Caption: Awarded from among representatives of 22 Pacific island Government water utilities were (left) WAF Senior Analyst, Manasa Tusulu who was named “2015 Water Professional of the Year” and WAF CEO Opetaia Ravai who accepted the award on behalf of the company for “Most Improved Water Facility in the Pacific”. Photo: SUPPLIED.
September 24, 2015. The Water Authority of Fiji has been awarded “The Most Improved Water Utility in the Pacific,” as recognition of WAF’s growth and development over the past two years.
In addition, WAF Senior Business Analyst, Manasa Tusulu was awarded as the “2015 Water Professional of the Year.” for his contribution in providing data “on a continual basis” that has helped the benchmarking exercise of the PWWA.
The awards were presented at the Pacific Water and Waste Water Association (PWWA) 8th Annual Conference held in Papua New Guinea from September 14 – 17.
PWWA Chairman Opetaia Ravai, who is also the CEO of WAF, said that in selecting the Authority as the most improved water facility in the Pacific “ the judges compared our performance in 2013 with 2014 that reflected continued growth.
“While we are grateful for the award, it is also a reminder that what we have achieved is a part of a process that is far from complete,” said Mr. Ravai. “However we are on track and for us its all about continuous improvements”.
He said that the 4-day Conference benefited from the inclusion of regional Government Infrastructure Ministers who were also in PNG attending the Pacific Forum meeting. Included Fiji’s Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Hon Vijay Nath.
The Ministers supported PWWA initiatives included 2CROP (Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific) membership and a major restructuring that would make more “hands on” to water matters in the Pacific, according to Mr. Ravai.
As the major water utility in the region, PWWA is comprised of 26 government water and wastewater facilities in 20 countries and states in the Pacific,
The countries: American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Saipan, Marshall Island, Papua New Guinea, Tokelau, Guam, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati and Northern Mariana Islands., New Caledonia,
The Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific, or more commonly known as CROP, comprises intergovernmental regional organisations in the Pacific such as SPC, the Forum Secretariat and Pacific Power Association. It was created to better achieving the common goal of sustainable development in the Pacific region.
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