His Excellency, President Jioji Konusi Konrote, with the First Lady Sarote Konrote, together with the Commissioner Eastern Luke Moroivalu and other government officials received a warm reception by the Chairman of the Rotuma Island Council Gagaj Kauseraf upon their arrival at the Rotuma Airport yesterday.
Gagaj Kauseraf told His Excellency the President that the Chiefs of the 7 District of Rotuma warmly welcome one of their successful sons back to the island and have pledged their support for various initiative H.E the President will be undertaking in Rotuma during his tour.
His Excellency the President’s first engagement after disembarking from the Fiji Airways plane was to meet and talk to students and teachers of Rotuma Primary School and Rotuma High School.
President Konrote with the support of the representative of the Ministry of Forestry and the Commissioner Eastern enthusiastically planted 10 dilo trees at the Rotuma High School compound in support of the International Day of Forests which will be commemorated on the 21st of March 2019 nationwide, following which he spoke to the students on the sustainable management of forest in our country.
“My advice to you is listen to your teachers and shape your career. Last month on the 21st of February, 2019, the world commemorated the International Indigenous/Mother Language Day. It is important for you to keep pace with the evolving world yet preserving your own mother tongue.”
As Fiji’s champion on the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases President Konrote also stressed the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
“My advice to you is go to urge your parents to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Tell your dad to plant more tavioka and dalo and rely less on preserved food products. Dr. Isimeli Tukana and I are championing the fight against NCD. We all need to put in a concerted effort to address this growing issue of NCDs,” President Konrote said.