- RESIDENT MAGISTRATE SWORN IN BY PRESIDENT – RESIDENT magistrate Mohammed Umaru Lebbe was sworn-in before His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at Government House this week.
- PRESIDENT RECEIVES CZECH ENVOY CREDENTIALS – THE new non resident envoy for Czech Republic to Fiji, H.E Martin Pohl presented his credentials to His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at Government House this week.
- PRIME MINISTER REMINDS STUDENTS ON VALUE OF EDUCATION – The Head of Government Prime Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama today encouraged students of Natabua High School to become good citizens for a better Fiji.
- SOMALIA AND FIJI FORMALISE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS – The Federal Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Fiji formalised diplomatic relations in a ceremony at the Fiji Mission to the United Nations in New York today.
- A NEW ROAD FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN BUA – Rural and farming communities in Solevu village in the province of Bua should expect improved services as Government will be constructing an 8km farm road at Cavaga village this year.
- ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN WAINIKORO – Plans are underway to establish an assistant district office in Wainikoro in 2016.
- HOME OF HOPE FOR WIDOWS – The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Lifebread- Stay Connected Fiji for the establishment of a home and multi-purpose training centre for widows.
1 RESIDENT MAGISTRATE SWORN IN BY PRESIDENT
RESIDENT magistrate Mohammed Umaru Lebbe was sworn-in before His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at Government House this week.
Mr Lebbe attained his Masters of Law from the Sri Lanka Law College after having completed Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Bachelor of Arts (External).
He has also completes a Diploma in International Relations.
Mr Lebbe has worked at the Sri Lankan Supreme Court at Attorney at Law and served as a Magistrate in Trincomalee.
He has six years experience in private practice.
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2 PRESIDENT RECEIVES CZECH ENVOY CREDENTIALS
THE new non resident envoy for Czech Republic to Fiji, H.E Martin Pohl presented his credentials to His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at Government House this week.
His Excellency Pohl, who will be based in Canberra, Australia, met with the Fijian head of state to present his credentials formalising his appointment as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Fiji.
The Ambassador started in career in agriculture and in 1997, joined the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and completed a European Diplomatic Program in 2004.
Mr Pohl, who speaks Czech, English, Russian and Portuguese, has represented his country in diplomatic missions such as Ghana and South Africa in various capacities.
Meanwhile the President also received a farewell call from the outgoing non-resident Bangladesh High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency Lieutenant General Masud Auddin Chowdhury this week.
High Commissioner Chowdhury also paid a visit to Fijian Minister for Primary Industries, Rural and Maritime Development, Mr Inia Seruiratu.
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3 PRIME MINISTER REMINDS STUDENTS ON VALUE OF EDUCATION
The Head of Government Prime Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama today encouraged students of Natabua High School to become good citizens for a better Fiji.
Speaking in Lautoka, Prime Minister Bainimarama made the comments while touring the school to inspect the newly renovated boarding facility that was funded by Government.
“Government has provided students with free education, bus fare vouchers and food vouchers”, the Prime Minister said.
“Students need to work hard and ensure that we have a smarter Fiji for the future,” he said.
Natabua High School principal, Sashi Kumar thanked Government for the timely assistance towards the renovation of the boarding facility.
Peter Penjueli, a boarder in the school, thanked Government for repairing the school’s boarding facilities.
The renovation, which was completed in three months, was carried out by the Republic of Fiji Military Force’s engineers.
(For more photos from this event, please visit the Ministry’s Facebook page)
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4 SOMALIA AND FIJI FORMALISE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
The Federal Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Fiji formalised diplomatic relations in a ceremony at the Fiji Mission to the United Nations in New York today.
At the ceremony, the Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations, Ambassador Elmi Ahmed Duale and his Fijian counterpart, Ambassador Peter Thomson, signed a joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The communiqué expresses the desire of the Governments of Fiji and Somalia to promote and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between their two countries in political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields. It also states that diplomatic relations between Cote d’Ivoire and Fiji will be guided by the objectives and purposes of the United Nations Charter and international law, particularly on equality among States, respect for national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, and respect for international treaties.
