Do you think that Fiji Govt is in the right direction with UN

Thompson elected as one of the VPs for 66th session of UN General Assembly
ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THEN WORDS - YES!
4 Aug 11
Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Peter Thompson has been elected to serve as one of the Vice Presidents for the 66th session of the UN General Assembly.

Thompson expressed deep gratitude for the confidence shown by the General Assembly in entrusting this role to Fiji at the UN.

The UN General Assembly has an elected President supported by 21 elected Vice Presidents. 

The President of the 66th UN session will be Nassir Al-Nesser of the State of Qatar.

As a Vice President of the General Assembly, Peter Thompson will be required from time to time to preside over the deliberations of the General Assembly, when the President is not available.


Story by: Vijay Narayan

Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson

PRAISE AND THANKS FOR THE UNAMI SERVICE OF 1st BATTALION, RFMF

By Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation (Albums) · Updated about 3 months ago · Taken at Baghdad, Iraq

Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson, thanked the men and women of the RFMF’s 1st Battalion in Baghdad, saying they were holding Fiji’s name high. He said they were doing a difficult job in a dangerous environment, and were fully meeting the standards of excellence expected of them. Ambassador Thomson said he had heard nothing but praise from UN representatives in New York and Iraq for the battalion’s conduct of duties.

Ambassador Thomson was in Iraq from 3rd to 7th May visiting the 1st Battalion, RFMF, at their Baghdad garrisons. The United Nations Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) is protected by the UN Guard Unit (UNGU) made up of the 1st Battalion, at a current strength of 223 Fijians led by Colonel Netani Rika. Fiji’s Ambassador told UNGU he was in Iraq to show them the respect they deserved and to thank them on behalf of the Government and people of Fiji for their service.

He said that with the draw-down of US Forces from Iraq, the United Nations was having to increase its security services for UNAMI. Accordingly Ambassador Thomson said he was in Baghdad for talks with UNAMI officials and to take the opportunity to inspect UNGU conditions on the ground.

The RFMF’s 1st Battalion has been in Iraq since 2004. It is tasked with guarding the facilities and personnel of the United Nations as they undertake their work of assisting the Iraqi people rebuild their nation after many decades of war.

At an UNGU church service at Diwan Compound, Baghdad, on 6th May, Ambassador Thomson told the gathering that for all Fijians, “It can be said with great national pride, that from just a few years after Fiji’s independence, UN peacekeeping has been central to Fiji’s foreign policy.” 

He said this has been so because, “Fiji is determined to play a positive role as a signatory to the United Nations Charter, and because small countries like our’s depend on membership of the United Nations for our security, sovereignty and independence. Thus Fiji's firm commitment to peacekeeping and peace-building around the world is a manifestation of Fiji's trust in the multilateralism of the United Nations.”

To date, Fiji’s peacekeepers have served in Angola, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Namibia, Rhodesia, Rwanda, Sinai, Solomon Islands, Somalia and Timor Leste. Currently, Fijian peacekeepers are deployed with UNAMID in Dafur where 13 Fiji Police officers are located, UNMIL in Liberia which is supported by 30 Fiji Police officers, UNMIS in Sudan with 11 Fiji military and police personnel, and UNMIT in Timor Leste to which Fiji has despatched a military observer. 

Are the Fiji Union Leaders doing the Right Thing!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2011

Australia's umbrella union goes to bat for Felix Anthony

We presume that this Union Leaders (3 Stogies) are just worried that a hole has just been created in their pocket by the present Fiji Government Regulation. They are not really worried about the poor Garment workers, security workers, market vendors and low earning employees. The points that Father Bar speaks up for - The Needy and the Poor! The 3 Stogies a line themselves to the good paid Air Pacific workers.

An eleventh hour plea has been made by Australian unions to the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to prevent the imminent arrest of FTUC's general secretary, Felix Anthony.

In a letter from the president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Ged Kearney, the umbrella union urges the Australian government to intervene.

ACTU has asked Gillard to direct the Australian Ambassador to Fiji to warn the regime against the arrest of any trade unionists, in particular Felix Anthony.

FTUC's president, Daniel Urai, and fellow union official, Dinesh Goundar have already been arrested and appeared in court yesterday, charged with unlawful assembly under the Public Emergency Regulations. 

The regime intends to arrest all three of the trade unionists who went to Australia and New Zealand revently to lobby for help over the regime's plan to crackdown even more on workers, via decrees.

Rajeshwar Singh is understood to be still in Australia but should be returning to Fiji this weekend.

Use opportunity wisely - Leweni to Methodist Church

This is a Golden Opportunity between the Church and the Government. Don't misuse it!
4 Aug 11 - Ministry of Information


Military spokesman, Colonel Neumi Leweni, today urged the Methodist Church in Fiji to use the opportunity given to it by Government in the best way possible so as not to jeopardize future meetings.

Col Leweni said the approval for the Church to meet over three days is not a relaxation of vigilance on the part of Government.

“The Church was initially given 24 hours to convene its annual conference. These 24 hours are now being spread over three days, but the actual meeting times should not exceed 24 hours,” Col Leweni explained.

“This effectively means that the meetings will be restricted to eight hours over the three days, and not more,” he said.

