President pays homage to the Girmitiyas

President Jioji Konrote paid homage to the Girmitiyas who committed themselves to the welfare of the then Fijian colony.

While speaking at the 2016 Arya Convention held at the University of Fiji in Lautoka, Konrote highlighted that the indenture system brought over 60,000 individuals to Fiji.

He said when the system was abolished in 1916, the majority of these individuals chose to stay and establish a new and permanent home here.

Konrote said the Girmitiyas and their descendants have contributed invaluably to our progress as a nation.

He said the Arya Samaj has now grown into a formidable organisation that continues to promote this principle to this day through its focus on education, religion and other social and charitable causes.

Konrote said our collective experiences are now providing a robust and resilient foundation upon which our children can build a peaceful, prosperous and successful future. 

He said it is pleasing to note that the Sabha today owns and manages 15 kindergartens, 16 primary schools and 6 secondary colleges accommodating some 10,000 students this year.

Konrote said the University of Fiji became the first privately owned local university that opened its doors in March 2005 and has a student roll of 2000 this year.

He said the University has secured modest funding from the private sector including some research grants from international institutions, prominent amongst these are the US‑Aid Pacific‑American grant for climate change adaptation and the European Union’s grant for Renewable Energy programme.

Konrote said the 2016 Arya Convention theme of Human Beings and Humanity recognises the need for all of us to embrace the values of harmonious coexistence and respect for human dignity, which also happen to be the foundation of Fiji’s Constitution.