RETIREMENT OPENS UP A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

“Retirement is when you have more time on your hands to spend how you like. It is a time when a world of options and opportunities has opened up to you.”

That is the sentiment of encouragement made by the Minister of Labour Jone Usamate to pre-retirees and retirees at the Retirement Information Exposition at the Tebara complex in Nasinu.

 “Don’t simply retire from something, have something to retire to,” said Usamate.

He gave examples of retired civil servants who saw the opportunity to make use of their knowledge after retirement.

 “I was privileged few weeks ago to farewell some of our retired teachers who are now working as teachers in the Marshall Islands under a scheme formulated and implemented by Government,” he said.

He encouraged retirees to make good use of their knowledge and skills in joining government volunteer schemes and volunteer organizations or even starting their own business.

 “This is so true to those who have wealth of institutional knowledge and who can still contribute positively towards social and economic programs that will benefit all Fijians,” he said.

The exposition is being jointly organized by Westpac Bank and the Public Service Commission.

 “We are pleased to have Westpac in organizing this event. We saw synergies in what we are doing to promote opportunities for productive and rewarding engagement under our Fiji Volunteer Scheme and what Westpac has been doing over the last two years in terms of retirement expo,” said the permanent secretary for Public Service Commission, Mr Parmesh Chand.

Westpac Bank General Manager, Mr Adrian Hughes told retirees at the exposition that retirement is about doing the things that you don’t usually do but most all it is about financial independence.

He gave a word of caution to people to choose their lifestyle carefully during retirement.

“Having a good retirement will also depend on the lifestyle you choose so be wise and choose carefully,” Hughes said.