WEDNESDAY JULY 1, 2020 l 16 PAGES l ISSUE 10 VOL 11 l WWW.FIJI.GOV.FJ Fijijj Focus Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with Assistant Minister for Agriculture Jale Sigarara during the commissioning of the Bua Provincial Council staff quarters at Nabouwalu yesterday. The quarters cost $180,000 to build. Photos: NANISE NEIMILA PM’S CALL Work with communities, civil servants urged NANISE NEIMILA marama to assist Fijians in communities their willingness to work hard for achiev- Provincial Council staff quarters in Nabou- across Bua to tap into the vast potential that able rewards and lead this province into a walu yesterday. IVIL servants serving at the Bua lies in their land. new era of development. Provincial Office have been urged Prime Minister Bainimarama urged these The Head of Government highlighted this Cby Prime Minister Voreqe Baini- civil servants to help these Fijians harness while officiating at the opening of the Bua CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj NATIONAL MATTERS phone: 3301806 INSIDE ‘Land lots not going to FIJIANS GET CREATIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA - 15 YOUTH GRANTED PATH TO intended recipients’ FOLLOW DREAMS -14 HE Ministry of Housing and Commu- Authority. rent lot allotment policy which allows sale of nity Development has maintained its The findings from these research work and limited number of high end lots which is being SEAFARERS ‘IMPORTANT TO stance that allocation of lots by Hous- other available facts raise clear doubts on the questioned by the Minister, but the system used PACIFIC’ - 13 T ing Authority of Fiji was not going to those eligibility of some of the lot recipients to re- to pick successful applicants. Fijians it was intended for. ceive heavily subsidised land lots and thereby, “This system lacks transparency in selecting LTA SETS NEW POLICY Ministry permanent secretary, Sanjeeva Perera the level of transparency of the lot allotment the successful applicants when large numbers DIRECTION - 12 said there had been numerous complaints from process used by the Authority. of applicants who meet the basic criteria apply. applicants on the allocation of lots by Housing Responding to comments by the Fiji Bank and This obviously leaves room then for those staff QUOTE OF THE WEEK Authority of Fiji. Finance Sector Employees Union, Mr Parera who intend to manipulate the decisions made, “Interestingly, the most common question said the line Minister Premila Kumar’s state- for their personal gains to abuse the system.” raised by these low/middle income earning ment on this issue was well supported by these “We have been trying to understand the applicants is how could some of the successful findings and observations. mechanism used by the Authority’s Lot Allot- Housing Authority applicants manage to build “The union on the other hand needs not to go ment system in picking the successful appli- such expensive houses if they were really low far, but simply read and hear what members cations, but unfortunately, have not received income earners,” Mr Perera said. of the public are expressing on corruption a satisfactory explanation to date. When the Voreqe He added that this has been one area of practices at Housing Authority, especially ap- users of a system do not understand or cannot Bainimarama research undertaken by the Ministry as part plicants who had applied for the lots and hoped explain it, that leaves room for manipulation,” As Fijians, you all have of its policy review process, in particular the that one day, they too would own their very Mr Perera said. every right to tap into my eligibility of the recipients on the lots request- own homes,” he said. Government’s universal health ed, within certain development areas of the Mr Perera also clarified that it is not the cur- [email protected] coverage –– coverage that is granted to all Fijians, not just those living in our towns and cities. Voreqe Bainimarama Fijian Prime Minister NUMBERS 150,000 tonnes The amount of cane FSC plans to transfer to Lautoka Mill from Rarawai as cane crushing begins. Government has allocated 5.9million to procure lorries for this purpose. TWEET OF THE WEEK Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan during a virtual presentation to the Director General of the International Labour Organisation, Guy Ryder. Photo: SUPPLIED Fiji envoy presents UN pact ratification papers IJI’S Permanent Repre- Fijian Government`s continued Ryder, congratulated the Fijian ratification is most crucial and António Guterres @antonioguterres sentative to the United commitment to improve labour Governments’ commitment and matters as it draws the Conven- There is no good reason for any FNations in Geneva, Am- conditions and to apply best leadership in various aspects in- tion to meeting the minimum country to include coal in their bassador Nazhat Shameem Khan practices aligned to international cluding improving labour stand- threshold to enter into force.” #COVID19 recovery plans. This is the has presented two instruments of standards. ards despite the hurdles posed by Mr Ryder wished