FIJIANS - Let us be ONE and United for the Future

President defers Fiji Day speech

Saturday, October 08, 2011

Taken from / By: Google

The President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has deferred his Fiji Day speech to Monday.


Fiji Day celebrations started yesterday with a three hour parade - including a 21 gun salute.
About 300 military and naval officers took part in the parade in the wet and muddy Albert Park - in what the President called the most magnificent parade he has come across so far.
Ratu Epeli commended the officers and informed the close to 500 people who had gathered for the celebrations - he has deferred his Independence Day address.


"I will make the address on Monday the 10th of October , the day of Independence. So for that to happen the officials of the Prime Minister’s Office, those from the Ministry of Information and my officials will coordinate and I will make the broadcast from Government House."


The theme for this year’s celebration is "Celebrating Fiji One Nation, One Destiny".

Report by : Epeli Tukuwasa

WELL DONE! - FIJI

US President commends Fiji/US ties

Thursday, October 06, 2011

United States President, Barack Obama has sent a congratulatory message to the people of Fiji - marking 41 years of independence.
In a short message President Obama says the people of Fiji and the US share a commitment to peace, freedom, the rule of law and democratic ideals.
He adds these ideals are the core of a relationship built of trust and mutual respect.
The US president says they will continue to stand with the people of Fiji as we strive for those ideals.
His message ends saying the bond between our countries will strengthen as we continue to pursue a brighter future.

Report by : Edwin Nand

CHILDREN - GO AHEAD AND FLY A FIJI FLAG FOR FIJI!

Fly a Flag for Fiji Day

Oct 05|16:31 pm

The Government is urging all citizens to fly a Fiji flag to commemorate our 41 years of  independence.

Ministry of Information permanent secretary Sharon Smith-Johns said the Fiji Day celebrations marked an important and significant date in Fiji’s calendar.

“Fiji Day is the only time of the year when we remember how Fiji was given the responsibility to govern the country without external influence,” Ms Smith-Johns said.

“Apart from the promise of just another holiday, this anniversary is about remembering our commitment to running our own affairs and it is something we should all be proud of.

“Government is encouraging all citizens and friends, who are in Fiji, to support this year’s anniversary by flying a Fijian flag outside your home or office premises.”

According to Ms Smith-Johns, Government is working closely with relevant stakeholders to make this year’s event a memorable one.

“We have a fine tradition of celebrating Fiji Day both locally and overseas. I think the best way for all of us to also celebrate Fiji Day is to reach out to those who are less fortunate than us,” she said.

Celebrations at the Albert Park in Suva will include a full military parade at the grounds including a march through Suva city on Friday.

Newspapers will carry the program for the Fiji Day celebrations.

“On behalf of Government and my personal well wishes, I congratulate and hope for a happy and safe Fiji Day celebrations,” Ms Smith-Johns said. 

Fiji Govt - Thats the Way to Go! More Visitors to Fiji

Fiji to host World Surfing Event

Oct 06|10:44 am

Fiji will witness the multiplier effects of hosting a world title surfing event from June 3 to 15 next year, says the Attorney General and Minister for Tourism Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum.

The Volcom Fiji Pro event will be held at Tavarua and about 32 world class surfers will be in Fiji to participate in the competition.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Government was very proud to be hosting this event, especially now with the Surfing Decree in place.

“The decree has attracted a lot of world-wide positive attention and we believe this event is another growth in our tourism sector,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“We will not just have 32 participants coming to Fiji but with them will come along about 200-300 other people, for instance their managers and various support staff and organizers. And of course the fan base that follows with it.”

He said this would generate a lot of positive publicity about Fiji and the benefits of coming to Fiji.

“Indeed it will be a boost to our tourism industry. The multiplier effects of people coming to Fiji flying in Air Pacific, staying at hotels, paying VAT, using transportation services to go and watch the event and the organizers coming here and using fuel. These are the multiplier effects that need to be factored in,” the Attorney-General added.

“Again it shows that through deliberate government policy and a forward looking policy, we are able to create various strong segments within the tourism industry in Fiji which is critical because it does fill in periods when you have void.”

Volcom (sponsor) representative, Brad Dougherty said they were thrilled to bring the world title event to Fiji.

“There is a history of events that have been run here and that have been incredibly successful. Waves off  Tavarua Island, Cloudbreaks and the restaurants are absolutely some of the best waves in the world,” Mr Dougherty said.

“We want to take this opportunity to put on a world class event, bring the world’s best surfers here and really co-brand our apparel brand with Fiji.”

The representative from Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Dane Jordon said this would also be an opportunity to showcase Fiji and its culture to the rest of the world.

“There will be a large economic impact immediately while the event is on,” Mr Jordon said.

