HE PRESIDENT RT. NAIQAMA LALABALAVU'S ADDRESS TO OPEN THE 146TH GIRMIT CELEBRATION

10/05/2025
 

Ni sa Bula Vinaka, Namaste, Asalamwalekum and good morning to you all.
 
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather today, ki Wasavulu, vua na Turaga na Tui Labasa.
 
I pay my respects to their Chiefs past and present, as well as to emerging leaders and members of the Vanua o’ Wasavulu.
 
I acknowledge their role in caring for the Vanua.
 
I also acknowledge Na Turaga Bale na Tui Macuata and former President, His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and Na Turaga Bale na Tui Bua, Ra Makutu Nagagavoka who together host communities who have established and made their home in Vanua Levu over four to five generations.
 
To our fellow citizens joining us this morning via radio, television or live streaming, Ni sa Bula Vinaka.
 
I welcome your interest and enthusiasm in joining today’s celebration of the arrival of the Girmitiya in Fiji.
 
I warmly welcome you all this morning, in particular, those here from abroad and Fijians who have travelled to Labasa from other parts of our beloved Fiji.
 
Distinguished Guests, and my fellow citizens, it is with immense honor and a profound sense of duty that I come before you today to open the commemoration of the arrival of the Girmitiya 146 years ago.
 
This moment also provides an opportunity for us to reflect on our collective vision for our beloved nation —a vision centered on progress, prosperity, and unity.
 
I quote the peace activist, social advocate and leader of non-violent protest, Mahatma Gandhi, who said,
 

 
This sentiment encapsulates our responsibility to shape the future of our beloved nation by fostering a society that is just, equitable, and resilient.
 
As a nation, we must walk together in unity, ensuring that no one is left behind in our quest for economic growth, national security, prosperity and sustainable development.
 
The world today faces rapid changes, economic shifts, and climate challenges that test our resolve.
 
But we are a nation built on resilience, unity, and an indomitable spirit.

Our Honourable Prime Minister advocates the concept of the Ocean of Peace, which upholds fundamental values and Pacific regionalism, uniting our history with a shared future.
 
The Ocean of Peace strengthens our collective response to climate change — the greatest threat to our existence, security, and well-being, as recognised by Pacific leaders.
 
Let us take a moment to recognise the resilience and strength of our people, and to pay tribute to our founding fathers, our past leaders and all those who contributed to the development of Fiji today.
 
In particular we honor the Girmitiya, and members of all our communities including Melanesians and other Pacific Islanders who have contributed to the nation’s development.
 
We also honor the Chiefs and their people who shared their lands and resources to enable us all to prosper.
 
Today’s Celebration
 
Today’s celebration of the sacrifices and contributions of the Girmitiya and their descendants is a special day in our history.
 
146 years ago in May 1879, the first indentured labourers from British India to Fiji arrived from Calcutta, India on the Leonidas, a labour-transportation ship.
 
That initial voyage left Calcutta in March 1879 transporting 498 Indian Indentured labourers.
 
17 of them died of cholera and smallpox before the ship reached Fiji and another 15 died while quarantined on Yanuca Lailai.
 
Of the 498 who boarded in Calcutta, only 463 set foot in our first capital, Levuka.
 
They were the first of over 61,000 to arrive from the Indian subcontinent over the following 37 years.

Their labour contracts or Agreements (which became known as “Girmit”), bound them to strenuous labour on sugar plantations under harsh condition.
 
The arrival of the Girmitiyas 146 years ago followed that of the Melanesians who were black-birded to Fiji under the Pacific Labour Trade where thousands were moved around the Pacific, Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia and Samoa between 1847 and 1911.
 
27,027 contracts of indentured labour were entered into by Melanesian people in Fiji between 1864 and 1911, and several thousand remained after the labour trade to Fiji was abolished in 1911.
 
History shows that the trade in labourers under the Indenture System was marred by coercion, deceit, and broken promises, masked in the language of opportunity and prosperity.
 
Many were enticed through false assurances and ambiguous agreements, which they did not fully comprehend.
 
The indenture system in Fiji was formally abolished in 1916.
 
It marked the end of a dark chapter in our history, but the beginning of an even greater legacy.
 
By then, many chose to remain in Fiji, making this land their permanent home and today I recognise their contributions to Fiji’s development.

Their descendants have inherited this work ethic and are today among Fiji’s most dynamic contributors in all economic sectors.
 
They have infused our national identity with their cultural heritage, music, cuisine, and colourful festivals.
 
Fiji is today a unique, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation in the Pacific.
 
At this juncture, I wish to acknowledge Hon. Charan Jeath Singh and his family, who are renowned for their economic contribution in Labasa and throughout Fiji.
 
I also acknowledge renowned academic, the late Professor Brij Lal, who wrote extensively about the indenture system in Fiji.
 
The late Professor Lal devoted his life to research and contributed greatly to the literature on the Girmit experience as well as Fiji’s history. He suffered a painful travel ban and died in exile.
 
I thank the Honorable Prime Minister and Coalition Government for facilitating the repatriation of his remains to his beloved Tabia in 2023.
 
There are many such individuals who have made not only Vanua Levu but all of us proud.
 
We remain grateful for their contributions.

I commend the Coalition Government for its commitment to honouring this legacy.
 
The formal recognition of Girmit Day as a national public holiday is a bold and necessary step, one that enshrines the significance of the Girmitya story in our national consciousness.
 
This year’s theme, “Preserving the Past, Envisioning the Future”, is both profound and timely.
 
It reminds us that memory is not a burden, but a beacon.
 
By honouring the struggles and achievements of the past, we find the wisdom and strength to chart a future rooted in unity, reconciliation, and shared progress.
 
I commend the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs under the leadership of Minister Hon. Singh for its visionary work.
 
The Ministry has advanced initiatives that honour our past while embracing the promise of tomorrow.
 
One such initiative is the Multi-Ethnic Grant Program, reintroduced after a lapse of fourteen years.
 
Many have already benefited from this initiative, which empowers individuals and communities to realise their full potential.
 
The Ministry is developing gas crematoriums across key regions and has commenced the vital task of digitising Girmit records.
 
This is a long-overdue project that will preserve over immigration documents and related materials for posterity.
 
These efforts reflect the Ministry’s unwavering mandate - to nurture social cohesion and build a peaceful, inclusive Fiji.
 
The task is not easy, as our history at times has been difficult and complex, but our shared commitment to live happily side by side stands us in good stead.
 
I am also moved by the initiative to honour Girmitya descendants aged 85 years and above.
 
This recognition recognises their contribution to the nation.
 
In reviewing the program for this three day celebration, I commend the cultural performances including folk music from school children, women’s groups, religious organisations, and local artists.
 
I encourage you to keep these traditions going. It will always affirm your identity.
 
The Girmitya story is a story of perseverance, of transformation, and of unity.
 
Let us continue to stand together, upholding the values of respect, inclusivity, love and compassion.
 
Let us foster a nation where economic opportunity thrives, social justice prevails, and security is assured for every citizen.
 
The choices we make today will shape the destiny of future generations.
 
Together, we will build a Fiji that stands tall among nations – a Fiji that is strong, sustainable, and full of promise.
 

 
May we Remember and Rejoice!
 
May God Bless Fiji and Her People.
 
Vinaka vakalevu, Shukria, Dhanyavaad.