DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATIONFIJI NEWS SUMMARY12/10/155:00PM

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1. MITT ASSISTS NATIONAL WOMEN’S EXPO 2015 – The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has extended assistance to the National Women’s Expo 2015 in the form of $15,000 contribution.

2. FIJI AND TUVALU SIGN MOU – The Fijian Ministry of Fisheries has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with its Tuvaluan counterpart for the provision of observer services and the sharing of monitoring, control and surveillance data.

3. LOMAIVITI FARMERS AWARDED – The culmination of the 2015 Lomaiviti Agriculture Show held from 08 -10 October at Nasau Park in Levuka, ended with an Awards evening to recognize the dedication, hard work and perseverance of farmers from Koro, Gau, Nairai, Batiki, Ovalau and Moturiki.

4. OFFICERS URGED TO UNDERSTAND YOUTHS – Twelve divisional youth officers and community-based trainers of the Ministry of Youth & Sports attending the Seeds of Success (SOS) Training of Trainers workshop have been urged to get to know the youths well.

5. NEW BRIDGE FOR THE PEOPLE OF RAKIRAKI – Close to 5000 Fijians living in Rakiraki, including farming settlements, will be beneficiaries of the newly completed $12million bridge that will be commissioned tomorrow by the Hon. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

1. MITT ASSISTS NATIONAL WOMEN’S EXPO 2015

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has extended assistance to the National Women’s Expo 2015 in the form of $15,000 contribution.

The Minister, Hon. Faiyaz Koya, while handing the cheque to the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Rosy Akbar, said Government was assisting women entrepreneurs through various channels including small and micro enterprise grants.

He said the expo ties in well with the Ministry’s successful Fijian brand under the Fijian Made Buy Fijian campaign in that it promotes women artisans as it creates a market for the women crafters.

“The Fijian Made-Buy Fijian Campaign, we have established a successful brand, that today has enabled sixty licensed Fijian Crafters to sell Fijian Crafted artefacts directly to renowned retail stores and hotels in Fiji,” Minister Koya said.

“This has created a new stream of income that these individuals did not have. Today they are earning on average $2,000 a month each, which is an injection of approximately $1.4million in the Fijian economy.”

Minister Akbar said around 95 per cent of the recipient for the SME grants were women and the SME sector had played a big role in the positive economic growth.

She said the funding will be utilised towards the Expo Excellence Awards as creating competition with quality awards was a business innovation for greater excellence.

Minister Akbar said, “We are shaping the way women empowerment in Fiji will be in the future which is very bright. I urge the Fijian women to grab the opportunity as there is a lot to be gained,” she said.

The National Women’s Expo 2015 will be held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva from October 14-16, 2015.

 

2. FIJI AND TUVALU SIGN MOU

The Fijian Ministry of Fisheries has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with its Tuvaluan counterpart for the provision of observer services and the sharing of monitoring, control and surveillance data.

The signing took place in Suva today between the Ministry of Fisheries permanent secretaries from Fiji and Tuvalu, Inoke Wainiqolo and Falasese Tupau.

Mr Wainiqolo said the arrangement for Fiji to provide observer services to Tuvalu is the first of its kind that not only strengthens ties between the two States but also presents the global fisheries community a good example of regional cooperation in enhancing the management of fisheries resources for the development of domestic fisheries.

“The arrangement will see the immediate deployment of Fiji’s observers on Tuvalu’s longline fishing vessels that are based out of the port of Suva but fish in Tuvalu waters. Fiji is indeed grateful to have been sought for such assistance and honored by the trust bestowed by Tuvalu,” Mr Wainiqolo said.

The Fijian observers are trained to specifically collect catch and compliance data during fishing operations.

“Whilst in port on return from the fishing grounds, Fijian observers will carry out port sampling work to ascertain the length classes of all fish species.

“Fiji will also ensure the quality of data reporting is maintained at high standards through the provision of pre-trip briefings and post-trip debriefings on observers,” Mr Wainiqolo said.

Mr Tupau said the provision of Fijian observers on their fishing vessels will assist Tuvalu in the pursuance of its sovereign rights to control and effectively monitor its vessels to ensure compliance to its licensing terms and conditions.

“We will be able to fulfil our obligations for the monitoring of our fishing vessels, thus contributing to the global combat of illegal, un-reporting and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a phenomenon that continues to grow despite attempts to have the practice curtailed by responsible flag and coastal States,” Mr Tupau said.

Such an arrangement sets the benchmark for other neighbouring coastal States as well as flag States that have their vessels based out of Fiji ports that require similar services.

 

3. LOMAIVITI FARMERS AWARDED

The culmination of the 2015 Lomaiviti Agriculture Show held from 08 -10 October at Nasau Park in Levuka, ended with an Awards evening to recognize the dedication, hard work and perseverance of farmers from Koro, Gau, Nairai, Batiki, Ovalau and Moturiki.

