INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY CHAIRMAN, PSC AT THE CIVIL SERVICE PUBLIC EXHIBITION WEEK MAY 19 2010

PRIME MINISTER,
CABINET MINISTERS,
YOUR EXCELLENCIES & MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORP
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PERMANENT SECRETARIES & CIVIL SERVANTS
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

NI SA BULA VINAKA, NAMASTE AND GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL.

AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMMISSION, IT IS MY PLEASANT DUTY TO FIRSTLY WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE OPENING OF THE CIVIL SERVICE PUBLIC EXHIBITION WEEK, COVERING THREE DAYS FROM TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND PARTICULAR WELCOME TO THE PRIME MINISTER, WHO IS ALSO THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, FOR KINDLY AGREEING TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THIS EVENT AND ALSO LAUNCH THE PREPARATION FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARDS PROGRAMME FOR 2010.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING THIS MORNING CULMINATES FROM WEEKS OF PREPARATION UNDERTAKEN BY A COMMITTEE, HEADED BY LT. COL. NEUMI LEWENI, WHO IS NOW THE PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR LANDS & MINERAL RESOURCES. ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR A JOB WELL DONE AS IT IS EVIDENT FROM WHAT WE SEE TODAY.

WE ALSO WITNESSED A MARCH BY CIVIL SERVANTS THIS MORNING FROM THE FLEA MARKET TO HERE AT SUKUNA PARK. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EACH AND EVERY CIVIL SERVANT FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE MARCH THIS MORNING. THE ESSENCE OF THE MARCH APART FROM GETTING YOUR METABOLISM GOING AND CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR PHYSICAL FITNESS, WAS TO BRING ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS AND HARMONY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

HAVING WORKED AS A CIVIL SERVANT MYSELF AND SPENT 35 YEARS OF MY GOOD LIFE IN THE SERVICE, I CAN VOUCH THAT THE SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN CIVIL SERVICE. MANY OF THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS YOU PERFORM CUT ACROSS DIFFERENT MINISTRIES/DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, THEREBY REQUIRING BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL COORDINATION FOR SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK PROGRAMME AND GOVERNMENT POLICY. THIS REQUIRES TEAM WORK AND EVENTS SUCH AS THESE HELP TO BRING ABOUT THE SENSE OF COMRADESHIP AND TOGETHERNESS.

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS EXHIBITION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS FOR ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SHOWCASE TO THE PUBLIC, THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.

THE THEME THAT HAS BEEN APTLY CHOSEN FOR THIS EXHIBIITON IS “STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE THROUGH CHANGES AND REFORMS”.

AND IN THIS REGARDS, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS ONLY RIGHT AND FITTING THAT I REMIND US ALL THAT, IN A NUTSHELL, THE TASK OF PUBLIC SERVANTS IS RELATED TO ACHIEVING THE GREATEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY, I WISH TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY, TO OBTAIN INFORMATION AND TO ALSO OFFER SUGGESTIONS ON HOW BEST WE CAN IMPROVE ON OUR SERVICES.

TO ALL CIVIL SERVANTS, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON EACH ONE OF US TO TIRELESSLY PURSUE OUR OVERARCHING GOAL, WHICH IS QUITE SIMPLY, TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR CITIZENS, WHEREVER THEY ARE – AT HOME, AT WORK, IN THE VILLAGES OR IN THE CANE FIELDS.

WE ARE POLICY-MAKERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNICATORS – AND THE CITIZENS OF FIJI RELY ON THE PROGRAMS, THE INFORMATION AND THE SERVICES WE OFFER.

YOU WILL NOTE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT THE THEME FOR THIS WEEK MAKES REFERENCE TO CHANGES AND REFORMS.

AND INDEED, IF I MAY STATE HERE, THAT ALL REFORMS THAT ARE BEING UNDERTAKEN ARE INTENDED TO SUBSTANTIALLY BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

IT IS MY HOPE AND THAT OF THE COMMISSION, THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE HEADWAY INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE REFORMS, WE WILL DO SO, WITH UNRESERVED COMMITMENT AND UTMOST EFFICIENCY.

TO CONCLUDE, I THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN FOR COMING HERE THIS MORNING.

IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE EXHIBITION WILL ENHANCE OUR EFFORTS AT SHARING INFORMATION, AND THAT SUBSEQUENTLY, WE WILL ALL STRIVE VIGOROUSLY FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES.

APART FROM WELCOMING YOU ALL, MY SECOND ROLE IS TO INTRODUCE OUR CHIEF GUEST THIS MORNING.

PRIME MINISTER, COMMODORE VOREQE BAINIMARAMA IS SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT NEED ANY ELABORATE INTRODUCTION, ESPECIALLY TO CIVIL SERVANTS AS HE IS ALSO THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR CIVIL SERVICE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SIMPLY SAY THAT HE IS A MAN WHO FIRMLY BELIEVES IN SHOWING RESULTS THROUGH HIS ACTIONS. HE IS A CHAMPION OF REFORMS AND IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING LIVES OF EVERYONE, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE DISADVANTAGED, THE POOR AND THOSE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS. I NOW HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN REQUESTING THE HON. PRIME MINISTER TO DELIVER HIS KEYNOTE ADDRESS FOR THE 2010 FIJI CIVIL SERVICE PUBLIC EXHIBITION WEEK AND DECLARE THE SAME OPEN.

THE HON PRIME MINISTER, SIR!