DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION FIJI NEWS SUMMARY 25/11/14 5:00PM

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1. OUTSTANDING FIJIANS PRESENTED HONORS BY HIS EXCELLENCY – His Excellency the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau presented honors to 18 outstanding Fijians , at a ceremony held this morning at Government House.

2. FIJIAN PM THANKS INDIAN COUNTERPART FOR RECENT VISIT – Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Government and people of Fiji to the Prime Minister of India, Hon. Shri Narendra Modi for his recent visit on November 19, 2014.

3. STUDENTS URGED TO PREPARE FOR 2015 ACADEMIC YEAR – Students of Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) were today urged to prepare well for the next academic year during the upcoming school holidays.

4. FOREIGN AFFAIRS THANK STAKEHOLDERS FOR ASSISTANCE DURING RECENT HIGH LEVEL VISITS – Fiji’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commended all those who worked tirelessly behind the scene during the high level visits of Chinese President His Excellency Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister His Excellency Narendra Modi last week.

5. FIJI READY TO HOST FIRST EVER BASKETBALL REGIONAL TOURNAMENT – Fiji has been selected to host, for the first time, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) University of the South Pacific under 19 Oceania Championship, in Suva from December 01-06, 2014.

6. HONEY RAKES IN $2,538.00 FOR FIRST SALE – A total of 282 kilograms of honey has been harvested in the district of Udu by three villages in the Northern Division last week.

7. FIJIAN DESIGNERS TO TOUCH $500M MARK – Fijian fashion designers and their products could easily become a $500 million dollar industry said one of the country’s leading manufacturers, Mark Hallaby.

8. PACIFIC HARBOUR FIRE STATION BOOST – The National Fire Authority (NFA) received funding assistance for renovation works to the Pacific Harbour Fire station by the Sustainable Mahogany Industries Limited company.

 

1. OUTSTANDING FIJIANS PRESENTED HONORS BY HIS EXCELLENCY

His Excellency the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau presented honors to 18 outstanding Fijians , at a ceremony held this morning at Government House.

The investiture ceremony, an anticipated event on the Office of the President calendar, recognises the contribution and achievements from Fijians to the nation.

The following recipients were awarded in the various categories’ under the Officer of the Order of Fiji, Member of the Order of Fiji and Medal of the Order of the Fiji.

Officer of the Order of Fiji (OF – General Division)

Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola
Ambassador Robin Yarrow
Ambassador Peter Thomson
Mr Dixion Seeto

Honorary Officer of the Order of Fiji (General Division)

Dr Satendra Kumar Singh

Officer of the Order of Fiji (OF – Military Division)

Captain (Navy) Timoci Lesikivatukoula Natuva
Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga
Commander (Navy) Viliame Tikoitoga

Member of the Order of Fiji (MF – General Division)

Ms Saleshni Lata Chand
Mr Arun Chandra Singh
Mr Bhagwanji Kantilal Bhindhi

Member of the Order of Fiji (MF – Military Division)

Warrant Officer Class 1 Inia Rarawa
Warrant Officer Class 1 Samu Lavenasawa Raikadroka
Warrant Officer Class 1 Waisake Bale
Warrant Officer Class 1 Ulaiasi Radike Tuilevuka

Medal of the Order of Fiji (MOF – General Division)

Mr Prem Parkanta Lal
Mr Mohammed Sharif Sahim

Honorary Officer of the Order of Fiji (General Division)

Dr Satendra Kumar Singh

Also present at the investiture ceremony were members of the diplomatic corp. and cabinet ministers.

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2. FIJIAN PM THANKS INDIAN COUNTERPART FOR RECENT VISIT

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Government and people of Fiji to the Prime Minister of India, Hon. Shri Narendra Modi for his recent visit on November 19, 2014.

“I am convinced that our bilateral and multilateral discussions found many opportunities of cooperation and development between Fiji – India and the Pacific as our nations share fundamental values of individual freedom, rule of law, religious diversity and electoral democracy,” PM Bainimarama said.

“I look forward to working closely with you and your government in these areas of cooperation and hope that these are comprehended soon,” he added.

During the visit, the two head of states, discussed on issues pertaining to climate change, strengthening of resource capabilities and the importance of developing small micro enterprises in Fiji.

Fiji and India signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) during the event, including the exchange of land for a new chancery building in New Delhi, diplomatic exchanges allowing Fiji’s diplomats to train at the Indian Government’s Foreign Service Institute and a project finance for an electricity co-generation plant funded through the Exim Bank of India.

