iTaukei ethics code
Colonel Apakuki Kurusiga
By Maika Bolatiki
In line with Government’s policies on credibility and transparency, the Ministry of the iTaukei Affairs now has a code of conduct for those holding provincial posts.
This revelation was made by the Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of the iTaukei, Colonel Apakuki Kurusiga while opening the Tailevu Provincial Council meeting at Ratu Cakobau House in Nausori yesterday.
Colonel Kurusiga said Government wanted to lift the standard of village, district and provincial council meetings so that services provided to people were good. He said with the code of conduct this had been implementd.
The ministry has also set new criteria for selection for people holding posts in provincial offices, tikina (districts) and village meetings.
“We need to have faithful workers at all levels of provincial offices.
“This includes district and village levels,” Colonel Kurusiga said.
The code of conduct, he said, would set a new work atmosphere where customer service would improve and workers would be impartial in the performance of their duties.
They must maintain high standards of service in all of their dealings with the public.
“The delivery of services to people can only improve if we have the right people with good qualification in provincial offices.”
He highlighted the importance of the development of infrastructure in villages as it helped improve livelihoods of the people.
Government, he said, had specifically put in place the Integrated Rural Development Framework to help developments in the rural communities.
The integrated approach to rural development, planning and implementation has seen Government acknowledge the need for participatory comprehensive co-operation on all institutions and groups at national, provincial and district levels.
At the village level, Colonel Kurusiga said the headman (turaganikoro) would play a vital role by submitting his reports to the provincial office.
The report must be in detail and also have recommendations from the village and the support they have.
“This is why we need to have educated turaga-ni-koro in all our villages.”
For any developments at the village level, Government would refer to the quarterly report submitted by the turga-ni-koro to make a decision.
Divisional commissioners have been empowered to make decisions in the allocation of capital expenditure budgets for rural development and to direct and oversee the implementation of the capital expenditure programme by the relevant line ministries and departments.
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