Rear Admiral Hon. J.V. Bainimarama, CF(Mil), OSt.J, MSD, jssc, psc

Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs and Sugar Industry

SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE PUNJAS MEDICAL CENTRE

10 Cakau Street Fri. 23 Jan., 2015

LAUTOKA 1200Hours

The Senior Director of the Punjas and Sons Group, Mr. Kanti Punja;

Other Members of the Punja Family;

Executives and Staff of the Punjas Group of Companies;

My Fellow Fijians.

Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.

I’m delighted to be back in Lautoka this afternoon – as I always am – to officially open the new Punjas Medical Centre here at the Waiyavi Subdivision in the Sugar City.

This happens to be the fourth new or refurbished health facility that I have opened in the West in the last three days and is a clear sign of my Government’s determination to significantly improve the health-care outcomes of the Fijian people - especially in this most important part of the country, which contributes so much to our national economy and the prosperity of every Fijian.

There is one feature about this Centre I am opening today which makes it uniquely different from the othersI launched this week at Vatukarasa, Cuvu and the new extension at the Sigatoka Hospital and that is that the entire cost of building this facility – half a million dollars – has been born by the Punja and Sons family through their charitable trust.

It is a wonderful act of generosity on the part of this family and the Punja and Sons Group of Companies. And I want to say a heartfelt “vinaka vakalevu” to them on behalf of the Fijian Government and the Fijian people.

I want to pay a special tribute to Mr. Kanti Punja – the company’s Senior Director –who envisaged this project and has been the driving force in getting it completed. It has taken two years of hard work, but is yet another wonderful testament to the role that the Punja family and the Punjas Group have played in Fiji since the company was founded in Cuvu in 1935.

Today we celebrate 80 years of service by this Fijian company to the nation. It is also wonderful thing that Mr. Kanti Punja celebrates his 80th birthday this year. I ask you all to give him a special round of applause for his lifetime of service and for the great gesture he has made to improve the health of the people of Lautoka through this facility.

My fellow Fijians, this is also a day to celebrate a wonderful partnership between Government and the private sector. Because while the Punjas Group has paid for this facility, it is the Government that will resource it through the doctors and nurses of the Ministry of Health.

From today the people of Lautoka have a choice in whether to come here or to go to the Lautoka Hospital, which we all know is under pressure because of the demand on its services. This facility will do a great deal to relieve some of that pressure, so it is a valuable addition to the health infrastructure of the Sugar City and its citizens.

The Punjas Medical Centre has been especially designed with the needs of people with disabilities in mind, with easy access to its consultation rooms, changing rooms and shower and toilet facilities. So the design of the Centre is as thoughtful as the gesture of providing it itself.

I’m told that about 29,000 people will benefit directly from this health centre, providing them with general health care, maternal and child health care, and specialist attention for mental health patients.

While we celebrate the generosity of the Punja Family, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to other businesses throughout Fiji to consider following the lead that they and other families – like the Tappoos – have set in devoting themselves to community projects. In a number of countriescorporate and private philanthropy – that is giving money to charity – is well established and it would be great to see more of the same thing happening in Fiji.

The fact is that Government can only do so much, even with the assistance of our international aid partners. But working hand-in-hand with the private sector, we can obviously do so much more.

These kinds of partnerships aren’t about politics – it’s about supporting every Fijian, whoever they are and whichever way they voted. So I urge Fijian businesses to rise above and not be worried about the petty politicsand personalization of issues and matters, we too often see from the opposition. I urge the business houses towork with and partner with Government to charitable,social and national endeavours. Our economy is on a trajectory and through our combined efforts we can achieve alot more not just as individual stakeholders but also as an entire community, as an entire nation.

So I encourage you all – once again – to follow the example of the Punjas Group of Companies – and others – and to make more of a contribution to the common good.

With those words, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have great pleasure in once again thanking the Punja family and their group and declaring the Punjas Medical Centre open.

Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you.

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