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National Solid Waste Management Strategy Launching at the Holiday Inn – 27th June 2008 Closing Remarks by the Permanent Secretary for Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment, Ms. Litia Mawi Panelists and Presenters Representatives of the Private Sector Representatives of Municipal Councils Representatives of Rural Local Authorities Representatives of Non Government Organisations Representatives from Industries and Commercial Facilities. Representatives of Development Partners Members of the Econesian Society Representatives of Government LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON, AT THIS REMARKABLE OCCASION – THE LAUNCHING OF THE NATIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2008-2010. THE OCCASION IS A TIMELY REMINDER FOR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP IN AS SIMPLE AND EVERYDAY A PROCESS OF MANAGING LIFE’S WASTES IN GENERAL. AS CITIZENS OF TODAY, ALL OF US HAVE A JOINT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF ALL WASTES IF WE ARE TO FULFILL OUR CUSTODIAN ROLE FOR THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF OUR PLANET FOR THE CITIZENS OF TOMORROW. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IS A CHALLENGE LOOMING LARGE AND CLEAR FOR FIJI. IT REPRESENTS A MEASURABLE THREAT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR US AS A NATION. AND IT THEREFORE REQUIRES NATIONAL ATTENTION OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND URGENCY TODAY, IF WE ARE TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE IT TOMORROW. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN FIJI REQUIRES A FRESH OUTLOOK, AND MASSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE MOBILIZATION OF HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY AND THE POPULATION AT LARGE. IN PERUSING THE STRATEGY, THERE IS ENCOURAGING EVIDENCE OF THE VERY CLOSE COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN VARIOUS PLAYERS IN GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, AND CIVIL SOCIETY. SO WHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR FIJI? “A FULLY INFORMED NATION COMMITTED TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT”. AND WHAT IS THE STRATEGY? TAKING STOCK OF WHERE FIJI IS IN TERMS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND IDENTIFYING THE KEY PLAYERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC THAT WILL MAP OUT, MASTERMIND AND STEER A NATIONAL MISSION TOWARDS WHERE FIJI OUGHT TO BE IN TERMS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT. I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, AND HIS HARDWORKING TEAM, SMALL AS THEY MAY BE, IN HAVING HARNESSED ALL THE STAKEHOLDER EFFORTS TO DATE. I ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENCOURAGING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE OF FIJI’S PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT. I CAN SEE THAT NUMEROUS MEETINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE BEWTEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT WITH OFFICIALS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION, JICA, UNDP, AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME, ALL AIMED AT ENSURING THAT IF FIJI MUST DO THE RIGHT THING BY EMBARKING ON THIS SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, THEN FIJI MUST DO IT RIGHT. FIJI GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY AND ACTION PLANS IS REFLECTED IN THE ALLOCATION OF $100,000 IN OUR 2008 ANNUAL BUDGET. THAT’S JUST THE KICKSTART. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMNET WILL NOW IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATE THE IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE AND TOGETHER WITH MINISTRY, WE WILL ENSURE THAT THIS ALLOCATION IS FULLY UTILISED ON THE INTENDED OUTPUTS TOWARDS AN EFFECTIVE KICKSTART. BUT THE MINISTRY AND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT CANNOT FUNCTION OUR OWN. WE NEED YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. OUR RELATIONSHIPS MUST BE NURTURED AND STRENGTHENED IF WE ARE TO ENSURE THE CULTIVATION OF A NEW NATIONAL MINDSET AND PUBLIC OWNERSHIP IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS NATIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2008-2010. WITH THESE FEW REMARKS, I NOW DECLARE THE LAUNCHING PROGRAMME FOR THE NATIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2008-2010 CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. VINAKA VAKALEVU. DANYABAAD. ------------ |
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