President urges people not to allow social media platforms to be used as a weapon to spread lies

President Jioji Konrote has urged people not to allow social media platforms to be used as a weapon to spread lies and misinformation.

In his Fiji day message, President Konrote has stressed that Fiji must think carefully about what people are saying and reading on social media and call out lies when they see them for the benefit of our democracy and our fellow Fijians.

He says that Fiji is now approaching it's second parliamentary elections under the 2013 Fijian constitution adding that elections represent a crossroad and the path people choose will define the future for our children, their children and their children after them.

President Konrote has also highlighted that elections is a time to listen to all of the positions of the different political parties, it is a time for people to make their voices heard by voting for the political party people believe is best suited to take Fiji forward based on their record, based on the promises they have made and on their ability to deliver on those promises for the Fijian people.

He has also stressed that there will be many disagreements and debates in the coming weeks but he knows that people can agree that Fiji's success in recent years is owed to the fact that Fijians are finally participating equally in the nation's progress and benefitting equally from the national prosperity.

President Konrote says regardless of whatever political differences exist among people, the bonds of nationhood and common citizenry must always triumph and must also hold true on social media.

The President says that he is privileged to address the Fijian people across the nation and everywhere they maybe in the world on Fiji Day 2018 as we celebrate the 48th year of Fiji’s independence and sovereignty.

He says as people celebrate this Fiji Day we do so as proud daughters and sons of a united nation, we do so as common and equal citizens in a genuine parliamentary democracy and we do so from a position of strength and success in the 48 years of our independent history.

President Konrote says that every year he has watched with ever increasing pride and optimism as Fiji has reached new and greater heights realizing achievement that only a generation ago would have seemed unimaginable.

The President has also highlighted that this year again Fiji has  witnessed even greater unprecedented prosperity sweep across the country, bringing us our ninth consecutive year of economic growth bringing people new jobs that have brought unemployment to its lowest point in decades and bringing people new opportunities that have entered the lives of all Fijians everywhere in our country especially for young people.

President Konrote says this Fiji Day as we gather in celebration let people reaffirm the love they hold for those who are dear to them, their  families and their communities and to a larger Fijian family that stretches all across the world including our very own peace keepers who serving in conflict areas, in regions torn apart by strife and violence, let us all keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers and give gratitude for their strength and sacrifice.