Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, Assistant Minister Hon. Jovesa Vocea, and members of the senior management of the Ministry with staff members based at the Office of the Commissioner Central Division in Nausori.

SUVA – We want a more representative and consultative approach in the way we do things, says Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka.

Minister Ditoka highlighted this while addressing staff members based in the Office of the Commissioner Central Division during his welcome ceremony with Assistant Minister, Hon. Jovesa Vocea last Thursday.

Hon. Ditoka said Government encouraged free and open discussions and constructive criticisms at all levels.

“That is what we will be asking the public and the community as well. We will be asking our senior managers to be factoring that in; that as part of our consultative approach, we allow ourselves to be criticized and we learn from them and we do what needs to be done in the interest of improving ourselves all the time,” Hon. Ditoka stressed to the staff members.

“We certainly allow ourselves to be scrutinized at every level. That should be the way for democracy.”

He also urged staff members to be mindful of their actions while in public. Hon. Ditoka said “we are going to be transparent” in the way the Ministry does things.

Minister Ditoka also acknowledged the work done by the staff members based in the Central Division, saying he was happy and content with the progress made so far.

“At the same time, we are trying to see where we can improve ourselves; in all areas of rural development as well as disaster risk reduction. We can all lend a hand in improving ourselves,” he added.

Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka accepts a tabua (whalestooth) during a traditional welcome ceremony for him and Hon. Vocea in Nausori.

-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