Commissioner Eastern Luke Moroivalu who was Chief Guest stressed the need to consider farmers as our national heroes because they literally provide food and income security for the nation.

“The Agriculture Show has and will continue to play a major role in this development and it continues with the aims of promoting agriculture as a profession, lucrative business and a great contributor to Fiji’s growing economy,’’ he said.

He emphasized that the intention of the awards night was to acknowledge farmers’ contribution to feeding Fiji and growing its economy through the Best Farmer of the Division award and the need to grow, buy and eat locally produced foods for healthy living and to help reduce Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Mr Moroivalu acknowledged stakeholders from the agriculture sector who provide support in terms of markets, exports and the linkage for their motivation, passion and determination to work with the farmers.

Present at the Awards Night were the farmers, various Government Ministries staff and the Ministry of Agriculture staff who all witnessed the presentation of awards.

The winners of the following categories were as follows:

Yaqona Farmer of the Year – Etuate Draunidalo of Lovoni, Ovalau

Dalo Farmer – Ratu Eroni Matavesi of Nasau, Koro

Ginger Farmer of the year – Orisi Ramenawa of Nasauvuki, Moturiki.

Vegetable Farmer of the year – Eremodo Tekivakatini of Tovulailai, Nairai

Yam Farmer of the year – Samuela Komaivunuku Tavola of Nabuna, Koro

Voivoi Farmer – Rupeni Tabaki of Manuku, Batiki

Pig Farmer of the Year – Ben Naidu of Ovalau

Beef Farmer of the Year – Ernest Douglas of Ovalau

Best Local Tausala Buyer – Viliame Sova of Nasau, Koro

Best Local Yaqona Farmer – Tevita Sorokibau of Ovalau.

Livestock Farmer of the Year – Ben Naidu of Ovalau

Lomaiviti Farmer of the Year – Etuate Draunidalo of Lovoni, Ovalau.

 

4. OFFICERS URGED TO UNDERSTAND YOUTHS

Twelve divisional youth officers and community-based trainers of the Ministry of Youth & Sports attending the Seeds of Success (SOS) Training of Trainers workshop have been urged to get to know the youths well.

The SOS programme stems from the Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) programme and was adopted by the Ministry in 1995.

The TOT workshop empowers the participants to become SOS trainers and facilitators for the young people at the grassroots and community level.

The SOS program helps to increase the confidence and self-esteem of youths, motivate youths to live and create productive and satisfying lives and increase the youth’s potential for success in their work and in their personal life.

Workshop facilitator and SOS Trainer Lorna Foster told the participants to always be conscious of how to approach young people when conducting trainings.

“You’ve got to love, believe and show them that no matter the situation they are in, they can become successful,” said Ms Foster. “If you do not then it is likely they won’t listen to you.”

“As trainers for youths, it is often required that you stoop to their level so they can appreciate and accept the messages we wish to deliver,” said Lorna. “Most importantly you need to have a high degree of understanding for youths.”

Meanwhile, Principal Youth Officer Research & Development Unit of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mr Iowane Soko while opening the week-long training said the ministry is committed towards ensuring the success of all Fijian youths.

Mr Soko said trainers must be able to convince and change the mind-set of youths toward becoming self-reliant, open-minded and realising their purpose and potential in life and be able to achieve goals and become productive members of society.

“As trainers, it is expected that you must have an excellent understanding of the subject of the training,” said Mr Soko.

“You should desire new ideas and experiment them, have the ability to give clear instructions, plan and implement training and regularly evaluate and your work and successes and also cope and learn when things do not go according to plan,” Mr Soko told the workshop participants.

The PMA programme was based on the work of Napoleon Hill, a young American who interviewed wealthy American businessmen in order to understand the attitudes and behaviours that led to their success.

The workshop will end on Friday.

 

5. NEW BRIDGE FOR THE PEOPLE OF RAKIRAKI

Close to 5000 Fijians living in Rakiraki, including farming settlements, will be beneficiaries of the newly completed $12million bridge that will be commissioned tomorrow by the Hon. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Divisional planning officer West, Sitiveni Tavaga said Government has made a commitment to improve the state of roads and bridges around the country following the neglect from over the years.

“The $12million investment will ease transportation for people to travel and will help everyone from large manufacturers to small farmers take their goods to market, it will attract investment and moreover increase tourist arrivals into the area,” Mr. Tavaga said.

“As for Rakiraki we have seen a boom in tourism activity for the past four years, so with the completion of the bridge will attract more tourists to this part of the country.”

Mr Tavaga added that the bridge provides a vital link in terms of transportation for farmers and daily commuters travelling on the Kings Highways.

The project was completed within one year by the China Railway Fifth Group as the contractor.

Meanwhile, in 2013 Fiji Roads Authority had permanently closed the bridge as authorities have declared that it was no longer safe to use.

With plans to further develop Rakiraki as tourist destination, Mr Tavaga is adamant the bridge will also attract foreign investment to boost the business sector.

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