A delegation from the Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand will come on a thanksgiving trip to Fiji this week.
They will present the thanksgiving plaque, sevusevu and tabua to the villagers and chiefs of Nasilai whose ancestors provided valuable assistance in the rescue operations which helped in saving 438 lives after the sinking of ship Syria on the Nasilai reef on May 11th 1884. 59 Girmitiyas lost their lives.
Foundation President Shiu Charan says without their valuable and timely help and the traditional i-Taukei culture and compassion, the loss of lives would have been much higher.
Charan adds unfortunately, Fijian history has not resonated with such acts of compassion and sacrifice where our two communities stood by for each other.
He also says there is an enormous reservoir of love, affection and goodwill between the two races which needs to be revealed and cherished.
Charan says to fulfill their undertaking of honoring the villagers a delegation from the foundation led by him will be visiting Nasilai village and Nasilai reef on a thanksgiving pilgrimage this Wednesday.
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