- FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER – Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday met with Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop.
- MEDICAL SHIP DELEGATION VISITS FIJIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES – A five member team from the PLA-Navy Hospital Ship PEACE ARK on “Mission Harmony -2014” paid a courtesy call to various government agencies to familiarise themselves with the work carried out by these agencies.
- LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF TEACHING – 31 teachers from respective schools around the Suva and Nausori corridor converged to train for the “future leaders training workshop” organised by the Ministry of Education which was held in Suva today.
- CONSTRUCTION OF WELAGI EVACUATION CENTRE PROGRESSING WELL – The construction of the Welagi Evacuation Centre in Taveuni is progressing well, says Director of the National Disaster Management, Mr Manasa Tagicakibau.
- IHRDP TO MONITOR NUKU OIL PRODUCTION – A team from the Integrated Human Resources Development Program (IHRDP)-from the Commissioner Northern’s Office will be in Nuku, Rabi Island tomorrow to monitor the status of their Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) project.
- $70MILLION INVESTMENT TO BOOST FIJI SUGAR SECTOR – Fiji’s sugar industry will be further boosted with the setting up of the US $70million co-generation power plant at the Rarawai Mill in Rakiraki.
1 FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday met with Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop.
The meeting in Australia provided an opportunity for both the Prime Minister and the Australian Foreign Minister to discuss bilateral issues as well as regional developments.
One of the key issues at the centre of discussions included Fiji’s preparations for democratic elections next month.
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2 MEDICAL SHIP DELEGATION VISITS FIJIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
A five member team from the PLA-Navy Hospital Ship PEACE ARK on “Mission Harmony -2014” paid a courtesy call to various government agencies to familiarise themselves with the work carried out by these agencies.
The crew was led by the Deputy Commander of the East Fleet Rear Admiral Shen Haow who visited the Naval Base and followed a courtesy call to Suva’s Special Administrator Mr Chandu Umaria. The team also met with the Minister for Health Doctor Neil Sharma and later to the Commander of the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces Mosese Tikoitoga.
The Minister for Health Doctor Neil Sharma said that Fijians should take advantage of the free services offered by the medical team.
While the medical team are offering health services on board the vessel, they will also visit health centres this week and assist Fijian medical personnel.
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3 LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF TEACHING
31 teachers from respective schools around the Suva and Nausori corridor converged to train for the “future leaders training workshop” organised by the Ministry of Education which was held in Suva today.
In opening the workshop, the Ministry of Education permanent secretary, Mrs Basundra Kumar said this workshop will develop Fijian teachers as leaders in their respective schools.
“This training will empower the leaders to effectively and efficiently to carry out their roles in their corresponding schools,” Mrs Kumar said.
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) which was implemented this year will also be presented to the teachers by the national curriculum development unit officers on Wednesday.
Suva Muslim College Assistant principal, Mr Mohammed Feroz commended the Ministry for organising what he terms will be “strategies, and methods to become a good leaders” in schools.
“This workshop will enable us to communicate better with teachers, make good teamwork, be able to cooperate and communicate with all the stakeholders that make up the education sector”, Mr Feroz said.
Mrs Kumar added that this training will be carried out for teachers based in the northern, western and eastern divisions.
The week-long training workshop will conclude this Friday.
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4 CONSTRUCTION OF WELAGI EVACUATION CENTRE PROGRESSING WELL
The construction of the Welagi Evacuation Centre in Taveuni is progressing well, says Director of the National Disaster Management, Mr Manasa Tagicakibau.
The construction of this centre would assist the people of Welagi during any natural disaster especially during cyclones or hurricanes.
Mr Tagicakibau added the project was initiated by the community in consultation with Government to mitigate disaster risks.
“The construction of the 1st phase has been completed which included the site levelling, the construction of access to the evacuation centre and landslide mitigation around the evacuation centre.”
“More than $50,000.00 has been spent by the community to start the project while Government has agreed to partner and assist the community complete the project.
“We have committed a sum of $188,000.00 to ensure the successful completion of the project,” Mr Tagicakibau said.
He said that all materials have been bought and shipped to Welagi which included a power generator to assist in works and to be used as a backup power supply during any natural disaster.
He pointed out that Government remains committed to reducing the hardships faced by Fijians during natural disasters. He added that a part of this commitment includes implementing measures to mitigate these effects such as evacuation centres.
Once complete, this project will benefit more than 54 households in Welagi.
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5 IHRDP TO MONITOR NUKU OIL PRODUCTION
A team from the Integrated Human Resources Development Program (IHRDP)-from the Commissioner Northern’s Office will be in Nuku, Rabi Island tomorrow to monitor the status of their Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) project.
The $27,000 Virgin Coconut Oil project under the Ministry of Strategic Planning was opened earlier this year and is expected to bring in a net profit of $20,000 per year in the island of Rabi.
IHRDP Manager Mohammed Aslam Khan said the project was implemented through the Commissioner Northern’s office by following the key pillars of the Peoples Charter.
“The whole idea is to improve the living standards of the people of Rabi through the Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress”.
Mr Khan said they have been informed that the project is currently doing well and the support from the people is increasing.
The new factory was opened on July 15th and currently employs six permanent staffs and provides a source of income for 300 registered women under the Banaban Womens Organization.
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6 $70MILLION INVESTMENT TO BOOST FIJI SUGAR SECTOR
Fiji’s sugar industry will be further boosted with the setting up of the US $70million co-generation power plant at the Rarawai Mill in Rakiraki.
This multimillion dollar project will soon take shape after the Government of India has approved the US$70million line of credit proposal by the Fijian Government.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola when notified by his Indian counterpart Minister Sushma Maharaj yesterday said the Fijian Government was grateful to the Indian Government for their continued support to the country and especially towards the sugar industry.
Ratu Inoke said the approval spoke volume of the relations the two countries shared.
He said that this positive gesture of the Indian Government would soar to greater heights under our existing development cooperation.
Minister Maharaj reaffirmed the Indian Government’s continued support to further strengthen Fiji’s sugar industry.
She is certain that the Line of Credit (LOC) extended by her government would help catalyze cooperation between the two countries.
Minister Maharaj said the successful execution of this project would further enhance the development partnership of Fiji and India.
The Indian High Commission in Fiji and the Exim Bank of India have been directed to initiate necessary formalities for the activation of the LOC through the Fiji High Commission in New Delhi.
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