A total of 26 officers from the Ministry of Health (MHMS) and other organisations recently received training in contract management.

“Contract management is the process to successfully execute a contract according to the specifications and to the mutual benefit of the parties involved,” a statement from the Ministry said.

Put simply, “a contract is a legal agreement between two or more parties with one party providing goods, works or services or a combination thereof, in return for the other party providing something, usually money. Contracts contain the details of the goods, works or services to be provided and also the responsibilities and obligations of the parties involved”.

While most contracts are managed effectively and without issue, some do run into problems resulting in the products not being provided to satisfaction, also with often financial consequences to the parties involved. Good contract management minimises the risks.

A robust procurement process is crucial to the execution of the eventual contract: accurate specification, sound tender process, full tender evaluation and life cycle costs all influence the contract and the end result.

“MHMS has recognised the importance of good contract management and administration for all of its departments including the National Referral Hospital, its health facilities both at headquarters and in the provinces and RWASH.

“Recognising the importance of contract management, the Ministry requested support from MOFT and its Advisers to deliver this course.”

Officers from ICTSU, DFAT and SIRF also participated in the training.

The course was developed by a technical working group including Timothy Watekary, Manager Procurement – Technical MOFT with the support of several colleagues and advisers including those from the EU funded RWASH programme.

This training course follows an earlier course in which 17 government officers were trained.

All procurement and contract management training is oversighted by the SI Procurement Training Working Group which consists of procurement professionals from government with representatives of IPAM, SICC&I and donors.

The training was very well received and covered contract requirements, contract planning, commencing, managing and completing contracts.

Specific emphasis was placed on managing contract performance, receipt and testing of deliverables and managing final inspections.

The course will be again run in 2018, coordinated by IPAM.

–MHMS PRESS

DEAR EDITOR, according to late evening news bulletin from Radio New Zealand (RNZI) tonight, 20 September 2017, Fiji has been lauded for taking on COP23 presidency.

Quoting RNZI the bulletin said:

“A German government official, Jochen Flasbarth, says Fiji’s decision to take on the presidency of COP23 was a bold move for a small island developing state that is also affected by climate change.

“Germany is hosting the UN climate change meeting this November in Bonn.

“At a side event this week at the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Flasbarth linked the possibilities that can be derived when two different nations work together to build awareness on climate change.

“At the same event, the Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama reiterated the importance of working closely with Germany.

“He said “addressing climate change is at the heart of our common future. This is why the Paris Agreement is so important. We all must continue to create prosperity and to ensure the wellbeing of the nations and ecosystems of the world. To do this, we must work together”.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE in Makira have arrested a 27-year-old man from Rea in the Weathercoast of Makira on September 17.

Provincial Police Commander Peter Sitai told this paper that the suspect was arrested, charged and released on a $500-principal bail, to appear again in Court on October 10.

PPC Sitai said there was a great break through by the police with the leaders of the Platform – specifically Johnson Sunaone and David Horesi.

The PPC said discussions with the two leaders has been successful; the two leaders have informed the police of what the platform is about and its constitution.

And, they are willing to work alongside the government and NGOs to achieve their mission.

PPC Sitai also said the camps need to be educated about law and order and to set up crime prevention committee within their camp and that the police had set up one (CPC) already in Rea camp where the incident had occurred.

Also he said that he is now putting in place responsive strategies to assist everyone both on Makira and Ulawa islands, and he will be visiting Ulawa in October as some members of the platform are in Ulawa.

The PPC also said the situation in the camps indicates that those people are in need of basic help like clothes, medicine, shelter and sanitation.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE say that investigation into the death incident at West Honiara this week is still continuing.

Responding to questions asked during a media conference, Supervising Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga said that police investigations are ongoing, and they are calling for people in the area to come forward and assist police with their investigation.

From information at hand, she shares that the deceased was reported to chew betel nut after having had his food.

Ms Matanga however stresses that this information is yet to be ascertained, along with the cause of death.

She said unfortunately there was no post-mortem conducted on the deceased due to the pathologist being out of the country.

Ms Matanga said the country only has one pathologist and when he is not available, causes difficulty to police investigation.

Nevertheless, she is adamant that police will try their best to establish the cause of death.

This is in relation to the death incident in West Honiara on the night of September 14.

Police said they were only alerted to the incident after the body had been taken to the National Referral Hospital (NRH).

Ms Matanga also confirmed that a female alleged to have been with the deceased before his death was also taken in for safe custody.