- PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES REWA ELDERS – Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama today received elders from the village of Taci in the Rewa province.
- FIRST LADY HOSTS FIJI ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH – Her Excellency the First Lady, Adi Koila Nailatikau hosted members of the Fiji Alliance for Mental Health (FAMH) at Government house this morning.
- FARMERS CONTRIBUTION TO FIJI RICE INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTED – The contribution by rice farmers towards boosting the Northern economy is an area now under priority by the Office of the Commissioner Northern.
- NAMOSI CHIEF COMMENDS GOVT’S POSITION ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT – The Paramount Chief of the Province of Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua has commended the Bainimarama Government for the development projects carried out in the province.
1 PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES REWA ELDERS
Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama today received elders from the village of Taci in the Rewa province.
While meeting with the head of government, village elders thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership since 2006 and commended government’s commitment to developing rural communities.
The courtesy visit this morning provided an opportunity for the village elders to highlight various concerns including the need to implement various development projects within their village.
PM Bainimarama has reassured village elders that his office will look into their request for assistance and highlighted Government’s commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Fijians particularly those in the rural communities.
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2 FIRST LADY HOSTS FIJI ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Her Excellency the First Lady, Adi Koila Nailatikau hosted members of the Fiji Alliance for Mental Health (FAMH) at Government house this morning.
This occasion was organised to raise more awareness amongst corporate entities on the work that organisations such as the FAMH are carrying out to raise the profile of mental health in the country.
The First Lady who is also the Patron of this body said the organisation aimed to create a mentally healthy Fiji through a combination of strategic education, advocacy, research, awareness and raising policy development.
“We wanted to combat the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and improve the delivery of mental health services,” Adi Koila said.
“FAMH’s membership is broad consisting of survivors of mental illness and their careers, individuals working in mental health, academics, mental health NGO’s and related professions,” Adi Koila said.
FAMH president Dr Odille Chang urged more Fijians to support efforts in creating awareness on the effects of mental illness and to support any individual that is diagnosed with this disorder with love and compassion.
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3 FARMERS CONTRIBUTION TO FIJI RICE INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTED
The contribution by rice farmers towards boosting the Northern economy is an area now under priority by the Office of the Commissioner Northern.
At the Rice Field Day held in Taganikula in Macuata recently, the Acting Northern commissioner Alipate Bolalevu stressed the need for rice farmers to work together as part of efforts to revitalise Fiji’s rice industry.
“We have been moving around Macuata stressing this and encouraging farmers to work on their farmers, it’s for their own livelihood and for our economy.”
Mr Bolalevu said the farmers’ contribution to the rice industry’s development is a critical target for this year and it has to be achieved.
“The North is now the target for rice production, it is the centre for both irrigated and rain fed sectors and it is a subsistence crop for Fiji.”
An average of 855 hectares of land is being eyed by the government for rice farming in Macuata this year with a budget of $396,559. More than 2,000 tonnes of rice is also expected to be produced from the proposed land for rice cultivation.
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4 NAMOSI CHIEF COMMENDS GOVT’S POSITION ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT
The Paramount Chief of the Province of Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, has commended the Bainimarama Government for the development projects carried out in the province.
The Tui Namosi made the comments as he delivered his statements at the opening of the Namosi Provincial Council Meeting in Navua this morning.
“Government has done so much to our province, pouring millions of dollars in various development projects of which we are so thankful,” he said.
“To all government officials working in the province I would like to thank you all for serving the people of Namosi and enduring the harsh condition and rough terrain for the sake of my people,” Ratu Matanitobua said.
Ratu Matanitobua also reminded the people of Namosi that civil servants working in the province should be regarded as members of their province even though most are from different parts of the country. The Namosi Chief said that this attitude would foster unity in the process of development in Namosi.
“Make them feel at home so that they can conduct themselves with confidence in serving the people of our province,” Ratu Matanitobua said.
The Tui Namosi also thanked the Commissioner Central for availing himself at the meeting this morning at the Namosi Provincial Office in Navua.
The two day meeting will cover development issues for the five districts and 24 villages and eight settlements in the province.
MINFO