WEDNESDAY APRIL 10, 2019 l 16 PAGES l ISSUE 7 VOL 10 l WWW.FIJI.GOV.FJ FijiFocusKORO’S j FIJIANS TAKE A-G WARNS OF SEVEN ABUSE OF ADVANTAGE ACRES OF E-TICKETING SYSTEM OF HEALTH TOLL-FREE SWEET 2 157 NUMBER 10 SUCCESS PM’S WALK RAISES $61K Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama “walks the talk” for youngsters as he participated in a seven-kilometre walk to raise over $61,000 for the Sigatoka School for Children with Special Needs. He was joined by Fijian medallists from the recent Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi with PM Bainimarama reiterating Government’s commitment to persons living with disabilities. FULL DETAILS ON PAGE 3. Photo: LITIA VULAIDAUSIGA CLIMATE BATTLE Fiji, Norway work with ‘mutual sense of urgency’ NANISE NEIMILA be outsized –– “warming is accelerating for us, this menacing worldwide threat is Norwegian brothers and sisters to put even OUR nations are faced with a mutual at a particularly alarming pace in Scandi- even more dire.” more emphasis on the “Blue Economy” in sense of urgency to address climate navia, and stronger tropical cyclones have “That’s why Norway, like Fiji, has led the future international negotiations.” “change, as the consequences of rising ravaged Fiji in recent years”. world as we work to curb climate change. PM Bainimarama says all this efforts to seas and heightened temperatures are al- Speaking at the welcome reception for I thank the government of Norway for its combating climate change requires inter- ready being felt by Fijians and Norwegians Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of the ambitious advocacy in this fight, and for its national consensus and Fiji is looking for- alike.” Kingdom of Norway at Grand Pacific Ho- generous financial support of Fiji’s own ef- ward to working in partnership with other Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, a tel in Suva this week, he said, “Our agri- forts, including the Ocean Pathway.” countries. strong advocate on climate change, high- cultural and fishing sectors are being dis- “We both understand that the protection of “Our commonalities are on full display. lighted that while the whole world stands to rupted, and entire industries are reeling to our oceans absolutely must be a central fo- Just this year, the Fijian Government un- suffer from a changing climate, the impact adapt. But whether it’s the melting glaciers cus of any climate consideration, and I look PICTORIAL ON PAGES 8-9 afflicting the nations is already proving to at your latitude or the rising seas at ours, forward to working hand-in-hand with our CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 email: [email protected]; @FijiRepublic; Fijian Government; NATIONAL MATTERS visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 INSIDE A-G warns of abuse VILLAGERS PLEASED WITH PROJECT 15 NCDS, A GLOBAL of e-ticketing system PROBLEM 13 HALITESH DATT MINISTRY EXTENDS OUTREACH SERVICES 12 HE Attorney-General and Minister for Communications, Aiyaz Sayed-Khai- FIJI ‘LEADS BY yum has advised the members of the EXAMPLE’ 6 T public to refrain from abusing the e-ticketing system. QUOTE OF THE WEEK Speaking at the launch of e-ticketing vending machine at the Suva Bus Stand last week, the A-G said cases of abuse of the system, especial- ly by students have surfaced and this must stop. “We have heard some people sell their cards, some students give it to their parents to use. If you abuse the cards, then all the taxpayers in Voreqe Bainimarama Fiji are losing out money,” he said. “That means if we use money that we are not While we may be on the supposed to, we have less opportunities to build frontlines of the climate threat, better roads, better schools, better hospitals. The we are also on the front reality is we have limited funds, but the Govern- lines of responding to this ment has made a point in ensuring that the funds threat. The Marshall Islands, are given to the people who will need it.” Fiji and many Pacific SIDS The A-G said the Ministry of Education spends are making steady progress in excess of more than $20 million each year to in decarbonizing their pay for subsidised travel for students. economies well before 2050. “In particular, the subsidised cards are meant for those students who come from families who Voreqe Bainimarama earn less than $16,000 a year. But we see many Fijian Prime Minister parents and teachers are getting the students to get cards when they actually don’t deserve those NUMBERS cards.” “By doing so, you are actually stealing from the system. You should not do that.” $430K “We want to do more but we have to make sure that the money goes to the right people. Our job is the total as the Government is to ensure more and more Rosi Talei Sivou is all smile after using the e-tickeing vending machine to top up her e-card. Photo: HALITESH DATT services