Fiji Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Thanks Church for Self-Reliance Emphasis

Mrs Rosy Akbar, Fiji's new Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation addressed Latter-day women and girls recently.

Mrs Akbar, who was sworn into Parliament last month, was one of seven women elected into the 50 seat Parliament two weeks ago. 

Mrs Akbar was accompanied at the Latter-day Saint meeting in Suva on 27 September by Dr Joe Koroivueta and Mrs Arieta Moceica.

Mrs Sulueti Kama, National Public Affairs Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, introduced Mrs Akbar and congratulated her on her recent election.

In her speech, the Minister acknowledged the long and positive association the Ministry has had with the Latter-day Saints’ Relief Society organization. 

The Relief Society, one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the world, was established in 1842 to build faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families, and help those in need.

Mrs Akbar explained that self-reliance is one of the core focus issues of the new government.

“The self-reliance movement needs a liberal advocate such as your church," Mrs Akbar said.  

"I believe that moving people to be self-reliant equates to getting them out of poverty, misery, hopelessness and being disadvantaged.”

She applauded Latter-day Saint leaders for instilling in its membership the values of hard work and self-reliance. 

“We all owe it to ourselves and to our families to use the resources that God has blessed us with in abundance to make a living.”

At the conclusion of Mrs Akbar’s address, she was presented with a framed copy of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."

This document from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a declaration of the Church's standards, doctrines and practices relative to marriage and the family.

The remainder of the program included a fashion show by young women displaying clothing they had made from various scraps of material. 

This was followed by a demonstration by an official of the Women’s Ministry on the use of a rocket stove.

Read more at the Fiji Sun.