GIS an excellent way to raise awareness: Minister Usamate
“GEOGRAPHIC Information System (GIS) has been present in Fiji for many years and the appreciation by the Fijian government as a powerful decision-making growing tool.” Minister for Infrastructure and Meteorological Services Lands and Mineral Resources, Jone Usamate, while speaking during World GIS Day 2022, highlighted that with GIS, one can analyse the geographic spread of data to gain better insight into distribution patterns.
With the theme, ‘Inspiring Spatial Citizens’, Minister Usamate said, “GIS can be used in areas such as land management, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, disaster risk reduction, public health and mining to name a few”.
“I appreciate the benefits of using GIS for the execution of service delivery for my ministry in land administration and mineral development, and how it has improved the way decisions are made to better the lives of our citizens.”
Minister Usamate added that the celebration of World GIS Day was an excellent way to raise awareness with Fijians on how GIS technology is applied in their day-to-day experiences.
“Such as using digital maps to find directions on how to get to a certain place, to knowing what kinds of services are provided at which locations from searching via their personal computers or their mobile phones.”
“As the contribution of GIS to nation building continues to grow, I would like to thank all those GIS practitioners in the country who have been champions of GIS and have been diligent to realise the establishment GIS and see it grow to where it is today.”
Minister Usamate also urged young Fijians who are looking for a career and are curious about exploring the world and knowing more about the environment, GIS was a wonderful career option that will provide you many opportunities to expand your knowledge.
“GIS has made it simpler to understand our surroundings and the environment and make decisions regarding the environment.”
“Within GIS, one can analyse the geographic spread of data to gain better insight into distribution patterns.”
Minister Usamate added GIS can be used in areas such as land management, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, disaster risk reduction, public health and mining to name a few.