NEWSLETTER Issue 5 September-October Issue 10 November 2015 www.pmoffice.gov.fj PM addresses 70th UN General Assembly The Honourable Prime Minister during his address at the 70th UN General Assembly Source: DINFO On Wednesday 30th Septem- economy especially so by local Conference in June 2017 that ber, the Hon. Prime Minister investors. will be held in Fiji. The first of Inside this issue: Voreqe Bainimarama deliv- 5 conferences will bring to- ered his statement at the 70th The address also included the gether all those dedicated to United Nations General As- Fijian Government’s commit- the integrity of the implemen- PM holds Bilateral 2 sembly in the UN Head Quar- ment to its human rights pri- tation of the Oceans Goal. Talks in NY ters in New York. orities, the Suva Declaration PS visits Nausori Spe- 2 on Climate Change, Fiji’s sup- In his address PM Bainimara- cial School The Hon. PM spoke on Fiji’s port of the Sustainable Devel- ma also put forward the progress since the 2014 elec- opment Goals 14 on the con- Pacific’s nomination for the Tuvalu PM visits NMC 3 tions and the political changes servation and sustainable Assembly President, that was that the country has undertak- management of seas and submitted to the Asia-Pacific DCFD providing assis- 3 en. oceans and the Green Growth Group, Fiji’s current Repre- tance to communities Summit that was held in Fiji. sentative to the UN, Ambassa- He said that although democ- dor Peter Thompson. 4 PD leads internal infor- racy may seem “messy and While the Hon. PM reiterated mation sharing net- chaotic” it is the price that Fiji’s commitment and support Other than the address to the works Fijians are willing to pay to be of the United Nations through General Assembly the Hon. able to enjoy democracy. its Peace-keeping Forces, he PM and his delegation also ICO gets mileage for 4 also emphasized the need for met with other Heads of State OPM from Exhibitions Hon. PM Bainimarama also the UN to focus on the envi- including the PM of New Zea- OPM in Brief 5 spoke at length on the Fijian ronmental and marine con- land and also accepted the ICT economy and its 4% increase cerns of the Pacific. PM Bain- ITU Award on behalf of the over the last 3 years. This has imarama also extended the country. been partially due to the in- invitation to the general as- creased confidence in the sembly to attend the Triennial 1 “A Modernized Nation State through Robust Leadership & Equitable Development for All” PM Holds Bilateral Talks in New York The Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Voreqe Rutte. Fiji and the Netherlands were co- Bainimarama held a number of bilateral talks founders and current co-chairs of the UN's with various State leaders at the margins of Group of Friends of Oceans & Seas and have 70th Session of the United Nations General committed their countries to faithful pursuit Assembly in New York . of the implementing of SDG14, the Ocean's Goal of the 2030 Sustainable Development In meeting the Prime Minister of New Zea- Agenda. land, Mr. John Key, PM Bainimarama congrat- ulated New Zealand on her role at the United The leaders also agreed to enhance relations Nations Security Council, and thanked New through technical cooperation and Zealand for convening the open debate on knowledge-sharing in fields of common inter- “Peace and Security Challenges facing Small est. Island Developing States PM Bainimarama also held talks with Swedish The leaders also discussed the declaration of counterpart Hon Stefan Lofven. In the first one of the world’s largest oceans sanctuaries meeting between the two Prime Ministers within the New Zealand EEZ in the Kermadec warm greetings were exchanged, with a com- region, Fiji’s own efforts to safeguard Sustain- mitment between both to work in mutual able Development Goal 14, Fiji’s candidacy support in efforts to combat Climate Change for the Presidency of the 71st UN General and reverse the decline of Ocean’s health. Assembly and both leaders also extended Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Bainimarama invitations to visit their countries. The talks have proven successful with Fiji now developing new relations and strengthening meets with New Zealand PM, Mr. John Key. old ones at the global level. Source: DINFO Fiji’s leader also held talks with Prime Minis- ter of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Mr. Mark PS OPM Visits Nausori Special School The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Office “ I urge you all to be devoted to your studies of the Prime Minister, Mr. Naipote Katonita- or activities you may be involved in at the bua, officiated the Fiji Day celebrations at the school. Through this that you can improve Nausori Special School on Thursday 8 October. your life in the future. I urge you to embrace the opportunity before you. Take what you With the theme; “Together in Harmony for a learn and put it to