Following the formalisation ceremony, Ambassadors Duale and Thomson held talks on areas of common interest between their two countries. Ambassador Duale thanked Fiji for the leadership provided to the Group of 77 and China in 2013 and said his country looked forward to continuing to work with Fiji in forwarding the interests of developing countries. Ambassador Thomson outlined the progress being made to the holding of general elections in Fiji in September 2014.
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5 A NEW ROAD FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN BUA
Rural and farming communities in Solevu village in the province of Bua should expect improved services as Government will be constructing an 8km farm road at Cavaga village this year.
Acting Divisional Commissioner Northern, Alipate Bolalevu said the construction of the farm road will assist farmers in the area to transport their produce from the farm to the market without delay.
He added the project was identified by the community in consultation with Government.
“The scope of work has been prepared which consists of clearing & drainage; gravelling, compaction & formation and culverts & headwalls,” Mr Bolalevu added.
Mr Bolalevu said Government is committed to addressing rural infrastructure as it will open up new areas and connect them to shopping centres where rural people would be able to sell their produce.
“The area which has a high potential for agricultural commodities needs to be exploited to maximise production.
“Strong infrastructure is critical to economic opportunity, standard of living and social cohesion.”
A sum of $129,801.00 has been set aside by Government to complete the project.
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6 ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN WAINIKORO
Plans are underway to establish an assistant district office in Wainikoro in 2016.
Acting Commissioner Northern Alipate Bolalevu said the plan is in line with Governments objective to reach out to rural and remote areas and to connect them to Government services.
He further adds that Wainikoro has been identified as it is the meeting point and centre for more than 6000 rural Fijians in the north-eastern part of Macuata and part of Cakaudrove including islands like Kavewa and Druadrua.
“The focus is to improve service delivery for our rural communities and Government is committed to addressing challenges faced by rural communities in reaching Government services to improve economic their livelihood.
“Our focus is to ensure that every rural Fijians access Government services at a minimum cost.
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7 HOME OF HOPE FOR WIDOWS
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Lifebread- Stay Connected Fiji for the establishment of a home and multi-purpose training centre for widows.
Permanent Secretary for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Josefa Koroivueta acknowledged the partnership with the organization and hoped for the best in the plans for the project.
“This is a signing of an understanding that we will now journey together into this project. It is an exciting time, because we need to look after widows and care for them and give them a sense of hope,” Dr Koroivueta said.
International Executive Director, Lifebread Stay Connected, Pastor Dr Raymond Moti expressed the organizations gratitude for the support from the government from the initial talks.
“We can help each other and encourage each other for projects like these, to encourage such women to make a worthwhile and positive contribution to the community.
“Increasing their self esteem, self confidence so that they are able to fit into the community and be proud of themselves,” Pastor Moti said.
Director for Life Bread Stay Connected Fiji, Dorinda Work said that the project will offer widows a chance to make use of the opportunity through a home and basic training programs.
“We are thankful for the partnership we have sealed with government through the ministry, as we will be able to bring in deserving widows.
“The basic training program will develop the potential they have in the areas of their skills talents and experiences. This will gear them up into what they can do in life ahead,” Ms Work said.
The project will carry programs with two options; firstly for those in the employment age, they will undertake trainings to gear them up for the work market.
Another option is to prepare them to venture into small businesses or micro-enterprises to build sustainable livelihood for themselves and families.
The project will cost FJD$1 million which will be raised by the Lifebread Stay Connected partners worldwide and the organization is also open to contributions and assistance from corporate bodies or individuals in Fiji for the worthy cause.
Constructions for the home are underway in Teidamu, Lautoka and are expected to be ready at the end of this year.
MINFO