DR JIKO LUVENI - MINISTER FOR SOCIAL WELFARE, WOMEN AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

AT THE COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS 2013 – LAUNCH OF THE FCOSS/ HELPAGE PUBLICATION:

“A COMPENDIUM OF ACTIONS FOR SENIORS WELL BEING IN FIJI”.

Ro Lalabalavu House (Level 2)
Tues. 1st October, 2013
SUVA
09 30 Hours

Invited and distinguished Guests,
Senior Citizens of Fiji,
Ladies and gentlemen
Bula vinaka,

I am deeply honored to be present here this beautiful, fine morning, firstly for the commemoration of the International Day of Older Persons and, secondly, to Launch an exciting FCOSS/HelpAge Publication Titled “A Compendium of Actions for Seniors Well Being in Fiji”.

I also acknowledge our esteemed senior citizens that have willingly taken the time and effort to join us in marking this grand achievement.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I take this opportunity to commend and congratulate the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) on its 25th Silver Jubilee of the Activities for Senior Citizens of Fiji. During this period, As I briefly perused your publication I am encouraged that FCOSS has been around training, advocating, making policy submissions to government, and mapping out aligned strategic directions to address the issue of ageing in context. Our heartiest congratulations to FCOSS and to all the staff committed to their course to benefit us all, now and in the future.

This is indeed a milestone of achievement and your celebration makes this day even more special as we gather to importantly commemorate the International Day for Older Persons.

Ladies and Gentleman, Ageing in the Twenty-First Century is indeed both a Celebration and a Challenge. Thus, population ageing can no longer be overlooked. It is an issue that is never missing from the agendas of program planning of the United Nations agencies and other international organizations. It is an important agenda in Fiji’s development programme.

The United Nations have confirmed that globally, the proportion of older persons is growing at a faster rate than the general population. This reflects tremendous advances in health and overall quality of life of families and societies across the world.
However, the social and economic implications of this trend are profound, extending far beyond the individual older person and the immediate family, touching broader society and the global community in unprecedented ways. Education and health programs must be designed in consideration of this population trend as well as reproductive and productive livelihood of our people.

On the positive side, healthy ageing has resulted in new markets, allowed us to have more experienced workers available widely, a growing cadre of custodians of culture, and caregivers for our grandchildren and great grandchildren.

But, it is also presenting major challenges, most notably ensuring the sustainability of pension funds and the ability of overburdened health care systems to serve much higher numbers of people. These implications, as well as the fact that new generations of older persons will be more educated, must be taken into account in policies in programmes that reflect changing age structures.
According to the United Nations Population Fund, Demographers have confirmed that in the case of Fiji more than 3,000 people are projected to be added on to the 60+ age bracket, annually. The “oldest old” population 80 years of age and above is also expected to increase significantly over this period, from 5000 in 2010 to 28,500 by 2050. This categorized group is projected to grow at a faster rate- 5 percent per year for the next 20 years.
Ladies and Gentleman, Government is committed to addressing the issues and concerns of Older Persons in Fiji. This is aligned to the International Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing of 2002, which encourages national governments to put in place policies, programs and services.

As you know, Fiji now has a National Policy on Ageing [2011-2015], basically the policy is a framework of key goals, objectives and actions that serves to improve service delivery to older persons. The essence of the Policy is reflected in its vision which is rooted in “Promoting an inclusive, protective, healthy and an enabling environment for Older Persons”.

In addition, the National Council of Older Persons Decree of 2012, supports the official establishment of a specific Council that will serve to implement the key activities entailed in the National Ageing Policy. As at July 2013, the National Council for Older Persons was established comprising of key government and non government service providers for older persons. FCOSS am proud to state is a member to this newly established Council.

Government has current programs and services for social protection for older persons such as the Bus fare Concession and the recent Social Pension Scheme for older persons 70 years and above, that have never been on any superannuation scheme
Ladies and Gentleman, the Bill of Rights in Fiji’s recently accented 2013 Constitution, has for the first time in the history of our beloved nation, in response to the strong wishes of our people, Fiji’s Constitution has provided for a wide range of socio-economic rights. These rights include rights to education, access to health care, housing and sanitation, reasonable access to transportation, food security and safe water, and social security schemes.

It is also the first Fiji Constitution to articulate specific rights to persons with disabilities and to all children. It provides for greater civil and political rights to youths through reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18 years ensuring their say in the political life of the nation. Furthermore, it outlaws any form of discrimination based on sex and gender.

Thus, Fiji is well positioned to strengthen its advocacy and action to make the real change that older persons rightly deserve within our communities.

Partnerships are of course the way to approach unity in diversity, it is the platform to promote cross sectional efforts to address real and urgent issues including those of ageing.

Ladies and Gentleman, I reiterate my congratulatory sentiments to the Fiji Council of Social Services and HelpAge for the 25 years of advocacy/ lobbying/ training and strategic efforts to address Ageing and the needs and concerns for Older Persons in Fiji.

Government will certainly work to strengthen its partnership to ensure the scope of awareness, empowerment and sustainable approaches to address issues on Ageing are consistent and relevant to international, regional and national pillars of development.

I now have much pleasure in launching the FCOSS/ HelpAge Publication titled “A Compendium of Actions for Seniors Well Being in Fiji”.

Have an enjoyable day.
Thank you.