good use”, said Mr. Katonit- Prosperous Fiji”, Mr. Katonitabua, spoke to the abua. parents, teachers and students on reflecting and gauging the progress that Fiji has made. The Acting PS concluded his address by urging the students to take up lessons that will be Mr. Katonitabua shared the objectives of the Acting PS OPM, Mr. Katonitabua hands part of their greatest achievements - a bright Fiji Day celebrations, “to celebrate our and better future. over gifts to the teachers and students of achievements, encourage patriotism and na- Nausori Special School. Source: DINFO tion building and promote hope for the fu- The Acting PS, Mr. Katonitabua , also distribut- ture” ed gifts to the teachers and students as part of the celebrations to assist the school. The Acting PS reminded the students that the national day is a significant day of celebration for everyone that calls Fiji home. In reassuring the students and teachers of Government’s commitment that all Fijians have access to quality education he encour- aged the students to devote themselves to their studies and getting involved in school activities. Staff and students of Nausori Special School. Source: DINFO 2 “A Modernized Nation State through Robust Leadership & Equitable Development for All” Tuvalu PM visits National Monitoring Centre of the strategic The Hon. Enele Sopoaga commended the path that Fiji has works of ICO especially in its monitoring of taken from the Government’s performance and its public formulation of relations activities in its outreach to the com- the State of the munity. He further acknowledged Govern- Nation Report, ment as a whole in ensuring that its strategic the People’s commitments are met of which in-turn bene- Charter, the Stra- fits the lives of all Fijians. tegic Framework, DS ICO, Mr. Tunidau, also spoke at length of the Road Map to Government’s Post Election activities in en- the 2013 Consti- DS ICO, Mr Tunidau presents to the Hon. Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu PM, Fiji’s Rov- gaging with various partners and stakehold- ing Ambassador to the Pacific, Litia Mawi and the Tuvalu ministerial delegation. tution,” said the ers; Central Agency Coordination, Cross Sec- DS Tunidau. toral Coordination and Multi-sectoral Coordi- The Implementation Coordinating Office The presentation also covered the implemen- nation to provide more collaboration with all (ICO) hosted the Honourable Prime Minister tation and monitoring of the strategic docu- parties and forge stronger action-oriented of Tuvalu, Mr. Enele Sopoaga and his Ministe- ments that led to the establishment of ICO, relationships. rial delegation on Wednesday 16th Septem- formerly the Strategic Framework for Change ber at its National Monitoring Centre (NMC) Prior to Hon. Enele Sopoaga’s visit to ICO, he Coordinating Office, and the assessment of in Walubay. was at the signing of the delimitation of mari- the performance of Government through the time areas under the jurisdiction of Fiji, In the visit to NMC, the Deputy Secretary of Ministries’ and agencies Annual Corporate France and Tuvalu. The signing took place ICO, Mr. Edward Tunidau, met with the dele- Plans. between the Tuvalu PM, Fiji’s Roving Ambas- gation and provided a brief of Fiji’s Strategic Mr. Tunidau also provided an overview of the sador to the Pacific, Litia Mawi and the Pathway. Public Sector Reform plans for Government; French Ambassador to Fiji, Michel Djokovic. “One purpose of the presentation was to the Civil Service, Financial Management and provide the Hon. Prime Minister an overview the Public Enterprise. DCFD - Providing Assistance to Communities The community was overwhelmed with the The assistance will help the Council of Ro- assistance as this will eradicate the problem tuma with their transportation needs and in- of carrying heavy goods from the main road turn help the Rotuman leaders to serve the to their homes (the distance is about 100m citizens they represent. This vehicle will allow from main road) and also assist them in the council to travel to various villages to cleaning of compounds to prevent such dis- hold meetings and consultations, a critical eases as dengue fever, etc. component of participatory and inclusive democracy said Mr. Katonitabua. Mr. Katonitabua hands over the brush-cutters and Mr Katonitabua added that Government be- wheelbarrows to Waikerekere community. lieves that all Fijians must be able to voice their concerns directly to Government. The Office of the Prime Minister led by the Permanent Secretary Mr. Naipote Katonita- Rotuma council chairman Tarterani Rigamoto bua handed over three (3) brush cutters and thanked government for the assistance made three (3) wheelbarrows to the Waikerekere towards the development of the island. Community on 11 September. The total cost Mr. Katonitabua hands over the new vehicle to of the assistance is $2,900.25 and is funded the Rotuma Council.