1. NEW TELECENTRE WELCOMED BY STUDENTS – The opening of a new telecentre today will provide a new ‘window of opportunity’ for students studying at the Sila Central High School.
2. FIJI AGRICULTURE RECEIVES HAND TRACTORS TO BOOST CROP PRODUCTION – The donation of 10 hand tractors to the Ministry of Agriculture by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia will assist in enhancing Fiji’s food security and boost crop production.
3. SENIOR OFFICIALS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM LEADERSHIP TRAINING – Senior level government officials that attended the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELAP) Leadership Training Programme in 2013 will assist the Public Service Commission in facilitating a series of workshops in an endeavor to share the knowledge and insight gained from their educational stint abroad.
4. LABOUR MINISTRY CARRIES OUT TRAINING FOR FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT – The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment conducted a Life Skills and Pre-Departure Orientation training for 21 candidates in Labasa who had been selected for overseas employment by Hylife Limited in Canada.
5. NADI HOSPITAL ORGANISES COOKERY CLASSES – The launch of the National Salt Reduction Awareness Campaign this week saw the Ministry of Health organize cookery classes at the Nadi Hospital to address non communicable disease (NCDs) and promote healthy living.
1 NEW TELECENTRE WELCOMED BY STUDENTS
The opening of a new telecentre today will provide a new ‘window of opportunity’ for students studying at the Sila Central High School.
This morning the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama opened a new telecentre at the school located in Nausori.
The School’s head boy 18 year old Sailosi Temo said that accessing the internet now at school for free is a historic development for the students as preparing simple researches are now part of studies.
“In the past, the students would travel to Nausori town or even to Suva to access the internet for research purposes however with the tele centre situated in school we will be able to save costs and access the internet for free,” Sailosi said.
“We are thankful to the Bainimarama Government for providing this easy access to the internet. This will not only serve a good purpose for the children here but for the nearby communities,” Sailosi said.
“You may be close physically to our nation’s capital. Many of you may have mobile phones. But I know that very few of you have had access to personal computers and internet connection,” Prime Minister said
“Through the computers at this Tele-centre, my Government is giving you free access to one of the marvels of the modern age – the Internet,” Prime Minister said.
School Principal Ane Rika acknowledged the Fijian government for their efforts in nominating Sila Central School to be the internet hub for the people in Nausori to connect to the world.
-ENDS-
2 FIJI AGRICULTURE RECEIVES HAND TRACTORS TO BOOST CROP PRODUCTION
The donation of 10 hand tractors to the Ministry of Agriculture by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia will assist in enhancing Fiji’s food security and boost crop production.
The hand tractors, valued at around $6000 each, were officially handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture’s permanent secretary Mr Ropate Ligairi by the Indonesian Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mukti Sardjono. This presentation took place at the Koronivia Research Station this week.
Mr Ligairi, while thanking the Indonesian Government for all the support it has provided to Fiji’s agriculture sector, said the assistance will go a long way in the development of the Fijian national economy.
“Over the years, we have witnessed direct assistance from Indonesia in the areas of rice production, product development and small farm machinery,” Mr Ligairi said.
The Government of Indonesia had also assisted Fiji through the engagement of a consultant last year who works at the Koronivia Research Station in the area of product development.
“This has enlightened us on opportunities that can be tapped to enhance the utilisation of additional commodities to generate income for our rural farmers or communities.
“Agriculture in Fiji is a promising industry given the rich water resources, fertile soil and high precipitation that Fiji receives. Some of the major difficulties faced by Fiji in excelling with agriculture industry include seed variety problem with lower yields and quality, plant disease, insect pest, small or large scale modernised farm, lack of technical experts and lack of mechanisation,” the permanent secretary highlighted.
Mr Ligairi added that there is a need to strengthen science and technology to improve the productivity of Fijian farmers.
“The assistance of the 10 hand tractors given to Fiji will assist farmers here to boost their productivity, develop their skills in farming and reduce their operating cost.”
Mr Sardjono said the assistance will enhance cooperation and contribute positively to agricultural development for both Fiji and Indonesia.