Fiji well in time to invest in energy sources that Fiji’s ratification of Convention Fiji’s ratification is consistent the pandemic. the domestication of the Conven- don’t pollute, generate decent jobs 190. with Fiji’s Human Rights Council “Fiji’s ratification signalled to tion 190 and the Protocol 2002 and save money. This ratification will be cover- membership and is timely and it the world that this Convention and the ILO stands ready to work ing - Violence and Harassment remains committed to addressing needs to be ratified quickly and collaboratively with the Fijian CONTACT Convention 2019 and Protocol real challenges such as violence, widely. In light of the pandemic, Government in its implementa- Publisher: Deborah Weiss 2002 to the Occupational Safety harassment, and intimidation in ILO knows from evidence that tions. Sub Editor: Prashila Devi Manager Vernacular: Viliame Tikotani and Health Convention of 1981. the world of work particularly gender-based violence increased The Parliament of the Republic Virendra Lal Ambassador Khan made a during this pandemic. globally and this ratification of Fiji, in its May, 2020 sitting, North office: Level 3 Macuata House, Labasa West office: Level 1 Ratu Nauliano House, Koroivalu virtual presentation to the Direc- Fiji also noted the inclusiv- works towards addressing those, approved the ratification of tor General of the International ity of the Convention, which so I thank Fiji for this,” the direc- Convention 190 – Violence and Contacts: Suva: 3301806 / West: 6700086 / 9905965 Labour Organisation, Guy Ryder, purports to protect and empower tor general said. Harassment Convention 2019 North: 8811276 / 9905971 last week. all who are subject of bullying Further, the Director General and Protocol 2002 to the Occupa- Fax: 3305139/3304663 [email protected] While presenting Fiji’s instru- and harassment at work including reiterated that Fiji’s ratification is tional Safety and Health Conven- @FijianGovt ments of ratification, Ambas- women. Whilst receiving Fiji’s critical in enabling the Conven- tion on 1981. Fijian Government visit us at www.fiji.gov.fj sador Khan highlighted the instruments of ratification, Mr tion to enter into force, “Your [email protected] 2 Wednesday, July 1, 2020 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 NATIONAL MATTERS PM’s call FROM PAGE 1 The $180,000 quarters will ac- Fiji in phase 2 of commodate staff serving in the provincial office. “Every official serving this province must become stronger advocates for the vast oppor- pandemic response tunities my Government has made available to the Fijian IJIANS have entered Phase 2 of COV- “At the moment, gatherings of more than 20 said the plan is to reopen schools in two stages. people, including our landown- ID-19 response that is seeing the re- people are banned. From June 22, we’ll be re- “To safely ease back into the academic cal- ing communities.” Fopening of schools, certain businesses, laxing this restriction, allowing for gatherings endar and give our school leaders the space to “These opportunities are places of worship and recreational centres- but up to 100 individuals,” Prime Minister Baini- adjust, Year 12 and Year 13 students in our sec- only made possible through with restrictions to maintain precautionary marama said. ondary schools will start classes on Tuesday, our Fijian Constitution, which measures. He has hailed the understanding and leader- 30 June. This will allow them to get back into establishes, for the first time Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made ship shown by religious bodies over the past preparing for their exams –– a top priority to ever, permanent and unwaver- the announcement recently after Fiji passed months during which many holy days in the avoid longer-term disruption. Tertiary institu- ing protections of iTaukei land more than 70 days since the last positive case religious calendars had passed. tions as well can open for face-to-face classes ownership. No exceptions and of COVID-19. “Effective from Friday, the 26th of June, from 30 June.” no excuses.” Fiji has been strictly observing safety meas- we’re allowing houses of worship to re-open “The rest of the primary and secondary Prime Minister Bainimarama ures and has not let down its guard as the their doors to 100 worshippers at a time.” schools –– as well as early childhood educa- urged officials not to let this in- world figure for COVID-19 has surpassed 10 “We are asking each church, mosque, and tion –– will open one week later, on Monday, vestment go to waste. million with more than half million fatalities. temple to share the burden of responsibility, the 6th of July.” “Every extra hour of quality “In Phase 2, our nationwide curfew will re- and look after your worshippers with the same Gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools sleep you gain in these new main in effect, but to allow for more economic duty of care that is at the centre of all our ef- –– both public pools and those at hotels –– re- quarters should be matched by activity and freedom of movement, it will now forts.