Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)

Sunday 11 October 2009

(G) Fiji Day 10.10.09


Saturday was the 39th anniversary of Fiji Independence.  Celebations started on Friday and will continue to Monday which is a national holiday. The crux of PM Bainimarama's address to the nation was that all Fiji citizens need to work together in order for Fiji to move forward. “If we want to create a better country for ourselves," he said,  "we all need to work harder – and smart – think outside the box and make positive paradigm shift. We need to find suitable solutions together to our deep-rooted problems.

“The theme for our celebrations this year, of Educating Fiji Towards Change Peace and Progress , affords us all an opportunity to strive forward in purpose and confidence to move Fiji into a non-racial – culture vibrant – united – well governed and truly democratic nation – where the marginalized and disadvantaged in our society are uplifted and fully participate in a modern progressive society.” --  Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

2 comments:

Liu Muri said...

39 years of independence for Fiji. We call it "Azaad desh ke Ghulam" - slaves of an independent nation. That is how you could describe the plight of the Indo Fijians in Fiji. Did Indo Fijians in the past have anything to celebrate about? Did the girmit or indenture really end in 1916? Or did it continue well and in the earnest in the last 39 years of independence? Do you really blame Indo Fijians if they support Bainimarama in removing all remnants of racism from Fiji?

aage piche said...

No, but many Indo-Fijians are too frightened of reprisals and travel bans to support him now. So the girmit is not over. Except the slave-drivers and sardars are now the aussies and kiwis!!