1. NEW BAKERY BRINGS IN NEW OPPORTUNITIES – A new bakery for the people of Wainimala will bring with it new opportunities to generate income and a chance to develop bakery skills, which are in high demand in the food and drinks industry.
2. MINISTERS URGES YOUTHS IN BA TO VOTE – The Minister for Youth and Sports, Viliame told the youth of Ba to exercise their rights and go to the polls on September 17.
3. OFFICERS TAKE DISASTER MANAGEMENT COURSE – Representatives from disaster and incident management agencies undertook a two-day course on inter-service incident management in Suva last week.
4. ELDERLY COUPLE OVERJOYED WITH NEW HOME – Government’s vision to facilitate rural development and housing has resulted in the completion of a standard house for an elderly couple.
1. NEW BAKERY BRINGS IN NEW OPPORTUNITIES
A new bakery for the people of Wainimala will bring with it new opportunities to generate income and a chance to develop bakery skills, which are in high demand in the food and drinks industry.
The new bakery, which was opened last Friday at Wainimala secondary School in Naitasiri, will benefit students and the greater Wainimala community.
Funded by government through the Ministry of Rural & Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, the bakery was opened by the Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Timoci Lesi Natuva.
Mr Natuva reminded students and the community that the bakery was an example of a government investment complemented by the support from the community and shall be a source of employment to the community.
“The bakery will also be able to generate employment opportunities for the people and assist with the provision of food security for the school and the greater Wainimala area,” Mr Natuva said.
“Government is investing in you. It is your turn to run the bakery with hard work and integrity. There may be challenges but press on into the future.”
Mr Natuva also urged students to work hard and parents to continuously provide parental support so that investment by government is sustainable and fully realised.
School principal, Serenia Navoti said the new bakery will boost the students’ diet, something they have been planning for the last three years.
“The school is very grateful to government for the assistance. Indeed, it has always been the plan to improve the diet of our boarding students and now with this new bakery, that dream has eventually will be realised,” Mrs Navoti said.
Mrs Navoti was further grateful to government for sending a trainer, who taught them how to operate the oven and bake bread.
The project cost government more than $14,000.
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2. MINISTERS URGES YOUTHS IN BA TO VOTE
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Viliame told the youth of Ba to exercise their rights and go to the polls on September 17.
Mr Naupoto was chief guest at the Digicel Ba Riverside Platinum carnival last Thursday, which was also the youth night.
“As a nation, we will go the polls on 17 September,” Mr Naupoto told the young people.
“Government has recognised the need to empower and involve youths in decision making and has reduced the voting age to 18.
“Registration for eligible voters has closed and I remind all that have registered that you now have the right and privilege to decide on who is to become your leader and your government to work with you into the future.
“I urge you all to exercise that right and go and cast your votes on 17 September,” Mr Naupoto added.
Mr Naupoto also presented platinum awards to former employees of Ba Town Council. This year’s carnival coincided with the town’s 75th Anniversary celebrations.
Ba Town special administrator, Praveen Bala said the minister’s advice to the youth of Ba was timely.
“We will surely take heed of his advice to maximise our resources and empower the young people of Ba, especially in sports as this town is known for soccer,” Mr Bala said.
Mr Bala also presented Mr Naupoto a platinum award on behalf of the Ba Town Council.
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3. OFFICERS TAKE DISASTER MANAGEMENT COURSE
Representatives from disaster and incident management agencies undertook a two-day course on inter-service incident management in Suva last week.
The Australasian Inter-Service Incident Management System or AIIMS Course introduced participants to a systematic way of managing incidents when involving either single or multi-agencies.
In opening the workshop, Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management deputy secretary, Setareki Tale reminded participants about the importance of sharing knowledge, information and cooperation in national development and national disaster resilience.
Workshop coordinator, Mr Anthony Blake said the course was to ensure that all incident personnel were working towards one set of objectives.
Eroni Duaibe, participant from the Royal Military Forces commended the course as it would allow agencies dealing with incidents to understand the different roles they play.
“An agency’s jurisdiction of responsibility needs to be known so that other agencies involved in an incident can know where to take over from,” Mr Duaibe said.
Mr Duaibe said that more collaboration in terms of information sharing and synchronisation of responsibilities were needed between agencies.
Over 20 participants from various incident management agencies participated at the two-day workshop, which included the National Fire Authority, the Police, Ministry of Defence, Fiji Military Forces and the Fiji Navy to name a few.
The AIIMS course, an initiative of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) was facilitated by Fire and Rescue Services from Victoria and Queensland, Australia in conjunction with the Pacific Islands Emergency Management Alliance and the National Disaster Management Office.
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4. ELDERLY COUPLE OVERJOYED WITH NEW HOME
Government’s vision to facilitate rural development and housing has resulted in the completion of a standard house for an elderly couple.
Maika Saurara has become the proud owner of a house after the Commissioner Central’s office assisted him build a standard house last month.
The 72-year-old from Waikalou Vllage in Serea Naitasiri was assisted under the Poverty Alleviation Project (PAP).
Last year, eight individuals were assisted under the PAP for the five provinces in the Central Division. This year, four families were assisted.
“I am grateful to Government and Commissioner Central’s Office in assisting me with securing a house of my own with no cost. I thank Government for thinking about the elderly in rural areas,” Mr Saurara said.
Commissioner Central Laisenia Tuitubou said Government’s focus was to develop an integrated development structure at divisional level and to improve the standard of living of all Fijians.
The Divisional Commissioners in the four divisions have assisted in the implementation of various budgeted programmes over the years including self-help, rural housing scheme, non-cane access road, rural and outer islands development programme and poverty alleviation programme.
“The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation made a recommendation to us for the housing assistance. We provide a budget for a standard home,” Mr Tuitubou said.
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