Col Leweni said Government is being considerate of the elderly members of the Church. However, he stressed that Government will continue to scrutinize the activities of the Church to ensure that it focuses on its rightful role of developing the spiritual foundation of its members and not to engage in politics.

“One of the reasons Government stopped the Church’s annual meetings was because the Church leadership had involved itself so much into politics.”

“The leadership was so engrossed with politics that it lost its path. We all know the consequences of the influence of the Church in the way the past Government was managed.”

“This Government will not allow that influence to be repeated,” Col Leweni said.

“Government is also very concerned about the apparent opposition of the Church against the Peoples’ Charter and the Roadmap to Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development, which are Government’s answer to a truly united, modern and peaceful nation.”

“The way forward for the Church is to align itself to the Charter and the Roadmap because they are aimed at providing a lasting solution to Fiji’s socio-political and economic problems which have plagued the nation in the years between 1987 and 2006.”

Col Leweni said the Church also needs to recognize the involvement of the Military in Government especially in charting a way towards peaceful co-existence of all the different races in the country.

“The Church still finds it difficult to accept that the Military has a major role to play in terms of ensuring peace and stability for all people in the country, irrespective of their ethnicity.”

“The Government and the Military vision is absolutely clear – everyone must all work towards peaceful co-existence. The Church is no exception.”

“And now that Government has allowed the annual conference to be held over three days, the Church leadership has a responsibility to ensure that this privilege is not misused,” Col Leweni said.

- Ends -

PM urges citizens to raise their concerns

1 Aug 11
By - Ministry of Information

This Government has an Open Door Policy

The efforts of the Government in making opportunities equally available to all citizens have been undermined by a few individuals.

Despite this, Government will aggressively push forward its reforms and the various programs identified to move the country forward.

The Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is urging all citizens to directly contact his office or Government in general to put forward any issue.

“I want to assure all the people of Fiji that misinformation and factually incorrect information about Government is mischievous and is being promoted by a disgruntled few who have a lot to lose when the ordinary citizens benefit the most,” Commodore Bainimarama said.

“As you know and I have said this many times, if you as Fiji citizens have concerns you are welcome to contact my office or the Government Information Referral Center or any civil servant”.

Commodore Bainimarama is also urging external parties to meet with government ministers and officials and take time to understand the changes taking place in Fiji.

“I also extend an invitation to all those external parties, who are being falsely lobbied by the disgruntled few, take time out to meet with government ministers and officials to really understand the significant positive transformation Fiji is undergoing to better itself for all citizens,” Commodore Bainimarama said.

-ends-

16,542 benefitting from bus fare concession

1 Aug 11
By - Ministry of Information


Do you think that this Government is helping the Needy?
What are your thoughts?


A total of 16,542 needy people, including the elderly and people with disability, have been covered under the government’s Bus Fare Concession scheme.

This is in line with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation’s efforts to assist the vulnerable in our society.

The bus fare concession scheme is the outcome of an agreement signed between the Government and the Fiji Bus Operators Association in January, 2011 whereby elderly persons over the age of 60 and people with disability are allowed to travel free of charge in buses.

Elderly persons over the age of 60 are given 50 per cent concession while people with disability are given full concession.

According to the ministry, the assistance is evidence of Government’s commitment to move Fiji forward to new heights in addressing the needs of the vulnerable in our society and the alleviation of poverty as articulated in the Roadmap for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development (2009 to 2014).

Out of the 16,542 people assisted, 16,230 elderly citizens and 312 people with disability have been issued with identification cards and vouchers.

Fiji Bus Operators Association general secretary, Mr Rohit Latchan said the association was extremely happy in partnering with the Government to provide services to  senior citizens.

Mr Latchan said they had some problems initially however they had been taken care of now.

“We have had some problems with senior citizens boarding the bus without identification cards. We have discussed this with the Ministry of Social Welfare and it has been rectified. All in all, we are glad to be of assistance to the needy and vulnerable in the society,” Mr Latchan said.

He has also reminded the beneficiaries to produce their ID and vouchers while boarding the buses.

-ends-

Disgruntled individuals lacked honesty and decency - PM

1 Aug 11


By - Ministry of Information


Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama revealed that disgruntled individuals tasked to serve ordinary citizens but continued to speak out against Government were those who could not adhere to basic principles of honesty and decency.

Emphasizing government’s stand on corruption in the country, Commodore Bainimarama said that in recent weeks, self-serving individuals had once again attempted to interrupt government’s reform agenda for the country.

“Many positive changes to Fiji laws and business regulations have been done by Government since taking power in 2006,” Commodore Bainimarama said.

“Many of those who are complaining, initially joined the Government ranks in 2007 but were thrown out because they simply could not adhere to the basic principles of honesty and decency for the ordinary citizen and started to help themselves under the disguise of helping others and mistakenly thought that their corrupt practices would be supported.”

Last week Government announced it would cease deducting about $2million in public sector union dues from next Thursday as it puts in place measures that would safeguard the interests of all civil servants.

Commodore Bainimarama said the negative stance now taken by anti-government individuals was a direct response to having their perks removed, which were once received with ‘double dipping’ salaries as well as other various privileges.

“It is very obvious to Government because these people’s illicit income is cut, the double dipping of salary and wages is stopped and the perks and privileges of offices once held is stripped away, they are going to be very upset and will do extremely destructive things for their own personal gain,” the Prime Minister said.

-ends-