1. GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES ONLINE LAND LEASE APPLICATIONS – Plans are now in place to use web based services to allow the public to lease government owned land by applying online.
2. MINISTER COMMENDS EFFORTS POST DISASTER WORKSHOP – Government will always welcome all technical expertise and recommendations to assist in disaster management.
3. MINISTER URGES COMMUNITES TO WORK WITH POLICE – The Minister for Defence, National Security and Immigration Joketani Cokanasiga wrapped up his ministerial tour of the western division in Rakiraki this week where he urged the community to work with the police to maintain law and order.
GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES ONLINE LAND LEASE APPLICATIONS
Plans are now in place to use web based services to allow the public to lease government owned land by applying online.
Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources permanent secretary Mr Tevita Boseiwaqa highlighted that introducing this method would reduce the waiting time for the public and create efficiency within his Ministry.
He said the ministry was currently working on the application platform for this before it would be launched in the next few months.
“Right now we have some lease applications which take three, four or even five years to get approved through the system,” he said.
“This would be a thing of the past and those applying online will be able to get the answers online on their application.”
Photos of vacant land would also be posted online for applications.
The revelations paves way for a modern approach to Fijians who now have access to internet.
“This would also take away the pressure for those applying to spend hours waiting to be served. Now they will be able to do that with just a click of a button,” Mr Boseiwaqa added.
The application will be up by June this year.
-ENDS-
MINISTER COMMENDS EFFORTS POST DISASTER WORKSHOP
Government will always welcome all technical expertise and recommendations to assist in disaster management.
Minister for Provincial Development and Disaster Management, Mr Inia Seruiratu highlighted this while expressing government’s concerns to participants at the “Post Disaster Needs Assessment Workshop”.
“We need to develop further and I urge you to help us in our effort to strengthen governments’ structures and at the same time bring efficiency towards disaster operations”.
“We have to be detailed in the way we do things as well and most importantly align. We need to align our strategies, policies because we are part of a bigger world,” Minister Seruiratu said.
The Minister urged participants to work together with experts from other countries and disciplines to contribute towards recommendations for strategic recovery and planning.
“Share experiences and knowledge and information, to progressively bring a lot of improvement in the way we do business.
Apart from the key contributions from ministries and other key government agencies, the training program involved the World Bank providing technical expertise and advice at the workshop.
World Bank representative Dr Asha Kambin highlighted that their role was to provide the technical assistance for the training in the post disaster needs assessment as well as a training on the conduct of post disaster assessments.
The final product of the work will be a full cost assessment of tropical Cyclone Evan and recommendations for recovery.
-ENDS-
MINISTER URGES COMMUNITES TO WORK WITH POLICE
The Minister for Defence, National Security and Immigration Joketani Cokanasiga wrapped up his ministerial tour of the western division in Rakiraki this week where he urged the community to work with the police to maintain law and order.
“We are on a fact finding mission to actually identify the gaps and see where we can improve in our services and prepare for 2014,” Minister Cokanasiga said.
The Minister also urged community leaders and council workers to work with the Police in curbing the rise in sexual offences around the country.
Meanwhile the Commissioner for Police Brigadier Iowane Naivalurua says that this year will be a challenging year for the force.
“The indicators speak for themselves with the increase of sexual offences, rise in drowning cases and the fatalities on our roads,” Brigadier Naivalurua said.
Brigadier Naivalurua highlighted that this has prompted authorities including government and community leaders to act.
“We are pleading to communities including church leaders to intervene and address the importance of morals and values for the safety of our community especially our women and children.”
Acting Rakiraki special administrator Seini Raiko says they will be working with the police to ensure law and order is maintained.
Rakiraki has population of 4952 and was established as a town in 2010.
-ENDS-