Contributions Recognised
2. Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been instrumental in policy implementation of the FijiFirst Government. Over the past year, his focus on family and working to bring about policies such as paternity leave, among others, is no small feat. He has been the man tasked with making things happen within FijiFirst and the Government. Investor confidence in Fiji is at an all-time high. Civil service reforms are well under way, which boosts confidence by investors. He deserves due recognition for his part in modernising Fiji.
3. Commissioner of Police BrigadierGeneral Sitiveni Qiliho has worked hard to bring the Police Force in order. His recent revelation about how unfit a good percentage of his officers are and his efforts to rectify it is praiseworthy. Instead of sweeping this under the carpet, we have a Police chief tackling this issue head-on
4. Dr Jiko Luveni. This is a posthumous award for the late Speaker of Parliament. Dr Luveni deserves recognition for her inspiring contribution to sports (table tennis and golf), women, dentistry and Parliament.
5) Tony Whitton – He is the managing director of Rosie Group of Companies. He is an important figure in the travel and tourism industry. He has worked hard to build and rebrand the business. The Rosie brand is considered one of the strongest travel brands in the Pacific. He was responsible for the first charter flights from China to Fiji and continues to work behind the scenes to market Fiji as a tourist destination.
6) Anil Patel – The chief executive of NewWorld Group needs recognition in the supermarket trade for his success in lifting the NewWorld brand in Fiji. He likes to keep a low profile and has worked hard behind the scenes to develop the NewWorld IGA brand, which has given customers a range of products to choose from and a cleaner shopping environment.
7. Vijendra Singh, the man who developed the Fijian Elections Office result mobile App. For days after Fijians cast their votes in the 2018 General Election, many people downloaded and checked the App to keep track of the progress of counting.
Born and bred in Suva, Mr Singh is a former student of Rishikul Sanatan College, Nasinu, and holds a Master’s Degree in Computing Science and Information Systems from the University of the South Pacific.
8. Six firefighters braved risky conditions to take two heavily-pregnant women to safety across the flooded Ba River flats at Yalalevu.
The rescue effort meant the firefighters had to help the women onto inflatable
rafts and swim and walk with the women hoisted on their shoulders for three hours from Moto to Ba Mission Hospital.
9. AnnMary Raduva Fourteen-year-old AnnMary Raduva already made a name for herself as an environmental activist.
With the help of her family, the Adi Cakobau School Year Nine student has started a campaign called “Say No to Balloon Releasing”.
Her interest grew after watching a You Tube video with her 11-year-old sister which showed turtles and sea birds dying from swallowing plastics and bits and pieces of balloons.
During their spare time AnnMary and her sister Faith like to pick up rubbish along the Nasese foreshore.
10) Mohammed Saneem - The Supervisor of Elections came out with flying colours from intense scrutiny by the Opposition political parties before, during and after the 2018 General Election.