CAPTION: Senior Civil Service Secretaries at the workshop.
1. MINISTER CHALLENGES WOMEN TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE – WOMEN are proving to be the agents of change and this is evident through the growing recognition by leaders that they are also an important force to promoting sustainable development.
2. LANDS PRESENTS FIRST FRAUD CASE TO FICAC – The Ministry of Lands will present its first case to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) on the alleged abuse of a lease contract by a holder in Nadi.
3. SENIOR SECRETARIES UNDERGO TRAINING TO BUILD CAPACITY – In an effort to improve customer service skills and other competencies and attributes required of a personal assistant, the Public Service Commission (PSC) in partnership with the Pacific Island Centre for Public Administration (PICPA) and the University of the South Pacific (USP), has organised a five-month training course for Senior Secretaries in the civil service.
4. FIJI – KOREA PROPOSE ESTABLISHMENT OF EDUCATION AGREEMENT – Fiji and Korea could soon be working closely in the education sector following the proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding between Fiji’s Ministry of Education and their counterparts in Korea.
5. MINISTER STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION – “Try to find out the qualities that you have that allows you to be chosen as a prefect”. These were the words shared by the Minister for Youth and Sports Viliame Naupoto, as he officiated the 2013 Prefects Induction for Vunimono High School in Nausori.
1 MINISTER CHALLENGES WOMEN TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE
Women are proving to be the agents of change and this is evident through the growing recognition by leaders that they are also an important force to promoting sustainable development.
Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni, while addressing more than 200 women from the central, western and northern division said Government was taking a holistic approach to continue empowering women for the role they play in society. The Minister was speaking at the “Empowering Women to Wellness” summit that was organised by the Ministry of Health.
Addressing these women, who are mostly from rural communities, the Minister pointed out that the “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women” (CEDAW), which was ratified by Fiji in 1995 provides opportunities for Fiji to take concrete steps to improve the status of women.
“Fiji ratified CEDAW in 1995 and government; keeping true to its promises has since developed legislations, policies and programs to ensure the elimination of discriminatory practices and the empowerment of women in our country is critical,” she said.
“Such legal instruments give more authority to Police and relevant actors of Judiciary to investigate and prosecute reported cases of gender based violence.”
“The general public is now actively involved in the reporting of such violence.”
Academic Dr Akanisi Kedrayate presented a motivational speech to the women and challenged them not to view themselves as inferior to men. She told the women that they must also take time out for themselves.
The Ministry of Health permanent secretary, Dr Eloni Tora, said the summit is an area that the Ministry is keen to develop with stakeholders.
He said this is one of the groundbreaking projects of the Ministry because of its emphasis on wellness.
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2 LANDS PRESENTS FIRST FRAUD CASE TO FICAC
The Ministry of Lands will present its first case to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) on the alleged abuse of a lease contract by a holder in Nadi.
The Ministry of Lands permanent secretary Tevita Boseiwaqa said that the matter was reported during the ministry’s recent consultations tour in the western division.
“This is one of the main issues that we came across. There was a lease holder in Nadi who acquired lease, however the accused sold the land to other people and now we have homes built there,” he said.
“This is a breach of contract and he allegedly because he sold it first and now receives monthly instalments, we are taking him to court on the advice of the solicitor general’s office.”
Mr Boseiwaqa says the ministry would now move in to subdivide the land for the tenants and provide them with titles.
Mr Boseiwaqa pointed out that other cases were reported during these consultations tour and visits to government lease holders would now become a permanent feature for the ministry.
“This is also to provide its services to the people and find out where the ministry is lacking an where it could improve,” Mr Boseiwaqa said.
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3 SENIOR SECRETARIES UNDERGO TRAINING TO BUILD CAPACITY
In an effort to improve customer service skills and other competencies and attributes required of a personal assistant, the Public Service Commission (PSC) in partnership with the Pacific Island Centre for Public Administration (PICPA) and the University of the South Pacific (USP), has organised a five-month training course for Senior Secretaries in the civil service.
The Professional Training Certificate for Senior Secretaries programme began this week and will end in June.
Public Service Commission permanent secretary Mr Parmesh Chand said that the training and capacity building of staff at all levels in the Public Service is very much part of Government’s reforms to improve efficiencies and service delivery.
He said that Secretaries and Personnel Assistants are as important as senior or technical staff. They provide critical support and back up and as such need to be fully incorporated in appropriate training and capacity building initiatives.
The training will be conducted in 4 Modules and classes will be held after working hours on Wednesdays, Fridays and including part of Saturday mornings. Module 1 of the training will cover Personal and Management Skills, Module 2 is Human Resource and Developing High Performance Team Skills, Project and Finance Skills and Module 4 will cover Event Management.
The training is funded by PICPA and there are altogether 30 participants from various government ministries that have been selected to be part of this programme. Mr Chand thanked the PICPA and the USP for the technical and financial assistance they made available for the implementation of this training.
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4 FIJI – KOREA PROPOSE ESTABLISHMENT OF EDUCATION AGREEMENT
Fiji and Korea could soon be working closely in the education sector following the proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding between Fiji’s Ministry of Education and their counterparts in Korea.
At a recent meeting between the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and a delegation from Korea led by the Director for MND Outplacement Service Centre, Mr Oh Myong, the Chairman of Yujin Kreves Limited, Mr Young Kee Moon and Mr Chang, both parties discussed the possibility of establishing an agreement designed to boost educational opportunities for both countries.
Mr Moon suggested the possibility of a Memorandum of Understanding for Korean students learning English in Fiji given the reasonable cost of Education here.
Ratu Inoke noted the interests of the Korean investors in the versatile areas.
He added that Fiji has the conducive business environment for investors to invest in Fiji and welcomed the proposals from them.
Mr Moon and his delegation of Korean investors have shown interest in various areas of investment which they conceive will accrue benefit to both countries.
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5 MINISTER STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION
“Try to find out the qualities that you have that allows you to be chosen as a prefect”. These were the words shared by the Minister for Youth and Sports Viliame Naupoto, as he officiated the 2013 Prefects Induction for Vunimono High School in Nausori.
Addressing the students of Vunimono High School, Mr Naupoto stressed the importance of learning from everyone and everything. Sharing his personal experiences, the Minister highlighted how he struggled in his early years of primary and secondary education.
“We will all have difficulties in this life as students and we are able to come out of that, it makes you a stronger person,” advised Mr Naupoto.
The Minister urged the prefects to work as a team and reminded them of their new role.
“Your being chosen means you are being trusted to be a student leader. Maintain and return that trust accordingly,” said Mr Naupoto.
“Know your roles as school prefects otherwise you might just enjoy the privilege and forget your responsibilities,” added the Minister.
A total of 136 student leaders were inducted today before becoming Form Prefects and Senior Prefects.
Vunimono High School which has a total roll of about 1200 students is one of the biggest schools in the Central Division.
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