Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka delivered a powerful and emotional speech in Labasa today, honouring the legacy of the Girmitiyas during the closing ceremony of the 146th Girmit Commemoration at Subrail Park.
“The legacy of the Girmitiyas is not just historical — it is alive in the heartbeat of modern Fiji,” Rabuka declared.
“Their determined spirit laid the very foundations of our nation’s economic, cultural, and social development.
Let it be known that the Girmitiyas’ story is not just the story of the Indo-Fijian community; it is Fiji’s story — a major part of our shared history.”
Emphasising unity and healing, Rabuka said Fiji must move forward with a renewed commitment to justice and reconciliation. “At Fiji where every citizen, regardless of ethnicity or background, feels seen, valued, and included,” he said, highlighting the work of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a key step toward national healing.
The Prime Minister also reflected on the early integration of the iTaukei and Girmitiyas, recounting the story of Mahabir, a 16-year-old indentured labourer who found kindness and shelter in a Fijian village.
“If one considers this small anecdote, we can say things might have been different if the two races had been allowed to intermingle more freely.
Our history may have taken a different course.”
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Prof. Biman Prasad, also joined Prime Minister Rabuka in Labasa.
Reflecting on the occasion, he stated,
“As we reflect on 146 years since the arrival of the first Girmityas, we pay tribute to their legacy and commit to a united, just future.”
Rabuka called on the nation to embrace unity, saying, “Now, fast-forward 146 years — I believe we must focus on that unity and forget about the differences. We have lived long enough to leave no room for segregation, disunity, or distrust. We are now one people, belonging to one nation. It is time to build that nation — together.”
He described the Girmitiyas not as passive victims but as proud individuals who fought oppression and shaped their own identity in a foreign land.
Citing historian Dr Ahmed Ali, Rabuka said,
“The Indians interpreted Girmit as their baptism of fire, which gave them inalienable rights in Fiji — a land where they desired and intended to remain permanently.”
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Coalition Government’s commitment to national unity, including the declaration of public holidays for Girmit Day and Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day. “Both events are a way to remember and remind us of the past and how we can move as a nation together.”
Rabuka also acknowledged Fiji’s enduring ties with India, the land from which the Girmitiyas came. “Our friendship with India has matured over 55 years of diplomatic ties, shaped by shared values, cultural bonds, and mutual respect,” he said, citing India’s support in health, education, language, and economic sectors.
As the commemorative event concluded, Prime Minister Rabuka and visiting India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, honoured 27 direct descendants of the original Girmitiyas in a moving ceremony.
The 146th Girmit Commemoration not only celebrated a vital chapter in Fiji’s past but also set a hopeful tone for the nation’s future — one built on the shared sacrifices and unbreakable spirit of its people.
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