“It will be broadcast to millions of people live via the internet for free. There will be TV shows going out to nearly 300 million homes around the world, not just showcasing surfing and Cloudbreak but Fiji, Fijian people and the Fijian culture and why Fiji is not just one of the world’s best surfing destinations but also one of best tourist destinations.

“We hope this event is going to have a long-lasting legacy for improving surfing, increasing the number of Fijian surfers, visitors to Fiji for surfing and also the general tourism.”

A local Fijian wild card for the event will also be announced to compete against one of the top five surfers in the world.

Some of the world-famous surfers to take part in the event include Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning, Dane Reynolds, Jody Smith, Adriano de Souza and Michel Bourez  among others. 

FIJI For FIJIANS - Fly the FIJI COLOUR for FIJI!

Trooping of the colour to mark day

Timoci Vula
Friday, October 07, 2011

+ Enlarge this image

Members of the security forces during a rehearsal at Albert Park in Suva yesterday. Picture ATU RASEA

CLOSE to 400 members of the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) will perform the trooping of the colour when Fiji celebrates its 41st year of independence today.

It has been confirmed that the parade will comprise 396 men where there will be a six by 66 men detachment followed by the RFMF band. Military and naval officers have been rehearsing at Suva's Albert Park this week.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni said the trooping of the colour was a military tradition that the RFMF had fostered tracing its origin back to when the country was ceded to the British Empire.

"This is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and the Commonwealth armies.

"It has been a tradition of infantry regiments since the 17th century, although the roots go back much earlier," Lt-Col Leweni said.

"The Fiji Day Parade will be conducted in commemoration of Fiji's 41st year of Independence where the RFMF will be trooping the Third Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment Presidential Colours." he said.

And the government is urging all citizens to fly a Fiji flag to commemorate our independence.

"Fiji Day is the only time of the year when we remember how Fiji was given the responsibility to govern the country without external influence," Ministry of Information permanent secretary Sharon Smith-Johns said.

"Apart from the promise of just another holiday, this anniversary is about remembering our commitment to running our own affairs and it is something we should all be proud of," she said.

"We have a fine tradition of celebrating Fiji Day both locally and overseas.

"I think the best way for all of us to also celebrate Fiji Day is to reach out to those who are less fortunate than us," she said.

FIJIANS - FLY YOUR FLAGS FOR FIJI - All are ONE!

Fiji Day Celebrations to be a Time of Reflection

Oct 05|14:59 pm

Fiji Day celebrations this year should be a time of reflection says the Commissioner Western, Commander Joeli Cawaki.

“I am urging all members of the public, including private sector organisations and corporate bodies, to join us this Friday in celebrating 41 years of independence,” he said.

“Fiji Day celebrations are not only meant for Government, it is for everyone.”

Commander Cawaki also said civil servants in the Western Division, irrespective of which government ministry or department they worked for, had a common purpose and that was to serve the community.

“Civil servants need to put aside their differences and focus on serving the public, in this case the members of the public in the Western Division,” the  Commissioner Western said.

“The Fiji Day celebrations should set the foundation for our directions tomorrow or in the future.”

The Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Colonel Timoci Natuva will be chief guest at the celebrations in the Western Division, which will be held at Churchill Park, Lautoka.

The celebrations will start with a march procession from Shirley Park led by the Fiji National University band through the Sugar City.

There will be entertainment and displays from the Ba Correctional Centre, various ministries, private sector organisations and schools in the Western Division.

The Georgian Government will never allow a third party to come in between its relations with Fiji

We don't need a third party to deal with Fiji'

Oct 06|08:43 am

The Georgian Government will never allow a third party to come in between its relations with Fiji, says the Georgian Foreign Affairs Minister His Excellency Grigol Vashadze.

He made the comments during a press conference following his meeting with the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama in Suva today.

Mr Vashadze, who is in the country, said Georgia did not believe in third party dealings in its bilateral relations.

He arrived into Fiji on Monday following a series of meetings with senior government officers in the United States of America and New Zealand.

“It’s Georgia’s fundamental principle to deal with our bilateral friends on a one to one basis and we are not involving our ideas and relationships with a third country,” Mr Vashadze said.

New Zealand and Australia have been consistently trying to lobby against Fiji but Mr Vashadze said that was not for Georgia to determine and they would not come into talks with a pre-conceived mind.

He wished not to divulge further saying he would leave it at that but noted that Georgia’s interest with Fiji were based on the desire to develop bilateral relations in accordance with the fundamental norms and principles of the United Nations, including principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

Mr Vashadze said no other country could come between the Fiji – Georgia relationship.

“Since establishing diplomatic relations last year, I think we have been having an outstanding relationship,” he said.