The Fijian PM thanked his Indian counterpart for convening the Forum for India – Pacific Islands Cooperation in Fiji and inviting the Pacific Leaders to Fiji.

PM Bainimarama said the address given by Shri Modi to the Fijian parliament added dimension to democracy, economic development, innovation and prosperity to the Pacific region.

Fiji and India share 135 years of historical relations with formal diplomatic relation established in 1970.

PM Bainimarama wished Shri Modi good health and success in all future endeavours.

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3. STUDENTS URGED TO PREPARE FOR 2015 ACADEMIC YEAR

Students of Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) were today urged to prepare well for the next academic year during the upcoming school holidays.

Speaking at the RKS prize giving day in Lodoni, Tailevu today, Hon. Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Pio Tikoduadua said education in Fiji is going through exciting times because Government has taken care of most of the educational needs through various assistance programmes.

Mr Tikoduadua wished the Year 13 students a successful journey in life as they go out into the world to build their career.

“This is the end of another academic year and I hope it has been a fruitful year for you as students. You are all excited about the eight weeks school holiday but for those that will be coming back next year, get ready for 2015 school,” Mr Tikoduadua said.

Year 13 student, Katarake Taievo, who received the Dux award, said it was a privilege to be recognised for his hard work during the year.

“This was my first year at RKS and I have learnt a lot during my time here. Being a boarder had its challenges but I learnt to take care of myself and live on my own. Staying up late for revision is paying off,” Katarake said.

The Rabi lad plans to pursue further studies at the Fiji National University to become a civil engineer.

“My message to other students is to work hard, be disciplined follow the school rules. Government has done a wonderful thing for us by providing free education, text books and bus fare for the needy so all students must play their part,”  Mr Katarake added.

Jemesa Uluibau, also a Year 13 student, received the prize for scoring the highest mark in the Fiji School Leaving Certificate examination last year.

Mr Uluibau , who is the school deputy head boy, aspires to pursue higher education in finance management.

Close to 200 students from Year 9 – Year 13 and vocational studies were awarded for excellence in academic performance this year.

RKS has a roll of more than 700 students.

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4. FOREIGN AFFAIRS THANK STAKEHOLDERS FOR ASSISTANCE DURING RECENT HIGH LEVEL VISITS

 

Fiji’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commended all those who worked tirelessly behind the scene during the high level visits of Chinese President His Excellency Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister His Excellency Narendra Modi last week.

 

Permanent Secretary Amena Yauvoli has attributed the successful visits of the two leaders to the sacrifices and hard work of all those officers from his ministry and the different ministries within Government.

 

He said that the ministry might be the face of the Fijian Government in terms of facilitating for the two visits, but it was also the contributions of the other stakeholders that ensured the visits ended on a high.

 

Mr Yauvoli said the two visits had strengthened the bilateral relations that Fiji shared with both China and India.

 

He believed that the Visits also reaffirmed Fiji’s status as Hub of the Pacific.

 

Mr Yauvoli said the Ministry had been instrumental in escalating Fiji’s image to the International Community  and the back to back high level visits last week and through the visit of former Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhiyono in June are  testament to the  hard work of Fiji’s representatives in those countries.

 

Fiji can be hopeful that there would be more high level visits in the near future.

 

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5. FIJI READY TO HOST FIRST EVER BASKETBALL REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

Fiji has been selected to host, for the first time, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) University of the South Pacific under 19 Oceania Championship, in Suva from December 01-06, 2014.

Fiji’s ambassador at large and Basketball Fiji association president Major General Ioane Naivalurua said this will be the first regional tournament to be held in the country after elections and will be beneficial to the public at large.

“Basketball is an important part of development and growth for our youths. We need to grow the game and it is also noted that having major games like this reduces crime rates and creates peace in the community,” Mr Naivalurua said.

The event will attract 280 participants from countries like American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tahiti.

The event is an international qualifying event for the World U19 Basketball Championship to be held in Greece for the men and in Russia for the women in 2017.

It is also the first time that a basketball event of this kind has been held outside Australia and New Zealand.

The Under 19 players are expected to start arriving into the country on Friday.

Event organizers say preparations are well underway and they are looking forward to the upcoming week.

Tickets for the tournaments will be sold soon and those under 16 years of age will have free entry.

