H.E PRESIDENT KATONIVERE'S ADDRESS AS CHIEF SCOUT AT FIJI SCOUTS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

•    The President of the Fiji Scouts Association, Mr Abhay Nand;
•    Chief Commissioner of the Fiji Scouts Association. Mr. John Naisau;
•    The National Executive Commissioner, Mr. Joji Qaranivalu;
•    Fiji Scouts District Commissioners, Leaders and Troops;
•    Representatives of the Girl Guides Association and Staff Members;
•    Representatives of the Ministry of Education;
•    Distinguished Guests;
•    Ladies and gentlemen.

Miau Sa Bula Re, warm Pacific greetings & a very Good morning to you all! I am honoured to welcome you all the Scout Commissioners and Council members today, here at the State House for the 2023rd Annual General Meeting. I acknowledge that we are having this Fiji Scouts annual general meeting after a lapse of three years due to the Covid 19 restrictions from 2020 - 2021. Since my investiture as Chief Scout in March last year, I am excited to chair this annual general meeting for the first time here at the State House.

And I must acknowledge our Former Chief Scout and Former President of the Republic of Fiji, Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote for his guidance to the Scout Association for the past six years. And as the current Chief Scout, I shall be dedicated to continuing the guidance and allegiance to the Scouts as I pledged during my investiture.

Commissioners and Council members, as a charitable organisation, we are to work in partnership with the government of the day. Since the last AGM, Fiji has held general elections, and we have a new coalition government at the helm, it is our duty to ensure that we continue to remain apolitical and remain dedicated to the cause that we serve. 

At this juncture, I must thank you all for your sacrifices and commitment in grooming the youths of Fiji, building character to become worthy contributing citizens and great future leaders. The tireless service you provide to the youths of this nation through good leadership, mentoring and your passion for peaceful coexistence will continue to improve their lives and those around them.

I also wish to remember our scouting brothers and sisters who have passed on. We acknowledge their valuable contributions to scouting and we extend our sincerest condolences and heartfelt thanks to their respective families. I ask that we rise at this moment to observe a moment of silence in honour of our fallen brothers and sisters. 

Thank you Commissioners and Council members, you may be seated. 

Since 2020, the scout association with the country as a whole went through one of the most challenging periods of our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic took the nation by surprise as it did much of the world. Fiji grappled with a rapidly changing pandemic landscape. To prevent the dangerous disease and contain its devastating spread, we had to close our schools, workplaces, houses of worships and restrict movement. Numerous controls were imposed on us which affected livelihoods and development works. 

Despite these troubling yet necessary protocols during that particularly difficult chapter of our lives, the scouts and other young people have remained positive and become energetic forces who were at the forefront of developing creative solutions to sustainable pandemic recovery. Reading about the efforts of scouts and leaders volunteering for national duties in assisting the medical teams during the vaccination drives, reaching out to communities, visiting students’ homes to deliver study packages and assisting the elderly in your communities is indeed commendable. Thank you very much and Vinaka vakalevu. 

The rehabilitation efforts to bring normalcy to many of your scout colleagues who were affected in the Northern Division by Tropical Cyclone Yasa in late 2020 and the destructive floods in the West by Tropical Cyclone Ana in early 2021. The collection and distribution of clothing, food packs and school resources to those affected is admirable. I also wish to acknowledge the funding assistance from our overseas counterparts like the Messengers of Peace which we are indeed proud of - as an act of comradeship by the World Brotherhood of scouting. 

Commissioners and Council members, it is stated in the Scouts Constitution that the purpose of our organization is to contribute to the development of young people. This development aims to guide members to achieve their full physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and emotional potentials as individuals, and to be responsible citizens and members of their local, national and international community. 

These are very noble aims, and we are here today to reflect and make decisions focussed on being a part of this noble Movement that chooses to care. We are volunteers, supporters and professional leaders to all the Scouts who inspire us to do better. Our duty is to coach and guide the young citizens of this country so that they are well equipped to lead us peacefully with dignity to the future. 

Scouting plays an important role in every civilized community and besides its reputation as an organisation for character building; it is an effective solution to influencing other youths to engage in positive activities. Statistics gathered by our law enforcers state that the majority of cases of substance abuse, after-sports and school brawls, petty break-ins and truancy were offences by youths. These negative incidents come about when youths are idle and have no guidance from adults. Scouting, like other character molding programmes, offers an avenue for youths to share their challenges and feel appreciated as well as providing leadership support. 

Additionally, scouting programmes foster friendship, tolerance, understanding and perseverance to those around them. It is a vital inclusion in the lives of young boys and girls particularly in the programmes they participate in that allows them to develop holistically. This then has led the Government of Fiji to allocate $80,000 in its current budget to support the various scout initiatives that should contribute to nation building.

Commissioners and Council members, with a current membership of around 10,000, we need to continue our focus our efforts and encourage positive on scouting values being instilled into the lives of the boys and girls who need our help.  I encourage all scouts in Fiji to join me in my recent efforts in addressing climate change by encouraging other stakeholders in contributing in whatever way possible. Individually or as a community we can do our part by planting trees, growing our vegetable gardens, reducing the use of electric power and ban the use of plastic at home. Let us buy local products and exercise by walking as well as participating in other physical activities. 

A grave issue faced by people in Fiji is the alarming rates at which Fijians of all ages are dying due to non-communicable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attacks which are very much manageable. Let us lead the way by eating more locally produced, organic and fresh foods; while exercising daily. Commissioners and Council members, I once again wish to acknowledge your individual and collective voluntary efforts in providing valuable services to the community and the youths of Fiji. I sincerely hope that our joint efforts will contribute to the continued positive progress of our nation.

With these few words, I now have much pleasure in declaring this Annual General Meeting open

May God bless us all and May God Bless Fiji!

Vinaka Vakalevu