HIS EXCELLENCY RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
CF, LVO, OBE (Mil), OStJ, CSM, MSD
President of the Republic of Fiji


University of Fiji Campus
Friday, 15th April, 2011
10.00a.m.
SAWENI



• THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY, PUNDIT BHUWAN DUTT
• MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
• HONOURABLE MINISTERS
• YOUR EXCELLENCIES, THE AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS
 
• NA MOMO NA TUI VUDA
• THE ACTING VICE-CHANCELLOR ASSOCIATE, PROFESSOR CHANDRA DULARE
• THE REGISTRAR, PUNDIT KAMLESH ARYA
• MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
• MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY STAFF
• REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARYA PRATINIDHI SABHA OF FIJI
• THE GRADUANDS
 
• PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
• INVITED GUESTS,
• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

GOOD MORNING, NI SA BULA VINAKA, ASALAM ALAYKUM, NAMASKAR

I AM INDEED HONOURED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AT THE 2013 GRADUATION CEREMONY.

 
IT IS INDEED FOR ME A TREMENDOUS PLEASURE AND A HUMBLE YET REWARDING DUTY, AS THE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR TO CONFER DEGREES, AND AWARD CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS, TO THIS FINE GATHERING OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO WOULD SOON BE JOINING THE FIJI LABOUR MARKET AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY.

 
AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI AND THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI, I BRING WARM GREETINGS FROM ALL THE PEOPLE OF FIJI AS WELL AS THOSE FROM MY OWN FAMILY.

AT THE OUTSET, I NOTE WITH DEEP SYMPATHY THE TERRIBLE SUFFERANCE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS AREA ENDURED THROUGH THE DEVASTATING WRATH OF TROPICAL CYCLONE EVAN IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

 
AND I NOTE WITH MUCH COMFORT, QUIET SATISFACTION AND ADMIRATION THE LEVEL OF RESILIENCE THAT WAS DISPLAYED BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS AREA, AND INDEED, OF FIJI, TOWARDS PUTTING THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI AS WELL SUFFERED INTENSIVE DAMAGES TO ITS INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT.

I AM INFORMED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD ACTED SWIFTLY AND COMPLETED THE MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS AND THE MAINTENANCE WORKS THAT HAD TO BE DONE THAT ALLOWED THE UNIVERSITY TO OPEN AS SCHEDULED.

I EXPRESS THE APPRECIATION OF ALL TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR UNTIRING EFFORTS.

 
NATURAL CALAMITIES ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL. WHAT IS IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, IS THE STRENGTH THAT WE DISPLAY IN SUCH TRYING SITUATIONS TO BRING LIFE BACK TO NORMALCY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I THANK EVERY COMMUNITY FOR THE ROLE THEY HAD PLAYED IN THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS IN THE RELIEF WORK.

 
ONCE AGAIN, WE AS A NATION HAVE TRIUMPHED OVER ADVERSITY AND HAVE MOVED FORWARD TOGETHER AS A NATION.

WITH THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND THE WILL OF THE FOUNDERS, THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI HAD MOVED ON THE PATH OF SUCCESS EVEN THOUGH FACED BY UNEXPECTED TRIALS AND TURBULENCES.

 
TODAY WE MARK ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI HAS ENTERED ITS SIXTH GRADUATION CEREMONY. EACH YEAR THE LIST OF GRADUANDS HAS INCREASED.

TODAY, THIS GRADUATION CEREMONY WILL WITNESS CONFERMENT OF DEGREES AND AWARD OF CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS TO 250 GRADUANDS.

 
MY HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUANDS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THEIR PROGRAMME OF STUDIES.

OUR NATIONAL VISION IS TO MAKE FIJI A KNOWLEDGE BASED SOCIETY AND I NOTE WITH APPRECIATION THAT UNIVERSITY OF FIJI IS CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO THIS IMPORTANT FAR REACHING VISION.

 
IN MY BRIEFS I AM CONSTANTLY ADVISED OF THE UNWAVERING FOCUS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE FOUNDERS AND OF ITS COMBINED DETERMINED WILL TO CONSTRUCT THE FACILITIES FOR THE CENTRE FOR ITAUKEI STUDIES (CIS).

THIS IS INDEED A LAUDABLE FOCUS.

