READ ADMIRAL JOSAIA VOREQE BAINIMARAMA, CF(Mil), OStJ, MSD, jssc, psc
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, Public Service, Peoples Charter for Change and Progress, Information, iTaukei Affairs, Sugar Industry and Lands and Mineral Resources


2014 EASTER MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
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For Christians, there is no day filled with more hope and joy than Easter Sunday, when Jesus rises from the grave and fulfills God’s promise of eternal life.

It follows a period of solemn reflection as Christians everywhere recall God’s sacrifice in sending his only Son to save the world and redeem us through his suffering.

On Good Friday we remember this sacrifice most intensely as Christ’s ultimate act of love that he would die for our sins.

Many have written about Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection, but one of my favourite quotations is also one of the most simple:

“Jesus, a man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.”

These are the words of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the twentieth century’s most inspirational leaders, who believed that all of the world’s religions have valuable instruction and guidance to offer the others.

In that way, Gandhi saw Jesus as one of the greatest teachers humanity has ever had with his message of love for mankind, especially the poor and the marginalised.

Certainly, irrespective of our personal religious beliefs, all Fijians can rejoice in the central teaching common to all religions of love, tolerance and compassion.

As your Prime Minister, I am personally very proud of the tradition we have in Fiji of sharing in the religious celebrations of our brothers and sisters of different faiths.

So this weekend, let us come together as a nation as we remember God’s love for us all.

I wish you all a happy Easter.

J.V Bainimarama
Prime Minister.