Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka with staff members based in the Office of the Commissioner Western Division after his traditional welcome on Tuesday night.

SUVA – Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka assured staff members of the Ministry serving in the Western Division that he would fully support them in the work that they do as he takes over the helm of leadership at the Ministry.

Minister Ditoka is currently in the Western Division for his first official tour of the division since taking up office last month.

“I assure you of my full support in the places where I will have to fight for you all. You fight for me in the work that you do daily and I will fight for us at the political level, I give you my assurance that if there are things that will be needed for the successful operation of the Ministry, I will fight for it. All I ask of you is to give your full support in the work that we do on a daily basis. We have a lot in front of us, but nothing is impossible if we all work together,” Hon. Ditoka said.

The Hon. Minister encouraged staff members to pursue further studies while in the civil service. He said this would be an area of focus for Government.

Led by the Commissioner Western Division, Mr. Apolosi Lewaqai, the West team accorded a traditional welcome ceremony to Hon. Ditoka on his first visit to the division this week.

Hon. Ditoka was also provided an overview brief of the division’s work and engagements by the Western Division senior management team.

Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka addressing staff members based in the Office of the Commissioner Western Division after his traditional welcome on Tuesday night.

-ENDS-

The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management is responsible for implementing development strategies that bring Fijians living in rural and maritime regions the same level of access to essential services and economic opportunities as anywhere else in the country. We coordinate and implement the Fiji Government’s rural and maritime development initiatives with a mission to empower Fiji’s rural sector. We also spearhead disaster risk reduction initiatives at national and sub-national level including disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. We have offices for each of Fiji’s 14 provinces including Rotuma, leading the Fiji Government’s rural development and disaster risk management operations.

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For press enquiries: Aqela Susu, MRMDDM, Tel. +679 3216456/+679 9985670,

Email: aqela.susu@govnet.gov.fj/susuaqela@gmail.com