are available to you, make your life lot cost of the easier.” construction of Waisere creek Minister launches bank protection at Nadaro eTransport vending Village, Tailevu. machines TWEET OF THE WEEK HALITESH DATT HE Fijian Government has moved up a step in its ef- Tfort to modernize the pub- lic transport sector. Attorney-General and Min- JDag Inge Ulstein (@dagiulstein) ister for Communications, Ai- yaz Sayed-Khaiyum last week Thank you, PM Bainimarama, for launched the e-ticketing vending a warm welcome and excellent machine at the Suva Bus Stand, meeting. Norway and #Fiji strong partners on #CleanOceans. giving e-ticketing users another Hope to see you in Oslo in October reliable and a 24 hour service to #OurOcean2019 top up their bus cards. #SDG13 “We want everybody to have an #SDG14 access to electronic transaction in #Norway4Oceans #OceanEconomy order to make life easier for you. Tomasi Takala (le ft) and Rosi Talei in front of the e-ticketing vending machine at the Suva Bus Stand. Photo: HALITESH DATT By having e-ticketing cards, it also helps government to know well. years now. We started with 800 and youths. CONTACT more about buses, routes and are- “What we want to do of course EFTPOS terminal where people Rosi Talei Sivou, a Year 12 stu- as. It gives us a lot of information is to have Vodafone have these were able to top up their cards. dent of the Suva Sangam Collage Publisher: Sharvada Sharma Sub Editor: Prashila Devi and helps us to plan,” A-G said. machines set up throughout the Today we have 1200 of those ter- was one of the first to get hands Manager Vernacular: Viliame Tikotani Currently there are five of such country, not just at the bus stands minals,” Vodafone chief execu- on the new technology with her North office: Level 3 Macuata House, Labasa West office: Level 1 Ratu Nauliano House, Koroivalu vending machines in the country but other places where people tive Pradeep Lal said. school Principal. with 2 at the Suva Bus Stand, 2 at commute a lot,” A-G said. The machines can take $1 and $2 “This machine will improve the Contacts: Suva: 3301806 / West: 6700086 / 9905965 the Nausori Bus Terminal while 1 This new technology represents coins with notes of different de- e-ticketing services, especially North: 8811276 / 9905971 at the Nadi Bus Stand. Plans are a multi-million dollar investment nominations up to $100. for students like us. I would also Fax: 3305139/3304663 [email protected] underway to install these ma- by Vodafone Fiji. Meanwhile the machine has al- like to urge youths and everyone @FijiRepublic chines in Sigatoka, Ba, Lautoka “E-ticketing has been in opera- ready attracted a lot of interest, to be responsible while using this Fijian Government visit us at www.fiji.gov.fj and Labasa in coming weeks as tion for more than one and half especially from school students machine,” Sivou said. 2 Wednesday, April 10, 2019 email: [email protected]; @FijiRepublic; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 NATIONAL MATTERS Climate battle FROM PAGE 1 PM walks the talk, dertook an ambitious project to plant four million trees over the next four years.” “And when it comes to culti- vating healthy forests, Norway has a long history of interna- raises $61K tional stewardship. In fact, your own sustainable forestry efforts LITIA VULAIDAUSIGA marama said. through their educational journey. span far beyond your own bor- “Perhaps most importantly, it enables them “This freedom of choice is what inclusivity is ders; from Liberia to Indonesia, RIME Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama with choices – the choice to attend a school all about,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said. Norway has committed hun- led the annual Outrigger Walk for Kids that best suits their needs. Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort’s acting General dreds of millions of dollars to Pand walked close to seven kilometres for “Because while we are funding our special Manager, Russel Blaik said they planned to halting irresponsible deforesta- the charity cause, which raised over $61,000 schools unlike ever before, we are also main- build a floodwater retention wall and fence for tion all around the globe.” for the Sigatoka School for Children with spe- streaming special education into more schools the school and to fund other development pro- Prince Haakon Magnus said cial needs. through the provision of special education grams throughout the year. the people of the two nations The Head of Government also made a total grants and learning tools, in addition to staff- “There are also plans to extend assistance to share a deep concern for the contribution and pledge of over $44,000 to- ing our classrooms with trained teachers and selected rural schools, beginning with the con- future of the planet, its oceans wards their philanthropic endeavours.