 
IN THIS RESPECT, THE COUNCIL HAS LAUNCHED A FUNDRAISING DRIVE. I NOTE WITH MUCH APPRECIATION THE $52,135.00 CONTRIBUTION RECEIVED FROM THE FOUNDATION TRUST OF GENTING HIGHLAND, MALAYSIA.

THIS BRINGS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION INTO PLAY AND ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF FIJI, I EXPRESS OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE FOUNDATION AND THE PEOPLE OF MALAYSIA. VINAKA VAKALEVU.

 
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THIS CENTRE REALIZED DURING MY TERM AS CHANCELLOR AND I WISH THE COUNCIL AND THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION ALL THE SUCCESS IN THIS REGARD. AND I HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD COME ON BOARD SOON TO ASSIST IN FINANCING THE CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDIES PROJECT.

FOR A SUCCESSFUL UNIVERSITY, IT IS CRUCIAL TO HAVE A WIDE RANGING NETWORK OF SUPPORT AND GOODWILL.
 
IT IS, THEREFORE, ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI HAS GONE REGIONAL BY RECRUITING STUDENTS FROM OTHER PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES – THE SOLOMON ISLANDS BEING THE MOST PROMINENT.

I URGE THE RESIDENT AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR STUDENTS TO SEEK UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FROM UNIFIJI THAT OFFERS QUALITY AFFORDABLE EDUCATION TO STUDENTS FROM THE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES ON LOCAL FEES.
 
THIS, I BELIEVE, IS A WORTHY EXPRESSION OF GOODWILL FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI TO THE COMMUNITIES OF THE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS WORTHY EXPRESSION OF GOODWILL WILL BE OF GREAT MUTUAL BENEFIT TO ALL OF US.

LET ME NOW DWELL BRIEFLY ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION OF FIJI PUT TO THE PEOPLE BY THE BAINIMARAMA GOVERNMENT.
 
AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, THE GOVERNMENT HAD CHARGED THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NEW CONSTITUTION TO THE GHAI COMMISSION.

HOWEVER, AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION, AND A PERIOD OF DUE CONSIDERATION, IT WAS FELT THAT THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION HAD TO BE FINE-TUNED.

 
THE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE HELP OF LEGAL DRAFTSMEN, HAVE NOW PRODUCED A REVISED DRAFT CONSTITUTION THAT HAS BEEN RELEASED, AND THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED BY THE CITIZENS OF FIJI. THIS DRAFT HAS INCORPORATED ALL THE SALIENT POINTS OF THE PREVIOUS CONSTITUTIONS AND THOSE ARTICULATED BY THE GHAI COMMISSION REFLECTING THE BEST INTEREST OF THE NATION AND THE DIVERSE AND ENLIGHTENING VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF FIJI.

 
AS YOU WILL NOTE, THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION IS MUCH LESS BUREAUCRATIC THAN THE GHAI DRAFT, AND GIVES DUE PROMINENCE TO AN ELECTED PARLIAMENT, RATHER THAN AN UNELECTED ASSEMBLY MADE UP LARGELY OF NGOS AS PROPOSED IN THE GHAI DRAFT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIJI'S HISTORY THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION CONTAINS AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS FOR ALL FIJIANS.
 
THESE INCLUDE: THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD AND WATER, RIGHT TO HOUSING AND SANITATION, RIGHT TO HEALTH, RIGHT TO EDUCATION AND THE RIGHT TO A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, TO NAME A FEW.

THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION ALSO REVAMPS THE CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING EXTENDING THE NON-DISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS. FOR THE FIRST TIME, DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF CULTURE, SOCIAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, MARITAL STATUS AND PREGNANCY IS PROHIBITED.
 
FURTHERMORE, BETTER PROTECTION IS PROVIDED AGAINST ARBITRARY EXPROPRIATION OF PROPERTY OF ANY PERSON OR GROUP, WHETHER IT BE LAND, PERSONAL PROPERTY OR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION SETS OUT FUNDAMENTAL AND INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED VALUES ON WHICH THE DRAFT IS BASED. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT VALUES IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
 
I AM HAPPY TO NOTE THAT THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHES AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY COMMISSION WHICH WILL IMPLEMENT, MONITOR AND ENFORCE A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, THE PRIME MINISTER, MINISTERS AND SENIOR PUBLIC SERVANTS.

YOU WILL ALSO NOTE THAT THE PROVISIONS ON PARLIAMENT IS A LOT MORE TRANSPARENT.
 
