Kuru Credits Success to Late Lt-Col Alifereti

Graduate remembers man who enabled him to study

Semi Kuru, an employee of the Ministry of Provincial Development and National Disaster, and as of yesterday, a University of the South Pacific graduate has attributed his latest achievement to the late Lieutenant-Colonel Filipe Petero Alifereti. Mr Kuru, who is a provincial administrator for Tailevu, said it was only when Lieutenant-Colonel Alifereti signed his application in 2012 he was able to pursue his Master of Business Administration. This application allowed Mr Kuru to work and study at the same time. “I want to acknowledge our former Permanent Secretary for Provincial Development and National Disaster Management who passed away two weeks ago,” he said. “He was the one who approved my application to allow me time to study while working. “I wish he was here today so I could proudly thank him for his motivation,” the 48-year-old said. Mr Kuru arrived from Suva yesterday to attend his graduation in Lautoka. He said his study was in line with Government’s focus on education. “First of all our management is encouraging everybody to go and further their studies. It’s no longer a time where people are relying on the experience to carry out the work,” he said. “So they want us to go and upgrade our human capital in that sense to clearly meet the objective of Government in the reform from social to income-generating projects.” He said what he learned would help him better understand society. He thanked his family and especially his wife for her continuous support. Edited by Jonathan Bryce