Location: TJ’s, 30 McGregor Rd, Suva
Chair, Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Ms Joann Young and Commissioners,
CEO, Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Mr Joel Abraham,
Management and Staff of Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission,
Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bula Vinaka and a very Good evening to you all.
Today marks a special occasion, and I am delighted to be here, at the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (FCCC) Annual Awards Night 2020.
I must say, you all look wonderful.
Today is your event. You, the staff, make FCCC what it is. So, it is my privilege to have the opportunity to present the Awards to the hardworking, talented and deserving staff.
To the organisers of today’s event, I commend you for your efforts in putting this together.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Twenty-twenty was a challenging year for all of us. And to ensure effective competition, and fair trade, whilst protecting consumers and businesses in these uncertain times has been a mammoth task.
You may not realise this often, but the work you do makes a difference in people’s lives. You’re not only helping those who sometimes can’t help themselves, you’re providing Fiji with a dynamic and competitive market. And we all know how important that is right now.
I acknowledge the efforts of the Board and the senior management to give recognition and appreciation, and simply celebrate your efforts and commitment.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
“Recognition is not a scarce resource. You can’t use it up or run out of it.”
Dedication and hard work, coupled with the strategic leadership has been key to achieving unprecedented levels of success.
I commend the leadership and guidance of the Chair, Board and CEO in molding FCCC into its best form.
Whilst I understand that your work can be stressful and serious, tonight is about celebrating your achievements, as well as reflecting on all the challenges we’ve overcome.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To be part of such an important organisation means willingness to devote yourself fully to realising the objectives of the Commission and making the vision of the Fijian Government a reality. It means, you have to have what it takes to think critically, and with passion, to come up with new strategies to overcome challenges.
It is no secret the economic turmoil the world and Fiji has gone through in the last year. As we enter a new financial year, we will need to be innovative in our strategies. Like the 2020-2021 National Budget, we’ll need to work smarter, prioritise more, make some sacrifices.
I often remind my team at the Ministry, that we need to do more with less and serve every Fijian to the best of our ability. Even if that means staying back an extra hour to work, out of sheer love of the work you do. We owe that to every day Fijians who continue to struggle.
Now more than ever, we need more staff, like you, to stand up and showcase your commitment and ensure that there is a level playing field in the market. That no one is taking advantage of the pandemic situation and cheating not only the consumers but disadvantaging other businesses.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
One of the best aspects of organising such an award, is that you create a stage to show appreciation to those that make this organisation what it is.
The simple act of saying “thank you” should show the appreciation, the Government, FCCC and its Board has. But sometimes these two words alone are not enough to express that gratitude. Because appreciation is more than just saying “thank you”.
It’s important to demonstrate that a team is truly noted for their commitment. It is about showing that we understand the struggles we go through every day. Simply, true and genuine appreciation connects the team’s effort to the overall vision of the Commission and the Fijian Government.
Your vision, enthusiasm, passion, flexibility, determination and resilience is what makes this organisation and drives it towards success.
My message to every employee is that you must be confident in everything you do, and should never retreat or ‘give up’ at the first sign of difficulty.
Regardless of who receives an award, you instill motivation in others to do better than what they have been doing yesterday.
With those words, I congratulate the award recipients tonight, and also convey my best wishes to everyone for your efforts in 2020. I look forward to the same level of commitment and support as we continue to serve Fijians in this new year.
So, by all means, celebrate – but do so responsibly.
Vinaka Vakalevu.