We have reintroduced Girmit Day to recognize and celebrate the Girmityas and their rightful place in Fiji’s history - Rabuka

We have reintroduced Girmit Day to recognize and celebrate the Girmityas and their rightful place in Fiji’s history - Rabuka

By Alipate Narawa
Sunday 09/04/2023
[Photo: Fijian Government]

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says they have reintroduced Girmit Day to recognize and celebrate the Girmityas and their descendants and their rightful place in Fiji’s history.

He stated this as he officiated at the prize-giving event for the Extra Supermarket Girmit Golf Open Tournament at the Fiji Golf Club, adding that the Girmityas have contributed immensely to the development of this nation, and during his earlier term in Government, they scrapped the India Repatriation Law.

Rabuka also says it is indeed an honour to be there as part of government and thanked all the sporting communities for including them in the tournament as it is an occasion where they also celebrate and be united through the contribution of the descendants of the Girmityas and their forefathers who have made their sacrifices.

The Prime Minister also says this is part of their effort in making Fiji a home for all.

77-year-old former school teacher Ram Rattan who was the special guest at the tournament expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Prime Minister for recognizing the Girmityas and their contribution to the country.

Rattan adds his hearty thanks to the Prime Minister and the coalition government for allocating a day to celebrate and remember their forefathers.

He also reminded all the descendants of Girmityas, to raise their children to be generous, kind, educated and further contribute to the development of this land.

In its fourth year, the tournament drew a sponsorship of $40,000.00 which Rabuka said was an essential and successful event.

This year’s Girmit Day will celebrate the 144th year of their arrival in Fiji on May 14th, 1879.

It is estimated that 60,965 Girmityas landed in Fiji from 1879 to 1916.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad also attended the event.

Girmit-Day-I-fv-banners-728p-x-90p
Girmit-Day-I-fv-banners-300p-x-250p
FEATURE NEWS
O’Brien sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for 6 counts of serious sexual offences against a 13-year-old girl
Jale Patrick O’Brien, who was convicted of six counts of serious sexual offences against a 13-year-old girl, has been sentenced to 18 years’ impri...
56 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
Lavekau sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for indecent and sexual assault of 6-year-old
Navitalai Lavekau, who was convicted of one count of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault, has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment ...
52 minutes ago

Mikel Merino scores the lone goal as Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0
Mikel Merino scored the lone goal as Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 to move 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Both of these sides came ...
1 hour ago

Nightclub fire in North Macedonia kills 59, Injures 155—pyrotechnics blamed
Fifty-nine people have died, and 155 were injured after a fire tore through a nightclub in North Macedonia, with the country’s Interior Minister ...
4 hours ago

Fiji reaffirms commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment at CSW69
Fiji has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women ...
4 hours ago

Five out of six children in Fiji experience violence – Ministry of Children
Shocking statistics reveal that five out of six children in Fiji experience violence, while the Fiji Police Force has recorded an average of five ...
5 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Reverend Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Watch the General Secretary of Fiji Evangelical Fellowship, Reverend Simione Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
18 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and William Parkinson
Chairman of Communications Fiji Limited, parent company of FM96, LegendFM, VitiFM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam, fijivillage and PNGFM, William Parkinson ...
19 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and Adi Tulia Nacola
The candid interview focuses on Nacola, coming from a chiefly family and being a daughter of a Minister who was ousted in the 1987 military coup, her ...
19 days ago

TOP