Deliverables in Government’s various sectors will now be more focussed on Pillar 1, 2 and 4 of the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress in line with the momentum leading up to Fiji’s general election in 2014. The Strategic Framework for Change and Coordinating Office (SFCCO) has revealed that the year 2012 is a transition phase from economic development to the constitution and political development of this country.
SFCCO deputy secretary, Edward Tunidau says this phase is necessary in the build up to general elections in 2014.
“By shift I mean the deliverables in the government sector will now be more focussed in their deliverables pertaining to Pillar 1, Pillar 2 and Pillar 4 of the PCCP,” Mr Tunidau said.
Pillars 1, 2 and 4 of the PCCP pertain to “Ensuring Sustainable Democracy and Good and Just Governance, Developing a Common National Identity and Building Social Cohesion and Enhancing Public Sector Efficiency, Performance Effectiveness and Service Delivery” respectively.
The deputy secretary also maintains that in relation to the monitoring of the roadmap and the Charter implementation, the SFCCO will continue to support the National Peoples Charter Advisory Council.
“With relation to public relations, this is where the major shift is going to be felt, we will now go out with a message that relates to political and constitutional development,” Mr Tunidau said.
“Our public relations program will continue and we’ll assist the general public in understanding what civic education is all about.”
Mr Tunidau added that their PR programs are focused on the Charter and the factoring on of civic education is through Pillars 1 and 3 of the PCCP which is based on leadership.
“The PR teams basically explain the process rather than sell propaganda,” Mr Tunidau said.
The SFCCO supports the Office of the Attorney General and the Fiji Military Forces Land Commander’s office.
Tunidau said that some of the issues raised by the public, particularly in periurban areas, were the questions on civic education and what this usually means.
“The general public in the peri-urban areas normally ask what civic education is about. They think that it is a formal training or course so our teams try to enlighten them by saying that this is just something to tell you on how things are going to be done with relation to the constitution,” Mr Tunidau said.
Government announced that consultations between the Constitutional Commission and citizens would begin in July.