CAPTION: PS PSC, Mr Parmesh Chand and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of USP, Dr Esther Williams signing the MOU.
1. COMMISSION TEAMS UP WITH UNIVERSITY TO BOOST SERVICE DELIVERY – The Public Service Commission (PSC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the South Pacific (USP) to assist in training and capacity building of staff at Senior Executive Services level (SES) within the Civil Service.
2. LOMAIVITI FRANCHISE SERVICES TO RESUME: RIKA – A shipping company has agreed to take on a franchise partnership to service the islands of Gau, Nairai, and Batiki in the Lomaiviti group this year.
3. GOVT ALLOCATE $1.3 MILLION DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION REHABILITATION – Government has allocated $1.3 million dollars to rehabilitate schools in the western division that were affected by Hurricane Evan.
1 COMMISSION TEAMS UP WITH UNIVERSITY TO BOOST SERVICE DELIVERY
The Public Service Commission (PSC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the South Pacific (USP) to assist in training and capacity building of staff at Senior Executive Services level (SES) within the Civil Service.
The USP’s Regional Centre for Continuing and Community Education (RCCCE) will be facilitating a training program for Director Level Staff in the civil service. Participants will be awarded a Professional Diploma in Business Leadership following the completion of the program.
Public Service Commission permanent secretary, Mr Parmesh Chand said that the PSC is working on developing and implementing a Public Sector Leadership Development Program to be mandatory for the various levels of Senior Executives in the civil service.
The PSC has completed leadership training for about 40% of the total number of Officers in the Senior Executive cadre. Through the signing of this agreement this morning, USP will be expected to train the remaining 60%.
The Commission has made some significant reforms in the public service to improve efficiencies and service delivery. The message we are trying to put across now, is that in all positions in Government, we need well trained Officers who can think critically, assess analytically, and make informed and educated decisions. We need to be seen to be responsive and prompt in attending to ordinary members of the public and be forward thinking and strategic in our leadership role.
The USP has designed an eight module program that includes face to face workshops, workplace and online learning. The leadership program is expected to be completed by September, 2013 and will be spread out at intervals to avoid disruptions to the flow of work in respective Ministries and Departments.
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2 LOMAIVITI FRANCHISE SERVICES TO RESUME: RIKA
A shipping company has agreed to take on a franchise partnership to service the islands of Gau, Nairai, and Batiki in the Lomaiviti group this year.
This was confirmed from the Eastern Division commissioner Netani Rika while addressing the issue of shipping services to islands in the Lomaiviti Group.
Commissioner Rika said the shipping company is trying to organise final logistics and arrangements before service to these islands begin. He said that while Lau, Kadavu and Rotuma have no problem with this franchise agreement, Lomaiviti is the only exception.
Commissioner Rika said the lack of shipping service to these islands in the Lomaiviti group is due to the harsh way people handle this services from the ships.
“I am urging the people of Lomaiviti that ships that visit their islands run as a business and they should treat the shipping business with honesty, dignity and respect,” Commissioner Rika said.
He added that when the shipping companies are respected for their service they will always want to come back to Lomaiviti.
“The onus is on the chiefs, district representative and leaders in these islands to address this issue with the people so that they understand the importance of running a shipping business,” Colonel Rika said.
The Commissioner Eastern also assured the people of Lomaiviti that once the work is done in the western division Government vessels will service his maritime province taking new teacher postings and students to and from the island in line with the beginning of a new school year.
The name of the shipping company will be announced in the next few weeks.
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3 GOVT ALLOCATE $1.3 MILLION DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION REHABILITATION
Government has allocated $1.3 million dollars to rehabilitate schools in the western division that were affected by Hurricane Evan.
Western Division commissioner, Commander Joeli Cawaki highlighted the importance of ensuring that all students have access to good education facilities despite the setbacks faced.
“School management has been advised to engage their contractors and liaise closely with their divisional office based in the western division,” Commissioner Cawaki said.
“These contractors will be given strict guidelines once they are engaged to carry out the necessary works for the school.
“Timeline to complete the work is essential,” he said.
Cawaki said for schools in Lautoka, Nadi and Yasawa there are 86 which were partially or completely destroyed by Hurricane Evan.
“There were 22 primary schools and six secondary schools in Nadi, for Lautoka there were 38 primary and eight secondary schools while for Yasawa there were 11 primary and one secondary school respectively,“ Cawaki said.
“More than 29,000 students have been affected”.
Cawaki has reiterated that all students should return to schools on the 22nd of January.
Meanwhile the divisional education officer western, Lorima Vorovoro presented a rehabilitation report to the divisional commissioner western office indicating the way forward if the contractors and the school management cannot meet their deadline.
Cawaki said in the report presented by the divisional education officer it was noted that for all minor repairs should be completed by 20th of January.
“For major repairs all works should be completed by the 30th of January,” Cawaki said.
The divisional commissioner western, Commander Joeli Cawaki has again reiterated the need for school management and the teachers to work together to achieve a common goal for our future generation.
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