1. FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER SENDS WELL WISHES TO LEBANON COUNTERPART –PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has extended Fiji’s well wishes to his Lebanese counterpart, His Excellency Prime Minister Tammam Salam, who recently formed a new Government.
2. BEQA/YANUCA SECONDARY SCHOOL RECEIVES TIMELY BOOST – Beqa/Yanuca Secondary School received a timely boost when the Commissioner Central’s Office recently handed over more than $7,000-worth boarding and kitchen equipment to the school.
3. HEALTH AUTHORITIES BEGIN SECOND ROUND OF INSECTICIDE SPRAYING – The Health Ministry has started a second round of insecticide sprayings in the central division as authorities continue to address dengue fever.
4. MOU TO COMBAT ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING – The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests and Fiji Ports Corporation Limited will strengthen Government’s resolve to address illegal fisheries activities around the country.
1 FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER SENDS WELL WISHES TO LEBANON COUNTERPART
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has extended Fiji’s well wishes to his Lebanese counterpart, His Excellency Prime Minister Tammam Salam, who recently formed a new Government.
In the diplomatic note, the head of the Fijian Government spoke on the special relationship Fiji has with the Middle-Eastern country especially in terms of peacekeeping.
“I wish to congratulate you most warmly for your leadership role in the successful formation of the new inclusive Government of Lebanon and on your appointment as the Prime Minister of Lebanon.”
“The Fijian people and the Fijian Government have always had a special relationship with Lebanon. It has been active in contributing towards peace security and stability of your country during your difficult times, through Fiji’s participation in peace-keeping operations as part of UNIFIL, starting in 1978. It is also a home to some of our beloved fallen whose remains lie buried in Lebanon. We remain committed to ensuring the respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Prime Minister Bainimarama also sent well wishes for the growth and development of the people and the Republic of Lebanon.
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2 BEQA/YANUCA SECONDARY SCHOOL RECEIVES TIMELY BOOST
Beqa/Yanuca Secondary School received a timely boost when the Commissioner Central’s Office recently handed over more than $7,000-worth boarding and kitchen equipment to the school.
District Officer Suva, Mr Laisenia Tui said the need to have proper boarding and kitchen facilities was identified when the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama visited the school in December last year.
He urged the people of Beqa to make use of the opportunity to allow their children to study in Beqa instead of sending their children to Suva or Viti Levu. He said that new facilities and equipment in schools will allow students to have access to facilities provided in schools in urban centres.
“Government developed this facility to make life easier for you, so that you can have time to concentrate on your families; community and amongst all save more money,’ Mr Tui added.
Mr Tui reiterated that the move by Government to equip rural and remote schools is to reverse the ongoing trend of rural- urban migration.
School principal, Ms Alena Raqitawa said the assistance is timely given that the school is expanding to cater for secondary education.
“We are grateful for the assistance as it reflects government’s commitment in improving education facilities in rural and remote areas.
“We are happy to see our students enjoying the new items and the facilities,” Ms Raqitawa added.
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3 HEALTH AUTHORITIES BEGIN SECOND ROUND OF INSECTICIDE SPRAYING
The Health Ministry has started a second round of insecticide sprayings in the central division as authorities continue to address dengue fever.
Insecticide spraying started in the Lami, Walu Bay and Suva City areas and will continue onto the Suva- Nausori corridor. Insecticide spraying started from the 13th February and will continue till 1st March 2014.
The Ministry said that while this spraying exercise will kill mosquitoes, it will not destroy their breeding places. The Ministry has therefore requested the public to continue removing or destroying places that are breeding mosquitoes.
Meanwhile the Ministry is also calling on Fijians to take extra caution during this period and to ensure that basic sanitary and hygiene practices are maintained. Parents and guardians are also asked to ensure that children are kept away from all insecticide spraying vehicles.
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4 MOU TO COMBAT ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED FISHING
The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests and Fiji Ports Corporation Limited will strengthen Government’s resolve to address illegal fisheries activities around the country.
The MOU will enable the monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing vessels suspected or determined to have engaged in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
The Ministry of Fisheries and Forests permanent secretary Mr Inoke Wainiqolo highlighted that the MOU will ensure capacity building of port state inspectors and the regular inter-agency consultation for the management of fishing vessels in port.
“It will also enable the parties to share information on foreign and Fiji fishing vessels and enable port related measures or requirements under regional and international fisheries treaties, “Mr Wainiqolo said.
“One of the important issues that all fishing countries internationally are dealing with is IUU. This is one area we will work together to ensure that this is eliminated or removed within our fishing area in Fiji.”
Mr Wainiqolo added that the licensing of the vessels is important and reminded the companies with the license to comply with the laws of Fiji.
Fiji Ports Corporation Limited chief executive officer Mr Vajira Piyasena said the MOU is important because both parties deal with the operational aspect of the fishing vessels and that the information exchange will benefit a partnership that works for the best interest of the nation.
Fiji is currently in the final stages of reviewing the National Plan of Action (NPOA) on IUU fishing, the Tuna Development and Management Plan and the formulation of the NPOA on Sharks.
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