THROUGH AN OPEN LIST PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM, WE FIJIANS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT OUR PARLIAMENTARIANS ON THE BASIS OF ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, ONE VALUE.

THE GOVERNMENT LEGAL TEAM IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING CONSULTATIONS ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION.
 
I ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS AND THE ACADEMICS AT UNIFIJI ALIKE TO ENGAGE IN CONSTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION AND TO MAKE YOUR VIEWS KNOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT SO THAT THE SAME COULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE FINAL OUTCOME.

ON THE HOME FRONT, I AM PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE OUTCOME OF THE JUDICIAL REVIEW CASE HAD BEEN IN THE UNIVERSITY’S FAVOUR.
 
THIS IS THE CASE THAT I HAD ALLUDED TO AT THE LAST GRADUATION AS AN ISSUE OF CONCERN. THE OUTCOME DOES GIVE US A COMFORT ZONE WHICH REQUIRES PARTICULAR ATTENTION HEREAFTER AS WE MANAGE OUR AFFAIRS INTO THE FUTURE.

FURTHERMORE, I NOTE WITH DEEP APPRECIATION THAT THE SPONSOR OF THE UMANAND PRASAD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HAS TO DATE CONTRIBUTED $900,000.00 OF THE $1 MILLION PLEDGE MADE TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF UPSM.
 
I TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE PRESENCE OF DR. PRASAD WHO HAS TRAVELLED FROM ADELAIDE TO BE WITH US AT THIS GRADUATION.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF ONLY ALL THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF FIJI SHOWED SIMILAR COMPASSION FIJI’S VISION OF CREATING A KNOWLEDGE BASED SOCIETY WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY REALIZED.

 
FINALLY, MAY I ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEW REGISTRAR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI. AMBASSADOR KAMLESH ARYA IS NO STRANGER TO EDUCATION. I BELIEVE HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE REGISTRAR HAS PLACED THE UNIVERSITY’S PROGRESS IN GOOD HANDS.

AMBASSADOR KAMLESH ARYA HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH UNIFIJI FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND IS WELL VERSED WITH THE UNIVERSITY’S DEVELOPING NEEDS.
 
HE HAS MADE SOUND CONTRIBUTIONS IN FIJI’S EDUCATIONAL, POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC ARENAS, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT HE WOULD ENSURE POSITIVE RETURNS TO THE UNIVERSITY AND TO THE STUDENT POPULATION. I WISH HIM WELL.

IN CONCLUSION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I URGE THE GRADUANDS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND BE GOOD AMBASSADORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI. TO ALL OF YOU PARENTS GATHERED HERE AND TO THOSE LISTENING FROM OUTSIDE, I IMPLORE YOU TO INVEST IN THE EDUCATION OF YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE.
 
THERE IS NO LOSS BUT RATHER ONLY GAIN FROM SUCH AN INVESTMENT.

AS CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY, I KEENLY FOLLOW THE SUPPORT TO UNIFIJI BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUING GENEROSITY. YOUR SUPPORT DOES LESSEN THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE COUNCIL. I AM OPTIMISTICALLY HOPEFUL THAT OTHER BUSINESS FIRMS WILL ALSO JOIN HANDS WITH US AND HELP UNIFIJI ACHIEVE ITS GOAL OF EDUCATING THE NATION.

 
ONCE AGAIN, I WISH ALL THE GRADUANDS HEARTIEST MY CONGRATULATIONS AS YOU ACHIEVE THIS JOYOUS MOMENT IN YOUR YOUNG LIVES, AND AS YOU TURN TO FACE THE REAL AND EVER CHALLENGING WORLD. YOU HAVE ACHIEVED MUCH IN A VERY SHORT TIME.

JUST ONE WORD OF ADVICE. AS THE AMBASSADOR OF HIV/AIDS FOR FIJI, I REMIND YOU AGAIN TO BE ALWAYS AWARE OF THE HAVOC THAT YOU CAN CAUSE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY IF YOU GET INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH HIV/AIDS. SO ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE SEX. USE A CONDOM.

 
TO ALL THE PARENTS, GUARDIANS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS OF UNIFIJI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND A BIG VINAKA VAKALEVU FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR THE GRADUATION.

BUT TO ALL OF YOU GATHERED HERE, I SAY - THANK YOU, VINAKA VAKALEVU, SUKURIA, BAHOOT DHANYAVAAD.


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