HomeFijiBEST MINISTER SITIVENI RABUKA’S CONVERSATION AT THE POST-CABINET PRESS MEETING

BEST MINISTER SITIVENI RABUKA’S CONVERSATION AT THE POST-CABINET PRESS MEETING

Good mid-day ladies and gentlemen of the press corps.
  Ministers were reminded that matters before the Cabinet are confidential in nature, and shall never to be released without the prior approval of the Prime Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich).
  Cabinet based its decision on a distribution by the Minister of Farming and Waterways, Hon Vatimi Rayalu.
  Policies determined by Cupboard must then be actioned by Ministers in their particular Ministries
  TELS
  Cabinet approved the hosting of the 16th  Session of the  Codex Committee North America and South West Pacific (CCNASWP) from 30 January to 3 or more February 2023.
The particular Programme provides for capacity building of local and national governments, civil service companies (including those representing ladies and indigenous peoples), and others to develop and implement rights-based, gender-sensitive, and socially inclusive small to medium-scale projects upon nature-based solutions for weather change adaptation at the nearby and national levels.
  IUCN has committed a total offer funding of €326, 077. 40 for the Project.
  The key decisions I would like in order to announce today include the authorization of the “Rules and Suggestions for Ministers, ” as well as the re-deployment of funds within the 2022-2023 Budget to meet vital expenditure.
  That being said, Cabinet also recognises that there are other civil servants who else retired in 2022, and agreed that the Public Service Commission, the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Financing, will consult with Government Agencies and revert with a holistic submission to Cabinet around the practicality of extending this to the rest of the Public Assistance.
  A Minister must not use any official info which comes to him/her as being a Minister, for his or her private profit, or for the benefit of their own friends or close acquaintances.
  The Task implementation starts from the Contract signing date until 30 January 2025  with provisions for an extension after discussion with the donor – IUCN.
  The particular Minister for Finance briefed Cabinet on the financial status of the Fiji Sugar Corporation. It was agreed that all stakeholders work together to revitalise the particular Sugar Industry.
Information Documents
  Through these funds, the Ministry will be able to build NbS seawalls at 6 selected sites in Fiji. These sites are Nakawaqa Village, Vesi Village, Ligaulevu Town, Somosomo Village, Navola Village and Navolau No . one Village (Project). However , the Ministry reserves the right to alter the number of sites to successfully complete the project within the allocated budget.
  Cabinet considered a submission from the Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) for Education on the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS), and agreed that additional time be given to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry associated with Finance, and the Solicitor – General’s Office to thoroughly consider the legal and economic implications of the suspension of existing loan repayments and write-off for all outstanding student debts owed to Federal government, and to bring the necessary legal and policy amendments in order to Cabinet.
  The 15th  Session of CCNASWP was held at Port Vila, Vanuatu where it had been proposed to recommend worldwide Codex standards for Kava and Noni Juice in the region. Also, at this session, Fiji was proposed to the Gesetz Commission, to be elected since the next regional coordinator and also to host the 16th  program of CCNASWP. Fiji’s visit as regional coordinator has been confirmed at the 43rd  Program of Codex Alimentarius Commission.
  General Rules and Guidelines for Ministers
  The Nature-Based Coastal Protection Project will help reduce the weeknesses of coastal communities to coastal inundation, and seaside erosion through the provision of nature-based seawalls.
  Thanks to being here today to protect the announcement of essential decisions taken at the 1st Cabinet meeting held yesterday Tuesday 17th January 2023.
  Cabinet also decided that the change in retirement to 60 years (optional at 55 years) and the removal of contract-based appointments, apply to all of civil servants effective from 1 January 2023 beneath Permanent-Secretary level.
  The redeployment allows the Government to immediately release an initial amount of FJ million to the University of the South Pacific. Going forward, Government in discussion with USP hopes to agree to a transaction plan to be funded in future budgets in addition to USP’s regular Annual Grant which will be restored in the 2023-2024 Spending budget in July.
  Retirement Age
  The redeployment may also cater for the one-off FJ0 back to school support transaction for students from ECE to Year 13 whose parents’ or guardians’ gross annual income is , 1000 and below.
  This collective responsibility is one of the fundamental principles of decision – making within Cabinet.  
  Cabinet approved the redeployment of funds within the 2022-2023 Spending budget to accommodate certain immediate priorities of the Government and to cater for additional funding requests obtained from Ministries and other companies.
  Cupboard based its decision on the submission by the  Minister for Agriculture and Rivers,   Hon Vatimi Rayalu.
  While these key decisions reached by Cabinet the other day number only a few, they make up fundamental changes to the equipment of Government in particular the particular Civil Service, as well as the Tertiary Loan Scheme, which advantage thousands of students annually. Every decision will require implementation by Ministers, and further consequential activity and they will report their progress back to Cabinet.
