforcement of the Montreal Protocol.”
Mr Bola said today also marked the 26th anniversary of the ratification of the Montreal Protocol by Fiji.
“The existence of this MOU through the past 10 years has seen a progress enabling the border control officers to ensure better compliance of cross boarder movements of goods within the trade agreement and national regulations,” Mr Bola said.
“Fiji is among 14 Pacific Island countries working towards the protection of the earth through better protection of the ozone layer. Under the Montreal protocol the global community has achieved a lot at the global level.
“As to this date, the Montreal protocol remains the only international treaty that has achieved universal rectification with 197 nation states,” he added.
“After twenty-six years of commitment these 197 nations have reached the target of eliminating 98-percent of the historical productions and consumptions of ozone damaging chemicals and they have been impressively high of compliance to the country targets and commitment,” Mr Bola said.
Mr Bola quoted the UN general secretary on his 2012 Ozone day message – “the Montreal protocol on the substance that deplete our ozone layer is nearly a success in meeting its immediate objectives. It offers substantive license and inspirations in addressing other global challenges turning them into opportunities for common progress”.
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