WEDNESDAY AUGUST 14, 2019 l 16 PAGES l ISSUE 16 VOL 10 l WWW.FIJI.GOV.FJ Fijij Focus+ FIJI SET TREES RETIREE TO HOST PLANTED SHARES NEXT PALM SINCE CARPENTRY TALKS 15 JANUARY 2019 7 SKILLS 6 400K Pacific leaders during the Sautalaga event of the 50th Pacific Islands Forum at Funafuti, Tuvalu, on Monday this week. Photo: RUPENI WAQAVONO RESIDENCY PM: Fiji will provide home to sinking Tuvalu HALITESHOFFER DATT made the same offer to your neighbors in Kiri- bati,” PM Bainimarama said. ACIFIC Island leaders including the Fijian “This is obviously not our preferred option or Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama were yours. Because natural justice demands that you Pgiven a stark reminder of the urgency of continue to live in the place you call home, the climate action as they touched down at Tuvalu’s islands you love, and the islands of your ances- international airport in Funafuti. tors.” Tuvaluan kids lay in ankle deep water as they “But in the Fijian spirit of loving and open welcomed the leaders from the region depicting hearts, we are determined that you not be climate the harsh reality- that their homes are sinking be- refugees. In a worst case scenario, we will offer low the waves of the soaring oceans. you refuge among us so that at the very least, you Prime Minister Bainimarama, who is also the remain close to where you rightly belong.” chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing Tuvalu lies barely a few meters above sea level States (PSIDS), while speaking at the Sautalaga and just like other island nations such as the Mar- event of the 50th Pacific Islands Forum, said Fiji shall Islands and Kiribati, the repercussions of will stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Tuvalu and degrading and polluting the natural environment other Pacific island nations in this climate fight. is now threatening the very existence of these tiny “But if, God forbid, that effort fails because the island nations. industrial nations continue to selfishly put their Prime Minister Bainimarama said Fiji will not own interests above our own, Fiji will offer a Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is greeted by Tuvaluan children, who are depicting their home to you – the people of Tuvalu. We have CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 sinking island, on arrival at Funafuti International Airport for the 50th Pacific Islands Forum meeting. Photo: RUPENI WAQAVONO email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; NATIONAL MATTERS visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 INSIDE Outgoing envoy to USA FIJI SET TO HOST NEXT PALM TALKS - 15 ready for PIDF challenge BRAVERY MEDAL RECIPIENT TELLS OF MONSTER STORM - 14 ISAAC LAL DEVELOPMENTS ‘LIFT LIVES IJI’S outgoing Ambassa- OF ORDINARY FIJIANS’ - 13 dor to the United States of America Solo Mara says he CRIME RATE DROPS F is ready to take on the challenges DESPITE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES- 12 in his new role as Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) in- QUOTE OF THE WEEK coming secretary-general. Ambassador Mara will take on the new role in October after be- ing appointed by Member States during the 2019 PIDF Plenary Session on Governance and Insti- tutional Issues in Nadi recently. Voreqe Bainimarama. “PIDF is an exclusive Pacific I am proud to say that Fiji is forum which allows all states to rising to the challenge laid discuss and chart their way for- down by the UN Secretary ward as equals and I am humbled General to go to New York to have been appointed,” he said. with an increase in our “The current SG, Francois Mar- own NDC, our Nationally tel, has done tremendous work Determined Contribution, in the establishment of the secre- to reduce Greenhouse Gas tariat and recognized by the in- Emissions ternational community including the United Nations, and I have big Fiji’s outgoing Ambassador to the United States of America and Pacific Islands Development Forum incoming secretary-general, Solo Mara (right), during the recent 2019 PIDF Plenary Session on Governance and Institutional Issues in Nadi. Photo: ISAAC LAL Voreqe Bainimarama shoes to fill but I am humbled by Prime Minister the confidence placed on me by the regional leaders.” and review its charter to maintain partnerships with civil society and abilities; the management of wa- Ambassador Mara’s appointed its effectiveness in an evolving the private sector,” PM Bainima- terways; building up our regional NUMBERS was announced by incoming PIDF political landscape. rama said. tourism market; and combatting chair and Fijian Prime Minister “Ambassador Mara will be The Fijian Head of Govern- flows of drugs and illicit materi- Voreqe Bainimarama. charged with stripping away the ment added that there was a huge als through Pacific waters,” PM more bureaucratic systems within amount of white space in the Pa- Bainimarama added. 