I will at this point elaborate on these key decisions.
  The Codex Alimentarius Commission has 188 Codex Members Nations and one Member Organisation–the European Union.
  Cabinet also agreed on a Diary of Meetings for 2023-2024.
  I thank you almost all for your time. Ministers must not solicit, encourage or accept gifts, benefits or even favours either for him or even herself or for another person in connection with the performance or even non-performance of his or her established duties.
  Soon after I was sworn in since Prime Minister, I made a commitment to announce choices reached by Cabinet to the nation, so the people can easily see and know what their Authorities is doing. These Post-Cabinet briefings will be a regular feature every single two weeks, after each Cabinet meeting.
  The Codex Alimentarius includes provisions in respect of food hygiene, food additives, pesticides residues, contaminants, labelling and presentation, methods of evaluation and sampling. It also contains provisions of an advisory character in the form of codes of practice, guidelines and other recommended steps.
  In any economic year, if ministries are unable to meet unbudgeted or unexpected commitments from within their particular budgets, there is a provision beneath the Financial Management Act 2004 (Act) that enables the redeployment of available balances from other ministries to fund these unbudgeted or unforeseen commitments.
Various Information Papers were tabled by various Ministers within Cabinet yesterday. These include these:
  Other agencies that will receive funding through the redeployment exercise include Fiji Servicemen’s After Care Fund, the particular Electoral Commission, the Republic of Fiji Military Allows, the Ministry of General public Works and Meteorological Solutions, Fiji Roads Authority, and the General Reserve Vote in order to cater for the Busfare Subsidy Programme.
  The Project may protect a total coastline of 1, 565 metres and support 1, 455 individuals straight affected by climate vulnerabilities.
  Cabinet Approves Grant Aid Contract For Climate Change Mitigation On Nature-Based Solution Projects Between The Ministry Of Waterways And The International Union Just for Conservation Of Nature And Natural Resources For The Kiwa Initiative
  The particular Codex Alimentarius (Food Code) or ‘Codex’ is a assortment of international recognised standards, requirements of practice, guidelines and other recommendations published by the Meals Agriculture Organisation in cooperation with World Health Organisation relating to food, food production, food labelling and foods safety. It is an international program code of food standards.
  Copies of the statement will now be distributed to members of the media and posted on the Government website and social media systems for the edification of the individuals of Fiji.
  Cupboard first approved the general “Rules and Guidelines for Ministers” and how we should conduct ourselves in the context of decision–making.
  Cabinet also decided that necessary amendments to the Civil Service (General) Regulations 1999 accordingly via the Govt Gazette to be published later on this week. Consequently, the Public Provider Commission will be working closely with all Permanent Secretaries to operationalise the amendment towards the Regulations on retirement age plus removal of contract-based appointments just for civil servants and wage-earners.
  Redeployment of Funds
  Ministers are public office holders and expected to carry out themselves in a manner right for their role as servants of the people.
  Cabinet also agreed the current arrangement on TELS will continue for Semester 1 2023, and that it will be extended to students who would like to undertake foundation studies. We agreed to remove the vaccination requirement of TELS recipients, and accepted the deferment of debt repayment under the Scheme to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service until the relevant legislation is amended.
  Decision-making in Cabinet is simply by consensus. There is no voting. Ministers are encouraged to speak freely within Cabinet in discussion upon any given proposal. The first duty of Ministers is to fully participate in discussions on policy matters, which only Cabinet can decide.
  Cabinet also agreed that will any gifts received simply by Ministers must be declared plus recorded in a Gift Register in individual Ministries.
  However , Cabinet observed the many vacancies and chronic shortage of teachers, physicians and nurses. It was agreed that the increase in retirement age become applicable from 1 The month of january 2022 for Teachers, Physicians and Nurses.
  Cabinet has approved a grant aid agreement between your International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well as the Ministry of Waterways (Ministry) for the Climate Change Adaptation on the Nature-Based Solution Program and Kiwa Initiative (Programme).
  Your decision was based on a submitting by the Deputy Prime Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) and Minister for Fund and Strategic Planning, Nationwide Development and Statistics, Hon Professor Biman Prasad.
  Information Papers on the financial status of the Fiji Sugar Corporation
  Cabinet approved the particular revision of the retirement age policy for employees and income earners in the Civil Provider, the removal of contract-based appointments for all civil servants, except for these appointed for projects having a specific timeframe.
 

Source

Stay Connected
255FansLike
473FollowersFollow
Must Read
Related News