“Since 2003, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has been assisting Fiji in the field of agriculture through the provision of technical assistance such as agricultural experts dispatch to Fiji, apprenticeship Fijian farmers in Indonesia and grant of agricultural machinery,” Mr Sardjono said.
The diesel engine operated hand tractors are equipped with attachments and can be used for cultivation on dry as well as boggy land.
-ENDS-
3 SENIOR OFFICIALS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Senior level government officials that attended the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELAP) Leadership Training Programme in 2013 will assist the Public Service Commission in facilitating a series of workshops in an endeavor to share the knowledge and insight gained from their educational stint abroad.
These workshops aim to provide an environment of knowledge sharing and dissemination to fellow government colleagues as well as to energize and motivate workmates across the public service to effect beneficial changes within different ministries and departments.
The workshops will last the duration of a day and are intended for Intermediate and Senior Level Officers in various Ministries and Departments. The workshops will include presentations by CELAP Leadership Training Programme participants on “Improving Leadership in the Public Service” as well as “Strengthening Productivity in the Public Service”.
The Public Service Commission has been working closely with CELAP and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Fiji to build the capacity of senior level officials of the government and statutory bodies. Officials taking part in the CELAP Leadership Training Programme gained knowledge on public policy implementations, succession planning, project implementation and service delivery, which they hope to communicate with other senior/intermediate level government officials.
As many as 300 officials from the Fijian Government and statutory bodies would travelled to China by the end of 2015, fully realizing the opportunity to participate in this fully funded Leadership Training Programme.
The Permanent Secretary for the Public Service, Mr Parmesh Chand, said that this knowledge sharing amongst senior government officers is timely and is one of the activities that the Public Service Commission’s Workforce Development and Training Division will embark on for Civil Servants of all levels.
“There will be other knowledge sharing initiatives throughout the year and is something that is critical for the public service,” Mr Chand said.
The workshops will be held at the Centre for Training and Development in Nasese where two sessions have been planned for April and May. Ministries and departments are requested to submit a list of officers that can attend the training.
-ENDS-
4 LABOUR MINISTRY CARRIES OUT TRAINING FOR FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT
The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment conducted a Life Skills and Pre-Departure Orientation training for 21 candidates in Labasa who had been selected for overseas employment by Hylife Limited in Canada.
The training was carried out at the Ministry of Youth & Sports Conference Room in Labasa.
The Minister for Labour Mr Jone Usamate stated that the Foreign Employment Service (FORES) is one the Employment Creation Services established under the National Employment Centre Decree 2009. He highlighted that the purpose of FORES is to seek quality employment opportunities in other countries and also to make the necessary arrangements so that Fijians can access foreign employment opportunities.
He said that the training included three (3) days Life Skills training and a special one (1) day Pre-Departure Orientation training. This Pre-Departure Orientation, provided the participants with in depth knowledge of Canada so that they were aware of the general facts and information before they left the country.
“The pre-departure orientation training includes technical skills both for core & generic competencies and behavioral skills in the areas of economic, legal, social & cultural, political, environmental, security, technology and the company profile,” he added.
The same Life Skills and Pre-Departure Orientation training will be conducted for the 4 candidates in Suva on the 15th, 21st, 22ndand 29thof March 2014.
-ENDS-
5 NADI HOSPITAL ORGANISES COOKERY CLASSES
The launch of the National Salt Reduction Awareness Campaign this week saw the Ministry of Health organize cookery classes at the Nadi Hospital to address non communicable disease (NCDs) and promote healthy living.
The cookery class looks at encouraging the reduction in the intake of salt, food portioning and calorie count for commonly used root crops, fruits and vegetables.
This also included the preparation and cooking of low salt meals and stressing the need for balanced meals.
NCD awareness programs continue with the main message of quitting smoking, minimizing alcohol consumption, promoting physical activity and nutritious diets.
The first session of the cookery class included food demonstrations and awareness on the 10th of this month, which was attended by 26 participants.
Another cookery session is scheduled for the 24th of this month at the Nadi Hospital and members of the public are encouraged to participate.
-ENDS-