400K+ A seasoned diplomat, PM Baini- this organisation to streamline op- cific that is currently being missed “At the moment, I’m concerned Number of trees planted marama said, Ambassador Mara erations and foster an institutional by other regional players, which that Pacific Island countries are would leverage his diplomatic culture that better leverages this the PIDF must step in to fill. suffering from an insistence on since the launch of experience, in Fiji and in capitals forum’s greatest competitive ad- “This includes issues such as the implementing one-size-fits-all Fiji’s 4 million trees around the world, to enact a new vantages. Namely, our commit- empowerment of women, young development approaches. We’re in 4 years initiative by mandate to restructure the PIDF ment to inclusivity through our people and those living with dis- not doing a good enough of job of the President, Major-General (ret’d) Jioji Konusi Konrote, in January this year. Ministry set community mental health focus EMI KOROITANOA “Mental health is a public health issue and with TWEET OF THE WEEK more awareness, there should be less stigma, which HE Ministry of Health and in turn will enable people to seek help when they feel Medical Services is looking stuck or pressured, instead of waiting for matters to Tto further develop the mental get worse,” Ms Kuruleca said. health sector of Fiji with community “Everyone needs some form of help at any given mental health one of their major ar- time. There is no health without Mental Health.” eas of focus. Furthermore, Minister Waqainabete said that he is The line Minister, Dr Ifereimi Selina keen on addressing the issue by strengthening the Frank Bainimarama (@FijiPM) Kuruleca. Mental health is a public Waqainabete said: “We have a very awareness on mental health in Fiji. No Fijian can be a vulagi (visitor) in the country where they are health issue and with mobile clinic that actually goes and visits people “As the Minister I plea with the community that we born, where their ancestors are who need mental health care in their individual have to support those with mental health issues.” buried, and where their children more awareness, there homes”. At present, a separate entity focused primarily on will one day call home. Indo- should be less stigma, On average, there are 110 suicide deaths annually suicide prevention, intervention and response is Fijians are not – and never will in Fiji and Minister Waqainabete said one of the Lifeline Fiji. be – vulagis in Fiji. They are one which in turn will enable with us and they are part of us, major challenges faced by the Ministry was the de- The organization entails provision of a 24/7 toll- now and always. people to seek help stigmatisation of mental health issues. free crisis Helpline, Community-based Crisis Sup- “It is so important for all the people to have access port (Psychological First Aid), promoting emotional when they feel stuck or to all our facilities, unfortunately the community well-being to the public. CONTACT pressured, instead of still stigmatizes mental health,” he said. Last year, it received more than 2,500 calls and it Stigma, which originally meant a physical mark of is estimated that every 36 hours, a Fijian attempts Publisher: Sharvada Sharma Sub Editor: Prashila Devi waiting for matters to get shame, has evolved to now define an invisible mark suicide. Manager Vernacular: Viliame Tikotani of disgrace that sets a person apart from others. Ms Kuruleca is urging Fijians dealing with depres- North office: Level 3 Macuata House, Labasa worse. West office: Level 1 Ratu Nauliano House, Koroivalu According to the Ministry, almost 75 per cent of sion to get help. persons with mental illness report that they have “Life is for living. In Fiji you can contact Lifeline Contacts: Suva: 3301806 / West: 6700086 / 9905965 Selina Kuruleca, experienced stigma. Fiji, Child Crisis Line, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, North: 8811276 / 9905971 Kuruleca Consultants Selina Kuruleca, who runs Kuruleca Consultants, Empower Pacific, local hospitals and local health Fax: 3305139/3304663 [email protected] said awareness on mental health needs to be pre- centres.” @FijianGovt sent in all educational institutions, workplace, faith The youngest person to commit suicide in Fiji was Fijian Government visit us at www.fiji.gov.fj based organisations and institutions. 7 years of age. 2 Wednesday, August 14, 2019 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 NATIONAL MATTERS PM meets WHO chief at regional talks Fiji leads the way in HE World Health Organisation (WHO) made a commitment to Tstrengthen Fiji’s position as a hub for training regional health workers in the climateHALITESH DATT action area of primary health care. venture, and also support a 10 year mora- vative mechanisms to achieve the net The commitment was made this week IJI is leading the climate action ini- torium on seabed mining from 2020 to zero emissions target that the Secretary following a meeting between Fiji’s Prime tiatives and the Fijian Head of the 2030, which would allow for a decade of General has requested by 2050, 31 years Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with WHO FGovernment has urged the pacific proper scientific research of our econom- from now.” Director-General Dr.