THE HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS
LAISENIA TUITUBOU

• Distinguished Guests
• Trainers
• Trainees
• Parents and guardians
• Ladies and Gentlemen
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Bula vinaka, Namaste, Salaam Aleikum and Good morning to you all.

It is once again that time of the year when we gather to celebrate the accomplishments of our agriculture and carpentry graduates.

I would like to congratulate all of you who are graduating today and also express my appreciation to the trainers in nurturing these inspirational young trainees.
I would also like to acknowledge the parents and everyone that has been involved in the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ training program who have strived to make the program a success.

Your dedication and commitment have truly paid off and I hope that all of you will continue to support this wonderful program for many years to come.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, with our partner OISCA International, is committed to provide focused and sustainable programs aimed at training youths in agriculture and carpentry. We are particularly promoting organic agriculture as our contribution to ensuring sustainability in the face of the significant impact of climate change we face in Fiji.

As probably most of you are aware, the Ministry has a number of training centres in all divisions that provide similar training programs to our youths.

Through our Non-formal Education training, we are committed to provide equal opportunities to any young person who may have dropped out of the formal education system and is looking for ways to succeed in life.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fijian economy has been challenged by the changing weather pattern and thus the Fijian agriculture and carpentry industries demand young and innovative minds to propel the country forward.

Recently, Tropical Cyclone Winston left the agricultural and the building sector in turmoil. Many farms were affected and we are still rebuilding homes around the country.

With Fiji entering the cyclone period and with more cyclones forecasted, it becomes evident that we need a more resolute environment.
We need an agricultural sector that is ready to bounce back; we need ecological stability that ensures that resources are available for our future generations.

The World Health Organisation has declared four major areas of concern in regards to global food security.

Firstly, availability – the global leaders, partners and agencies have to ensure that sufficient quantities of food are available from domestic production to cater for the ever growing population.

Secondly, individual countries need to ensure that sustainable practices and approaches are implemented so that there is adequate access to food through home production, exchange or food aid.

Further, there need to be mechanisms in place to ensure that food is utilised and stored properly; that there is adequate knowledge and application of nutrition and sanitation.

Lastly, there needs to be stability so that adequate food is obtainable at all times and that it is not curtailed by acute or recurring emergencies.

This Ladies and Gentlemen, depicts the true situation and crisis many countries are facing today. Food is scarce, as is water.

We want a bright future for us all. Hence the constant emphasis placed by my Ministry on the importance of sustainable living.

When you go home, do not take the easy route and revert to pesticides and fertilisers. Go organic as there is increasing demand for this.

When you go home, ensure that everyone understands that you are a professional as farming is a profession.

Plan for success so that you move from subsistence to a small business; from a small to a medium business – but keep growing your business. Create employment for more young people like yourselves.

I am proud that our Training Centre not only teaches you methods of farming but sustainable techniques that will prove beneficial for us all.

Similarly, Ladies and Gentlemen we need expertise in the area of carpentry. We need more solid housing structures and you all will play a key role in advocating the need for doing this in your respective villages

Our Ministry recently concluded a Monitoring and evaluation exercise in the interior of Ra where we did a 2 week carpentry course with the Technical College of Fiji.

It was pleasing to note that youths that had undergone carpentry training in the beginning of the year have now found permanent employment with contactor companies and many of them are assisting in rebuilding houses in villages.

Not only that, it is possible that they can work overseas through programs offered by the Ministry of Employment. There are many new horizons ahead of you.

Graduates, as you prepare to move to the next stage in your lives, I encourage you to reflect upon your experiences and consider how best you can utilize this valuable training in the near future.

You are now in the perfect position to give back and serve as leaders in your communities. You have the knowledge, you have the confidence and you are the future.

With those words I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Vinaka, Dhanyabad, Shokran and Thank you