MINISTER KUMAR'S ADDRESS AT THE FIJI BUILDING DESIGNERS ASSOCIATION

The Chairman of the Board 
Fiji Building Designers Association
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Bula Vinaka, Good Evening and Namaste!

I am humbled by the invitation to officiate one of Fiji Building Designers Association’s achievements, in recognizing a collective effort of all, whether it is the Board, the Committee, the members and even sponsors to this auspicious occasion – on having registration of its members. 
This is an achievement in itself, another stepping stone to the realization of the Association’s vision and purpose when it first established its body.

Close to a year ago, I had been fortunate to be with you on your first Annual General Meeting in May. A forum which I believe set the pace and the platform, from:
- having to see that there is a legal framework for professionalism, to 
- a plan of action for its members, the strategies and plans for up skilling, knowledge development and continued growth and improvement, to 
- the overall outcome: A QUALITATIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND FIJI’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

I must congratulate the Association for its strength continued breakthrough, from its inception to its first AGM in May, to having the draft constitution passed at the Special General Meeting in September and recognition and endorsement as a professional body in the construction industry by the Ministry of Employment in November last year to today. 

I applaud the works and efforts of the Board and those at the helm of the Association in steering the wheel to where you are today, another milestone where not only are we having members, with its numbers growing but to actually having them registered. There is realization of what had been mapped out to fulfil the requirements of establishing the Association, to seeing that it will now run the course that the Association had envisioned.

You will recall what I had urged you last year in May, on ensuring that your service shall be transparent and that you are accountable. The Association is meaningless if members do not adhere to the structure and systems that is now in place. 

We are embarking now on registration that speaks of service that is delivered with responsibility and ethically whilst professionally. It is a platform of empowerment. For those that will be receiving registration, please respect it and the principles behind it, not only in the interest of the Association but the Government of Fiji and the country as a whole. 

The construction and building industry plays a major role in shaping the look of Fiji and Fiji Building Designers Association is an integral part of that. What is erected on the ground, whether it is beautifully or poorly designed, whether it had been prepared and delivered in an ethical manner of not, depends on each and every member of the Association. Your fingerprint and workmanship will exude itself on the shape or form of our built environment.

You have all come this far and I again congratulate the Association for what has been achieved, reaching this milestone of registration. I know that it has not been an easy journey and in saying this, I wish you all every success for the future and what lies ahead as you envisioned. May each member uphold the ethos and foundation to which the Association was established. 

VINAKA VAKALEVU, DHANYA VAAD AND 
THANK YOU VERY MUCH