Vosarogo Reassures Staff
I’m here to encourage you, not terminate you, says Minister Vosarogo
This was the message delivered by the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo while speaking to the staff of his ministry’s Lautoka office on Wednesday. Mr Vosarogo was accorded a traditional welcome ceremony by the staff members. He reminded them to work without fear.
“Do not fear. Do not fear me,” Mr Vosarogo, a Suva-based lawyer-cum Government minister said.
“The General Election is over, and it is now time to work.”
As a former civil servant, he said serving at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and as Director Legal Aid and as a son of a former civil servant, he understood the call to be a civil servant. Mr Vosarogo assured ministry staff that their contracts were being discussed between the Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Dr Raijeli Taga, and the newly-elected Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, Parmesh Chand.
He said they would also discuss the retirement age policy.
“There will be no longer shortterm contracts for established positions in the ministry which gives stability and job security for staff members,” he said.
He said the need for change to happen in Fiji outweighed his personal ambition as a lawyer.
‘Task now is to make people feel confident’
Meanwhile, Mr Vosarogo said the task now was to make sure people who believed in Government feel confident.
“I guess the assignment now is making sure people feel that their choice and the people that they believed in be part of Government would be indicated and stakeholders are confident that this Government works with them,” he said. “More importantly for ministers is just to get an appraisal on Government so that we can discharge our duties.”
Other ministers as well, like the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Antonio Lalabalavu, the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, the Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka and the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro were on their visits in the Western Division.
Mr Vosarogo completed his West tour on Thursday visiting offices and sites over the past couple of days.