The tournament is being hosted in partnership with Basketball Fiji, FIBA Oceania, the Fijian Government and other partners.

Teams will be accommodated at the University of the South Pacific’s halls of residence and the opening ceremony will be held at the Vodafone Arena.

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6. HONEY RAKES IN $2,538.00 FOR FIRST SALE

A total of 282 kilograms of honey has been harvested in the district of Udu by three villages in the Northern Division last week.

The three villages include Vunikodi, Cawaro and Nukusa and other villages who are to harvest this month are Nabouono and Nukudamu.

Integrated Human Resource Development Programme (IHRDP) manager North Aslam Khan highlighted that the villages sold the honey at $9 per kilogram to the Agro-Marketing Authority (AMA) .

“They sold a total of 282kg of honey at the total cost of $2,538. Beehive project is booming in the Northern Division as there is a lot of demand for local honey,” Mr Khan said.

The project was undertaken by IHRDP through the Divisional Commissioner Northern’s office in collaboration with the Northern Development Programme and the Ministry of Agriculture.

“This was the first harvest done in the Tikina of Udu after delivering the Beehive boxes in November 2013, whereby the Department of Agriculture has conducted two trainings of Basic Beehive Management & Honey Harvesting in April and August this year,” Mr Khan said.

“Tikina Udu will benefit from this venture as there would be very less transport cost since AMA goes to Lagi Village Landing to buy honey from Udu and the income would be looked after by the beehive committee in each village which will be used for village development,” he added.

Mr Khan said the Department of Agriculture does regular monitoring and inspection of the beehives in Tikina Udu and the next inspection is planned for December.

“As part of the 2014 project, Dreketi and Seaqaqa beehive projects have also started implementation which is anticipated to be fully complete by December 15,” Mr Khan said.

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7. FIJIAN DESIGNERS TO TOUCH $500M MARK

Fijian fashion designers and their products could easily become a $500 million dollar industry said one of the country’s leading manufacturers, Mark Hallaby.

Mr Hallaby of Mark One Apparel, was awarded with the 2014 Prime Minister’s award at the annual Exporter of the Year Awards over the weekend.

He said Fijian fashion designers have a huge market abroad and Fijian manufacturing companies will work to ensure that the talents and hard work of these designers are recognized through their input in marketing to ensure sale of these designs abroad.

“Our manufacturing companies are doing well and a testimony of this was the winner of the 2014 National Rugby League (NRL) South Sydney Rabbitohs who wore the jerseys made in Fiji,” Mr Hallaby said.

“Our fashion designers whose industry is only around $27, 000 can easily become a $500 million dollar industry and Mark One and other manufacturing companies are working on getting these designer wears to our markets overseas.”

Mr Hallaby added that the Fijian Made products were of the highest quality and companies such as Mark One Apparel is proud of the vision by the Fijian Government in ensuring that products made in Fiji are given the recognition it deserves.

“Fijian Made products and the need to brand them has given our products a quality assurance to our buyers who are now determined and recognize that Fijian Made products are of the highest quality,” Mr Hallaby said.

-ENDS-

8. PACIFIC HARBOUR FIRE STATION BOOST

The National Fire Authority (NFA) received funding assistance for renovation works to the Pacific Harbour Fire station by the Sustainable Mahogany Industries Limited company.

NFA CEO John O’Connor thanked the Sustainable Mahogany Industries Limited for their assistance.

“We are glad to receive $5000 donation from the Sustainable Mahogany Industries Limited. I must thank them for their contribution as this will allow us to improve the living arrangement for the firefighters in the current location,” Mr O’Connor said.

“NFA is operating a volunteer fire station from Pacific Harbour with the assistance of the Lau Provincial Council who have allowed NFA to operate from one of their properties behind the cultural centre,” he said.

“NFA has plans to build its new fire station in the Pacific Harbour Area and we are looking for suitable land for our fire station.”

Mr O’Connor also thanked the Pacific Harbor community for their support which strengthens the friendship between the community and the fire station.

“Community support is vital and we are thankful to get such important support from our local community which gives a boost to our service delivery,” Mr O’Connor said.

Sustainable Mahogany Industries Limited operations manager Phillip Molloy while handing over the  $5000 cheque, said they are delighted to help the NFA.

“The company is delighted to assist in such important development,” Mr Molloy said.

“We are happy to assist our Fijian community and we are happy to assist the Pacific Harbour fire station,” he said.
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