PRIME MINISTER HON. SITIVENI RABUKA’S ADDRESS TO OPEN THE ROTUMA DAY CELEBRATIONS

The Chairman and Members of the Rotuma Council;
Chiefs of Rotuma;
Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Minister
His Excellency the Australian High Commissioner;
His Excellency the Korean Ambassador to Fiji
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
 
Noa’ia,
Ni Sa Bula Vinaka and A Very Good Morning to You All.
 
I’m delighted to be in Rotuma again and deeply honoured to be the Chief Guest at these celebrations to mark this Rotuma Day, 2025.
 
In my last visit to Rotuma, I was awestruck by the pristine beauty of your island and its rich culture and tradition. Now, many years later, I have seen that it has not lost that uniqueness that is solely and undeniably Rotuman.
 
Matalau ni keimami mai saravi kemuni tale. Dei tu na ivakarau vakaturaga vakavanua. Ni bula mamarau, ni bulabula vinaka, dina ga ni sega ni taucoko tu na veiqaravi ni tabana ni bula ena yanuyanu vakaturaga.
 
You look healthy, you look wealthy. Although there have been some concerns about the services offered by government. I have come today to witness those areas of concern.
 
Today I have also come to celebrate with you all. This is a very special and joyous day not only for Rotumans but for all Fijians who have come to appreciate and respect the contribution of Rotumans to the betterment of Fiji as a whole. And so today, we also honor Rotuma’s continuous commitment to Fiji and its people.
 
For a small island community, you have provided Fiji with a President. You have risen in the ranks of the army. One of your late sons became commander of the Royal Fiji Military Forces, later on became minister of defence and finance. We have the former President with us here, Major General (retired) Jioji Konusi Konrote, who rose up the ranks to become commander of the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
 
We are proud of that. When I said we, I mean Fiji. But most significantly, you, people of Rotuma should be proud of that. I was very happy to see one of our former circuit minister in the Wesley division (of Methodist Church) with us.
 
Ni sa vakarogorogo vinakataka na yaca ni nomuni vanua, ena matanitu, ena mataivalu, ena lotu. You have risen to those high ranks in government, in the army, and in the various denominations of the Christian church in Fiji.
 
As we try to rebuild Fiji together from so many upheavals of the past, although those uncertainty are felt more in Fiji and not here in Rotuma. Ike eda yaco mai, oni vakacegu tu ga. We can see the joy that you enjoy, we see the peace that lives on this island. We thank you for being steadfast in the union with the rest of Fiji.
 
It is my utmost belief that the new Fiji we are building has a place for everyone, no matter your beliefs, tradition or culture. I believe that together we can work towards fulfilling our destiny. Your government strongly believes in you and our ability to build Fiji into a shining example of unity, peace and harmony to the rest of the world.
 
I wish to inform you all today that your government has a vision for Rotuma. This vision emanates from our National Development Plan and one that will ensure that basic infrastructure is available for all Rotumans, where Government services are made available to each and every one of you and that every community is able to grow and prosper.
 
In addition, your government will work towards bolstering partnership between the private and public sector to ensure that Rotuma is able to accommodate various types of economic activities that will revitalise your island economy and raise standards of living and quality of life.
 
As I look out from this podium, I see people that are strong and resilient. I see people that can overcome adversity. I see a people that have, over countless times, managed to “punch above their own height and weight.” This is why despite the numerous challenges that you face, I believe that there is a better future for Rotuma.
 
Thank you for the wonderful welcome that you have accorded us today. We look
forward to the day’s events, as well as to meet as many of you as possible.
 
It is now my great pleasure to declare the Rotuma Day 2025 celebrations open.
 
Faiaksia...Vinaka Vakalevu