Hundreds of mourners gathered today at the Rishikul Sanatan College auditorium in Nasinu and a hundred thousand more joined via the livestreaming broadcast by the Ministry of Information to bid a final farewell to the Honourable Agni Deo Singh, Fiji’s Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations.
The Minister’s casket was repatriated to Fiji yesterday from Brisbane, Australia, where he passed away on Saturday, September 12.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, business and trade union leaders, teachers, students, and the general public joined Minister Singh’s family and close relatives for the memorial service and public viewing.
In a moving tribute, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed deep gratitude to Minister Singh’s widow, Mrs. Sadhna Singh, and their two children for “sharing Hon. Singh with our nation.”
“Today, Fiji farewells a man who gave a significant part of his life to serving others,” the Prime Minister stated. “A teacher who educated, a trade unionist who represented, a Parliamentarian who spoke and acted, a Minister who led, a colleague who contributed, a leader who listened, a man who welcomed people from all walks of life, and a true son of Fiji who served his country with integrity to the very end.”
Reflecting on Minister Singh’s profound impact, the Prime Minister highlighted his pivotal role in brokering a $9.2 million settlement with the striking Vatukoula Mine Workers Union—a landmark agreement that ended the longest industrial action in both Fiji and the world.
Minister Singh’s extensive legacy of achievements also includes:
Reinstating the Tripartite Forum through the Employment Relations Advisory Board.
Reviewing the Employment Relations Act and the subsequent Employment Relations Amendment legislation.
Modernising the Work Care framework to prioritise compensation, rehabilitation, and occupational health and safety.
Revoking the “No Jab, No Job” policy.
Advocating for the removal of contractual appointments in the Civil Service and restoring the retirement age to 60.
Reviewing the National Minimum Wage and sectoral wages through thorough consultation and tripartite processes, and overseeing the reconvening of Fiji’s Wages Councils.
Rebuilding confidence with the international labour community.
Strengthening the PALM and RSE overseas work schemes.
In his eulogy, the Prime Minister noted that despite the many high offices Mr. Singh held, his fundamental identity as a teacher never faded.
“A good teacher listens, guides, challenges, and sometimes pushes people beyond what they believe they can achieve. A good teacher leaves lessons behind long after he has left the classroom,” he shared. “Agni has now left us. His work remains, his example remains, his lessons remain.
“There will be laws bearing the imprint of his work. Parliamentary records carrying his words. Cabinet decisions to which he contributed. Regional and international initiatives that carry forward the work he helped advance. Perhaps Hon. Singh’s greatest legacy will not be found in these.
“Rather, it will be found in people. In the student who remembers his teacher. In the worker whose grievance was heard. In the trade unionist who remembers standing beside him. In the employer who sat across the table from him. In the family whose livelihood improved. In the employee whose rights were protected. In the worker who returned home safely. In the young Fijian who found employment. In the PALM or RSE worker far from home who knew that Fiji had not forgotten them. And in the public servants whom he constantly challenged to remember why Government exists—to serve the people.”
Heartfelt tributes were also delivered by the Leader of the National Federation Party and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Professor Biman Prasad; the General Secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union, Mr. Muniappa Gounder; and Minister Singh’s son, Mr. Prasheel Singh.
Following the auditorium service, the funeral procession proceeded to Mr. Singh’s private residence in Dilkusha, Nausori, for the family’s final rites and traditional ceremonies, before concluding with his cremation at the Raralevu Cemetery.