Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad, BSP recently have been able to report the fifth successive oil strike in the Seria North Flank and will be bringing this on stream soon. BSP have commenced production of crude oil from Phase Three of Champion West. The Managing Director of BSP disclosed this during the “MD Long Service Emblem” ceremony for 198 employees from BSP, BLNG and BSM Saturday night.

According to Doctor Grahaeme Henderson again, the production of crude oil is two months ahead of schedule, utillising leading edge technology and carrying the stamp of “made in Brunei” having built at the Kuala Belait construction yard. He also added that safety takes priority where BSP had the very best safety performance ever in its history last year.

The long service emblems for 35 and 30 years for the three companies were then presented by the Minister of Energy, Pehin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Yahya as the Chairman Board of Director for BSP and BLNG.

Pehin also presented the emblems to the Managing Director of BSP and the Managing Director of BSM, Pengiran Haji Yasmin bin Pengiran Haji Mohamad; who were among the recipients of the 25 years service award.

Among present was the Second Minister of Finance, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman as the Chairman Board of Director for BSM, BST and BGC. Saturday night function took place in Gadong.

National Fishing Industry is expected to progress within five years to come with the cost totaling 2-hundred 30-million dollars. More than 10-percent comes from the seafood processing sector.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources unveiled the achievement at the agreement signing of the Fishing Industry and Trade Rental Building, Saturday.

Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Hamid expressed his hope the exportation of seafood could be enhanced with a great many opportunities. He said the number of local enterprise who explores export markets is still very minimal. He also urged joint ventures including cooperatives and associations to develop fishing industry in the country.

Under the agreement, the building will serve as a centre for seafood processing industry activities in the Belait District. The Director of Fisheries, Dayang Hajjah Hasnah Binte Ibrahim was the signatory for her department, while, the Deputy Chairman of the Kuala Belait Fisherman Cooperative, Awang Haji Yusof Bin Haji Leece signed on behalf of the Cooperative.

Eighty new nurses have begun their orientation at the Ministry of Health. The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health when officiating at the orientation course Saturday said nurses are spokespersons between the Ministry of Health and the
public serving as among the front liners where they need to face the public.

Dato Paduka Haji Serbini bin Haji Ali said that personal quality as being dedicated, responsible, honest, sincere and being concern should be possessed by every officers and nurses. The Ministry of Health required every nurses to be responsible in ensuring that the standard nursing care should be at its highest level. Towards this, efforts in improving the nursing care should always be implemented. This way, it also improves the image of the nurses as well as the Ministry of Health itself.

He also called on nurses to have stable knowledge and skill in the field of nursing in order to carry out their duties in and outside the hospital as well as to always upgrade their knowledge respectively. The objective of the course among others is to enable participants at instilling the importance of the spirit of solidarity towards building an effective team work. In this regard, nursing profession needs cooperation, effective communication, teamwork and dedication to deliver a quality health care service to the public.

Universiti Brunei Darussalam, UBD, Saturday began an open day on the Study at the University 2006 at the chancellor’s hall. UBD offers mainly English medium and some malay and arabic-medium certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduates programmes in eight faculties.

Being the only government university, UBD maintains high academic standards through its associations with overseas universities, internationally-accredited and validated programmes, and a strict admission and selected system. Before launching the open day, the Vice Chancellor of UBD, Dato Paduka Haji Ismail, whose speech was read by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr Haji Mohd Yusop bin Hj Awang Damit said that it is important to ensure that students select programmes or courses that suits with their interest.

Besides that students and parents can discuss with UBD officials for the preparations to study at UBD. The open day is aimed at giving students who wish to further their studies at the university, sharing various programmes offered by the university, as well as allowing parents to gain understanding of the programme choosing process through their child’s qualification. It opens again to the public today from half past eight in the morning until four in the afternoon.

A local fisherman was detained and one transporting of sandstone gravel vessel was confiscated in an operation codenamed ‘Operasi Bersepadu Marintime 2006’ in the Brunei waters early Sunday morning.

During the operation, the relevant government law enforcement agencies; namely The Royal Brunei Marine Police, Immigration, Customs and Fisheries found that the fisherman was fishing without license.

While, the vessel was carrying the crew with contraband goods and entering the country illegally. In this regard, the agencies have once again reiterated their advice to fishermen and other vessel operators to always bring along relevant documents such as fishing licenses, fishing permit and identification card to be produced during any unscheduled operations.

The operation was aimed at curbing and eradicating smuggling activities such as stolen goods and drugs as well as harbouring illegal immigrants. Apart from fighting against crime, the relevant government agencies also keep on carrying out the operation in their concerted efforts in safeguarding Brunei waters from undesirable elements and at enhancing relationship among their counterparts.