- FIJIAN YOUTH MINISTER COMMENDS ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FELLOWSHIP – The Minister for Youth and Sports Honourable Laisenia Tuitubou has commended the role of the International Youth Fellowship World Culture Camp (IYFWCC) in its capacity to nurture youths.
- TOBACCO USERS TO BE MONITORED – The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is reminding the public to adhere to the Tobacco Decree as any breach of this would result in people being prosecuted.
- FIJIAN YOUTH MINISTER COMMENDS ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
The Minister for Youth and Sports Honourable Laisenia Tuitubou has commended the role of the International Youth Fellowship World Culture Camp (IYFWCC) in its capacity to nurture youths.
Minister Tuitubou who is leading a government delegation to the IYFWCC Minister’s meeting in Korea said that such conferences contributed to the development of young people and the subsequent improvement of their communities.
“This is the first time we have sent youths from across all 4 divisions in Fiji and I am thankful that such a conference is held solely for young people as it will greatly benefit them in the long run.”
“I am thankful to the International Youth Fellowship for granting youths from Fiji, some of whom have dropped out from formal education, an opportunity to represent their country at an international event such as this,” added Minister Tuitubou.
Hon. Tuitubou said that the IYF World Culture Camp also offered exposure to young Fijians as it was a good learning experience for them as future leaders.
International Youth Fellowship (IYF) Founder Mr Ock Soo Park while opening the 5th World Culture Camp emphasized the need for youths to attain a better life through a change of heart.
“It is hoped that through the International Youth Fellowship, youths get a better life and also develop a change of heart because this contributes immensely to the state of our young people,” said Mr Park.
“The world of the heart is a very telling factor in our efforts to address issues that young people face such as drugs, sexually transmitted diseases, alcohol abuse and many others and we are optimistic that through this camp we will have helped young people with their state of mind and heart,” added Mr Park.
The IYF World Culture Camp is attended by young people from 50 different countries and is held simultaneously with the Ministers of Youth World Forum.
Fiji has also won the Gold Performance during the cultural performance competition winning US$3,000.
- TOBACCO USERS TO BE MONITORED
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is reminding the public to adhere to the Tobacco Decree as any breach of this would result in people being prosecuted.
The Tobacco decree gives powers to enforcement officers to monitor retailers and public places such as bus stands and internet cafes which are no smoking zones.
The Tobacco Enforcement Unit has booked 45 offenders from 15th to 19th of June in the Western division for breaching the tobacco control decree. In terms of businesses, 19 retailers have been charged for failure to display a ‘no smoking sign’ within their retailing area while 15 retailers been charged for failure to place a clear and prominent notice inside retail outlet notifying the public they do not sell tobacco product to any person under the age of 18-years old.
Three retailers have been charged for selling cigarette rolls and nine people were caught smoking in prohibited public places.
The offenders were served with notices to pay the fines which range from $200.00 to $1000.00 for smoking in public places and illicit trade of tobacco products respectively.
People who fail to pay the fines would end up serving time in prison.
MOH said enforcement officers are mobilized in all divisions to monitor the illicit trade and use of tobacco products.
As tobacco is one of the contributors of the high prevalence rate of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD’s) in the country, the Tobacco Control Unit has effectively introduced strategies to combat the burden of diseases in the country.
These strategies include the increasing of taxes for tobacco products, creating public awareness on the deadly effects of smoking and declaring no tobacco zones.
Fiji has recently received the Global Award 2015 from the World Health Organization (WHO) for the continuous work done in the prevention and control of Tobacco use in the country.
Press Release