CAPTION: His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau addresses students.
1. FIRST CITIZEN VISITS SIGATOKA STUDENTS – His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau highlighted the need to remove the stigma associated with HIV & AIDS when he met with students of Sigatoka Valley High School.
2. NORTHERN WOMEN URGED TO LOOK AT SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS – Ledua Meredali, the President of the Raranibulubulu and Vuiyakana Women’s Club in Macuata today thanked the Minister for Women Dr Jiko Luveni for the timely donation of sewing machines to their community.
3. FIJI HEADS OF MISSION CONVERGE IN FIJI – Heads of Fiji’s foreign missions from around the world will converge at Borron house tomorrow for a three day meeting to deliberate and refine their Missions’ approach to effectively delivering Fiji’s interests on the international stage.
4. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE SERVICES AT SAVUSAVU CARNIVAL – A team from the Public Service Commission (PSC) will be in Savusavu this Thursday to take part in the Savusavu Carnival.
1 FIRST CITIZEN VISITS SIGATOKA STUDENTS
His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau highlighted the need to remove the stigma associated with HIV & AIDS when he met with students of Sigatoka Valley High School.
This morning he was at the Sigatoka School to discuss the importance of safe sex and the need to talk about AIDS – something he said should no longer be a taboo.
His inaugural visit to the school was an opportunity to point out various mechanisms put in place to promote HIV & AIDS awareness.
“The Fijian government continues to assist those that are HIV positive or have AIDS,” he told the school of 235 students.
The head of state was also pleased to note the reception from the students included a series of questions posed to him as Fiji’s ambassador on HIV & AIDS.
“This is the 94th secondary school that I have visited and I am happy to note that the students are coming out to ask questions,” HE Ratu Epeli said.
“Continue to be role models for Fiji in the fight against HIV and AIDS.”
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2 NORTHERN WOMEN URGED TO LOOK AT SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS
Ledua Meredali, the President of the Raranibulubulu and Vuiyakana Women’s Club in Macuata today thanked the Minister for Women Dr Jiko Luveni for the timely donation of sewing machines to their community.
The women met the Minister today in Macuatu as she continues her tour of the Northern division.
“Such assistance will empower the community by allowing women to provide for their families and alleviate poverty,” Mrs Meredali said.
“We are so grateful in getting these sewing machines as it will prevent us from relying on readymade school uniforms and other material.”
Minister Luveni told the women from the two villages that they need to change their mindset and focus on sustainable income generating projects. She highlighted that government has allocated more that $1 million to implement more development projects for women around the country.
Tuwaqasoba Tumuri, a Raranibulubulu village elder said one of their major challenges is transportation from their village to town since bus fares costs them $1.60 and $20.00 for taxi fare.
“The sewing machines will generate income and assisting unemployed and disadvantage women such as single mothers and widows in the village,” Tumuri said.
“On behalf of the people of Raranibulubulu and Vuiyakana, we would like to thank the Minister for motivating the women and giving them hope to reach their full potential”.
The donation of the sewing machines has created a new direction, as these resources will be instrumental in their entrepreneurial skills and operational capacity.
The distribution of sewing machines is part of the Ministry of Women’s efforts in ensuring that all women in rural communities are empowered to support their families and contribute positively to nation building.
Dr Luveni also discussed the Ministries plans to economically develop women in these two villages. She said every woman in society deserves to be respected since women provide for the families it is important that their role be recognised.
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3 FIJI HEADS OF MISSION CONVERGE IN FIJI
Heads of Fiji’s foreign missions from around the world will converge at Borron house tomorrow for a three day meeting to deliberate and refine their Missions’ approach to effectively delivering Fiji’s interests on the international stage.
A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry pointed out that the objective of the 2013 HOMs Consultations is to “examine existing institutional, capacity and diplomatic instruments, systems and structures and how they can be strengthened to support the harmonization of development strategies and policies, projects and programmes, with international commitments”.
Tomorrow’s program will see Fiji’s foreign and local based envoys paying a courtesy call to His Excellency The President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at Government House and will be followed by the official opening by the Prime Minister.
The decision to hold this annual consultations allows the foreign missions to closely align its work to the overall foreign objectives of the Fijian Government. The consultations are designed to closely align it to the Strategic Framework for Change and the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress in particular Pillar 11 on enhancing global integration and international relations.
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4 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE SERVICES AT SAVUSAVU CARNIVAL
A team from the Public Service Commission (PSC) will be in Savusavu this Thursday to take part in the Savusavu Carnival.
The Commission’s permanent secretary, Parmesh Chand said that the PSC’s participation in the Carnival will deepen its visibility and services to communities all over Fiji.
“The PSC has been allocated a booth at the Savusavu Carnival and we are thankful to the local Town Council for its support to our participation,” he said.
He said that PSC’s attendance at Government organised road trips and at Careers Expo and Carnivals nationwide are other platforms that the commission can use to promote and create awareness on some of their programs including the Service Excellence Program, the Civil Service Medal Awards, scholarships and work place relations.
“In particular for those scholarships that the PSC administers, we invite students, schools, parents and guardians of Savusavu to come and visit the booth and to find out more about the availability of Scholarships for Fijian citizens.
The Savusavu Carnival will be held on Thursday July 25 and end on Saturday July 27, 2013 at Narayan’s Park in Savusavu.
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