Pm Bainimarama Commissions
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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2020 l 16 PAGES l ISSUE 18 VOL 11 l WWW.FIJI.GOV.FJ Fijijj Focus PM BAINIMARAMA COMMISSIONS WATER PROJECT RIGHT: Ranadi Waqanitavuki fills a cup of water from the newly-installed tap water at Tavuki Village in Kadavu. BOTTOM: Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama during the commisioning of the new water project on Kadavu Island. Photos: NANISE NEIMILA NANISE NEIMILA the new piped water system.” With the commissioning a OR many women like Ra- $189,803 water project by Prime nadi Waqanitavuki of Ta- Minister Voreqe Bainimarama Fvuki village in Kadavu ac- last week, the head of govern- cessing clean and safe water will ment is reassuring all Fijians that be beneficial for her family and Government is working towards village too. achieving its Sustainable Devel- Having to carry water in buck- opment Goal (SDG) 6 by ensur- ets over the past few years will ing that Fijians have access to be a thing of the past for villagers clean water and sanitation. in Tavuki after the commission- The 160 villagers will now have ing of their new water project. access to a clean, safe and prop- “We are grateful to the govern- erly piped water system. ment for facilitating the com- While commissioning the fully- pletion of this new water piped funded Government project, PM system that will not only ease the Bainimarama said villagers will burden for us villagers but wom- now be able to access clean and en in particular.” safe drinking water from the “There were frequent water cuts comfort of their own homes. in the past and for us women we Prime Minister Bainimarama depend on water for cooking, fetching drinking water for chil- dren but now it will be easy with CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj NATIONAL MATTERS phone: 3301806 INSIDE ‘The ocean - a piece BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE -14 DAKUITOGA AWARDED of who we are’ FELIX LESINAIVALU on to run our modern economy would never FOR HIS SERVICE -13 arrive to Fiji, and many of our Fijian-made ex- PATTERSON DEDICATES THE ocean is more than Fiji’s bridge to ports would never ship throughout the world. the world, it represents a precious piece of “Instead, we can rely on maritime charts of MEDAL TO THE PEOPLE OF who we are as a people. It feeds us.” properly surveyed waters to navigate through- EVUKA “ L -11 This was highlighted by Prime Minister out our 1.3 million square kilometres of Fijian Voreqe Bainimarama during the Fiji Hydro- ocean. That matters a great deal in normal graphic Service (FHS) golden jubilee recep- times and in times of crisis, when vessels must tion held recently at the Royal Fiji Yacht Club. urgently ship relief supplies to isolated re- “As a blue economy, we depend on the FHS gions.” to allow ships to safely navigate our ocean and “I know we’re here to celebrate a half cen- keep Fiji at the cutting-edge of ocean science. tury of service given by the FHS to Fiji. But For thousands of years the ocean was Fiji’s tonight, I want to speak about the future of the Voreqe only bridge to the world. Even as we’ve em- vast ocean Fijians are entrusted with protect- Bainimarama As a blue economy, braced the modern might of large-scale com- ing.” mercial air travel, shipping for Fiji is more Prime Minister Bainimarama said the ocean we depend on the Fiji critical today than ever.” regulates the climate and actually helps stop Hydrographic Service to “In a usual year, we import more than 80,000 global warming from becoming worse but even allow ships to safely navigate of those massive twenty-foot containers we see the ocean is beset by devastating challenges. our ocean and keep Fiji at on the cargo ships in our major ports. On top of “Overfishing, pollution, and climate change the cutting-edge of ocean that we import another 400,000 tonnes of loose all threaten to strip our ocean bare, putting the science. For thousands of cargo,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said. future of every Fijian, along with every other years the ocean was Fiji’s He added that without well-mapped ports, all person on Earth, at risk.” Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama during the Fiji only bridge to the world. that food and those supplies, construction ma- Fiji has been a strong advocate on the global Hydrographic Service (FHS) golden jubilee reception at the Even as we’ve embraced terials, vehicles, and other vital goods we rely stage for the preservation of ocean health. Royal Fiji Yacht Cluba Photo: FELIX LESINAIVALU the modern might of large- scale commercial air travel, shipping for Fiji is more critical today than ever. Voreqe Bainimarama Prime Minister NUMBERS 80K Is the number of 20 foot containers imported in a year. On top of that 400K tonnes of loose cargo is also imported in a year. TWEET OF THE WEEK Frank Bainimarama @FijiPM Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with the Cuvulaca family outside their newly-built home at Tavuki Village on Kadavu. Photo: NANISE NEIMILA Welcome back to the fight, @ JohnKerry. I remember the optimism of 2016, when you and Cuvulaca lauds assistance in building family home I had the privilege of signing the #ParisAgreement. Nearly five years NANISE NEIMILA tion, maintenance of small engine know where to get the money to and be safe from in the future.” on, I look forward to working with repairs and plumbing and is a joint construct another home,” Mrs Cu- While commissioning the newly- you again to deliver young people in T was an emotional day for partnership between the Ministry vulaca said. built home, Prime Minister Voreqe Fiji and around the world a climate- Tarisi Cuvulaca and her family of iTaukei Affairs, Fiji National “My husband is partially blind Bainimarama highlighted that pro- secure future. Iafter they received the keys for University (FNU) and United and my son is physically disabled.” grams as such would promote so- their newly-built home which was Nations Development Program “I am thankful to the Fijian Gov- cio-economic development by cre- CONTACT constructed under the Community (UNDP). ernment, the Fiji National Univer- ating opportunities for investment. Sub Editor: Prashila Devi Manager Vernacular: Viliame Tikotani Learning Alternative programme. The Cuvulaca family were one of sity and United Nations Devel- The Head of Government said Virendra Lal Under this programme, 100 those whose homes were destroyed opment Programme (UNDP) for that through such programmes North office: Level 3 Macuata House, Labasa West office: Level 1 Ratu Nauliano House, Koroivalu youths from the 75 villages in the during TC Harold and they have introducing such programmes to youths can access the appropriate nine district of Kadavu will be been living in a tent. However, benefit families like us.” skills and knowledge for disaster Contacts: Suva: 3301806 / West: 6700086 / 9905965 building homes that have been af- with assistance of the programme, “I would also like to acknowledge rehabilitation and contribute to North: 8811276 / 9905971 fected by the Tropical Cyclone villagers were able to build their the village elders for their assis- the National Development Plan Fax: 3305139/3304663 [email protected] Harold. new home within six weeks only. tance to the youths to ensure that through Inclusive Socio-Economic @FijianGovt The programme will upskill youth “After the destruction of our we were able to stay in a home that Development and Transformation- Fijian Government visit us at www.fiji.gov.fj in carpentry, solar panel installa- home during TC Harold, I didn’t can withstand category 4 cyclones al Strategic Thrusts. 2 Wednesday November 25, 2020 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 NATIONAL MATTERS PM commissions new water project Families grateful for FROM PAGE 1 adds that the Government has done their part in providing a reli- able system which would supply relocation assistance water to them but the onus was NANISE NEIMILA on the villagers to utilise this re- source wisely. EVEN families of Narikoso Village in “A broken water system is a Kadavu became the third successful health disaster waiting to happen. Srelocation project in Fiji for those af- Water must be kept pure and safe, fected by the adversities of climate change. and that requires us to constantly The $1.2 million initiative, which was fully monitor and assess the systems funded by the European Union and German that are in place. We need to be Agency for International Cooperation and sure that the systems are resil- Development, will ensure the families are not ient and will continue to function affected by rising sea levels. through storms and other natural It is also one of the 48 relocation projects disasters. But we need to be sure identified by the Fijian Government as the that they continue to function most vulnerable. properly even when they are not Thirty-eight year old Siteri Vuidreu was under stress.” emotional and grateful to the EU and GIZ in “This new system was tested partnership with the Fijian Government for during Tropical Cyclone Harold, their support and assistance towards her fam- and it emerged with only minor ily’s relocation. damage. Harold did not take your “Every time there was a surge in the tide our Siteri Vuidreu with her husband and two sons in front of their newly-constructed home. They are one of the seven water because it had been secured home would be half submerged in water and families who are part of the relocation project at Narikoso Village, on Kadavu Island.