FIJIAN GOVERNMENT DISAPPOINTED BY QANTAS’ ACTIONS

The Fijian Government is disappointed by the actions and statements of Qantas, and it categorically denies that it has any intention of taking control of Air Pacific Ltd. The recent Civil Aviation Decree was designed to ensure that Fiji complies with the Chicago Convention and Bilateral Agreements that require national airlines that fly to other countries to be “owned and effectively controlled” by the citizens of that country. 

This very point was made by Qantas on 12 March 2012 when they themselves argued to the Australian International Air Services Commission that Virgin Australia was not under the “effective control” of Australian citizens and hence ineligible to transfer capacity on the Indonesian route as Virgin had requested on 23 February 2012. 

Fiji’s laws regarding the ownership and control of its national carrier are now the same or similar to those that exist in many other countries, such as the EU, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

The Fijian Government has no interest or intention to nationalise any company in Fiji. Qantas is welcome to maintain the same rights as a normal minority shareholder, and dividends will be paid as and when declared.

2015 BEGINS HERE : PRESIDENT

His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau today told members of the Flying Fijians to the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) that the road to the 2015 Rugby World Cup begins with them.

He made these comments as the national side presented its itatau at Government House this afternoon.

The side will leave for Nadi tomorrow and will jet out of the country for Japan on Friday.

The Head of State told the players to forget dismal performance at the 2011 Rugby World Cup where the national side bundled out of the tournament in the early rounds.

“Forget about last year’s RWC,” HE Ratu Epeli said. “Your focus should now be on the next World Cup in England.”

“Your coming here tells me that you are ready and the nation is looking forward to seeing you (team) play.”

The Flying Fijians open their PNC campaign against Japan, which also kick – starts Fiji’s test match calendar before the team plays Scotland, Samoa and Tonga in the June test window.

The match against Japan will also be the first match for the national side after the RWC 2011 and the President believes that the players will want to start the road to 2015 on a high note.

“Your presence here today reveals that you’re ready to represent your country.

“The nation’s blessing is with you and do us all proud. We will certainly be following reports of your performance,” Ratu Epeli said.

“Fiji is a rugby crazy nation and you can be assured that everyone will be supporting you.”

HEALTH MINISTRY PROMOTES WELLNESS

The Ministry of Health with the support of AusAID began a health symposium on the concept of wellness at Studio 6 in Suva today.

The symposium will focus on themes such as child health, adolescent health and adult health. It has plenary sessions and presentations by various ministries to incorporate wellness in the delivery of preventive and curative services.  

AusAID counselor, John Davidson said health challenges across the Pacific and in Fiji, needed new approaches to manage the burden on health system and its staff of ill health, especially non communicable diseases.

“Wellness as a concept is a state of health closely associated with lifestyle and relates to the determinants of health. Each person has a responsibility to provide for such health essentials as good nutrition, proper weight control, exercise and controlling risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse,” Mr Davidson said.

“Eighty per cent of Fiji’s population suffer from diabetes.

“Recently NCD toolkits were donated to the ministry for screening people in communities and making home visits to have early detection of diseases and reduce ill health.”   

The NCD training and NCD toolkits promotes wellness in families and communities, empowers people to take responsibility of their own health, creates awareness and early interventions.

Leaders at last year’s UN High Level Meeting in New York and at Pacific Islands Forum held in Auckland voiced concerns over the stark reality of 75 per cent of all adult deaths in the Pacific are due to NCDs.

In Fiji, diabetes and hypertension are the two major NCDs affecting people and the major cause of illness and mortality in the country.

Mr Davidson said the challenge of NCDs is huge and the wellness approach provides new strategies to address this challenge.

NETBALL FIJI TO ADVOCATE STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

CEDAW Ambassador Taraima Mitchell congratulated by Mrs Mary Bainimarama and PS for WSWPA Govind Sami at FASANOC

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation permanent secretary Govind Sami says the ministry is happy to partner with Netball Fiji in advocating the elimination of all sorts of violence against women and children.

“The ministry has always had a good relationship with Netball Fiji, having provided assistance to them in the past series,” Mr Sami said while speaking at the LICI’s 4th Pacific Netball Series launch this morning.

“And we are happy to once again be approached so we can provide a platform for the theme of - say no to violence against women and children.”

Mr Sami reiterated Fiji’s support to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as well as to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

“Fiji’s commitment to the CRC and CEDAW is to enable us to achieve the benchmark that is being articulated by the international organisation,” he said.

“Through Netball Fiji, the ministry believes we will be able to get that message out across to the community and the many thousands who will read newspapers and watch the program on television,” Mr Sami said.

The permanent secretary also handed over a $10,000 sponsorship to the Patron of Netball Fiji, Mary Bainimarama.

Netball Fiji president Wainikiti Bogidrau said this was a golden opportunity for Netball Fiji to champion this noble course.

“It is only appropriate that netball advocates this worthy course given that we are the biggest women sport in Fiji for both women and young girls,” Ms Bogidrau said

This morning members of the national netball team were all dressed in purple to signify the campaign on violence against women and children.

“By wearing purple we are reinforcing the key message of saying no to violence against women and children,” Mrs Bogidrau said.

“The protection of women and children is for the good of the nation.

“We believe the protection, nurturing and empowerment of women is a life line to a healthy and wealthy nation. We take the opportunity now to thank the Minister for Women, Dr Jiko Luveni for that.”

BURDEN OF NCDs

Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) like diabetes and hypertension continue to increase in numbers and rates since the beginning of this century. NCD are now declared a global crisis and was a topic of discussion at the UN general Assembly in 2011.

The Ministry of Health with the support of AusAID through the Fiji Health Sector Support Program opened its annual health symposium on the theme – ‘Promoting Wellness Across the Lifespan’ at Studio 6 today.

The symposium had participants from health care delivery, government stakeholders and donor agencies focusing on creating awareness on the wellness concept and approach.

Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Eloni Tora said the burden of NCD and emerging communicable diseases posed risk on lifestyle.

“The influence of certain factors that affects wellness such as climate change, disasters, urban migration and  modern medicine poses risk on our lifestyle choices. There has been an increasing amount of grog intake and poor diet as well as smoking,” Dr Tora said.

“The challenge for the health system is on what model to use for wellness, defining wellness and changing our mindset and lifestyle.

“We must treat this as urgent and talk about it. There has been a number of activities initiated by the ministry in the areas of Tobacco Decree, policies on canteen in schools and workplace, NCD toolkits, screening, awareness on toothpaste/oral, nutrition and inclusive breastfeeding and collaboration with other agencies on lifestyle.” 

Dr Tora said more policies and framework on wellness should be implemented to change lifestyle and mindset choices.

The symposium, which will be held from May 29 to 31, focuses mainly on how we can maintain wellness and prevent and control illness.