FRIDAY OCTOBER 16, 2020 l 16 PAGES l ISSUE 16 VOL 11 l WWW.FIJI.GOV.FJ Fijijj Focus PM officiates at FNU Fiji Day celebrations Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with Fiji National University students during the Fiji Day celebrations last week. MORE ON FIJI DAY CELEBRATIONS: INSIDE. Photo: NANISE NEIMILA PM: You are our ‘ ‘ NANISE NEIMILA hard to achieve.” Prime Minister Bainimarama reminded baton we pass to you and run with it, full This was a message by Prime Minister the students that while the older genera- speed ahead. You are the generation that YOU are the generation that will de- Voreqe Bainimarama as Fiji heads into the tion shaped Fiji’s independence, they were has tapped into your full potential, seizing fineFUTURE our future. You are the founda- second half of the century, while officiating “the generation that will shape where we go “tion, the rock of a Fiji that will build at the Fiji Day celebrations with students of next”. CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 upon the progress that we have fought so the Fiji National University last week. “You are the generation that will take the email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj NATIONAL MATTERS phone: 3301806 INSIDE Fijian history immortalised FELIX LESINAIVALU ‘NO PLACE LIKE LEVUKA’ VEN in these trying times, nothing -15 can rob us of our spirits, and our sense Eof patriotism, as we look back at all FIJI DEEPENS TIES WITH that Fiji has achieved in the past 50 years. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, speak- NITED ATIONS U N -13 ing at the unveiling of Fiji’s 50 years of inde- pendence commemorative banknote and coin at the Grand Pacific Hotel, said “nothing can ‘TOURISM HELPED IN take away our undying optimism as we look TOWN DEVELOPMENT’ ahead, knowing that we are strong, that we are resilient, and that the best is yet to come.” -10 He said this while referring to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the world and Fiji. UOTE OF THE WEEK Q “Fiji, even though we are safe from the virus, something just doesn’t sit well in hosting lav- ish celebrations as our people bear the burden of the global economic fall-out COVID-19 has created,” PM Bainimarama said. “I’m proud to announce that this cherished moment in Fijian history has been immor- Voreqe Bainimarama talized on the front of a newly-designed $50-dollar banknote.” I’m convinced that when you “With highlights of Fiji blue, bright yellow give people an opportunity and the familiar orange of our 50-dollar bill, to learn by breaking down the commemorative polymer $50-banknote is the barriers to education strikingly vibrant and colourful, adding to Fi- –– and especially the barrier ji’s already-beautiful collection of bills known of poverty –– they will seize around the world for their tropical flair.” Reserve Bank of Fiji governor, Ariff Ali said Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at the unveiling of Fiji’s 50 years of independence commemorative banknote it. And I’m proud to be in and coin at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva. Photo: AZARIA FAREEN front of an audience this in the humble spirit of celebration and unity, the Reserve Bank of Fiji is honoured to mark is that the growth and improvement in these same time provided us the unique opportuni- afternoon that has seized our 50 years of love, care, shared prosperity, indicators, showcase a nation that has made ties to put aside our differences for the collec- that opportunity with eager inclusiveness, equality and freedom, in the considerable economic progress over the last tive good of our country, just as we have been arms and even more eager unveiling tonight of a new banknote and coin, five decades.” experiencing in the current pandemic. mind. to commemorate 50 years of Fiji’s independ- “Of course, our journey has not been easy. “With all that we have been through over the ence. We confronted challenges both foreseen and years, we have shown time and time again Voreqe Bainimarama “I wish to highlight in stating these trends unforeseen, that tested our resolve, but at the that we are a nation of resilient people.” Prime Minister Official Fiji50 commemorative postage stamp released RONAL DEO OSTAGE stamps are im- portant symbols of national Psovereignty and identity around the world. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainima- rama made these comments while TWEET OF THE WEEK introducing the postage stamp to commemorate Fiji’s 50 years of in- dependence at the Post Fiji outlet in Suva. “We are also celebrating World Post Day, which marks the crea- tion of the Universal Postal Union or UPU in 1874, which is the same year Fiji was ceded to the British,” Faiyaz Koya @FaiyazKoya the Prime Minister said. It’s a rare privilege to witness the He stressed that mail service has birth of a nation, then see it blossom been critical to people in their eve- into a country that has truly made a Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama unveils the postage stamp to commemorate Fiji’s 50 years of independence at the Post Fiji difference in the world. I was honored ryday lives, to businesses and to outlet in Suva. Photo: RONAL DEO to share this day in my hometown global social development. bring our country closer together.” years of Independence every time Fijian Independence,” because Lautoka, with Fijians who also Postal co-operation, Prime Min- Prime Minister Bainimarama we do,” he said. this postage stamp will travel the witnessed our independence in 1970. ister Bainimarama stressed, has said the stamp being launched has “This anniversary will only hap- world, and we need to inform peo- #FIJI50 been very important to Fiji because a face value of 38 cents, so it can pen once in our lifetime, so a sheet ple about Fiji. It will be sought by we are far from most of the coun- be placed on any letter to be sent of these stamps can be a keepsake collectors everywhere and will ap- CONTACT tries with which we exchange mail anywhere in Fiji with a circulation or a gift that will help anyone re- pear suddenly in the mailboxes of Publisher: Deborah Weiss and parcels. period of two years before being member this proud moment long people who receive letters from Sub Editor: Prashila Devi Manager Vernacular: Viliame Tikotani “We benefit from standardised withdrawn. into the future.” Fiji. Virendra Lal rates and the mutual recognition “I urge all Fijians to show their He commended Post Fiji for an- “In fact, I am told that 99 per cent North office: Level 3 Macuata House, Labasa West office: Level 1 Ratu Nauliano House, Koroivalu that the members of the UPU pride in our 50 years of Independ- other beautiful design, a design of the people who collect Fijian give each other’s post. We follow ence by seeking out this stamp and that has an elegant simplicity as it stamps are international custom- Contacts: Suva: 3301806 / West: 6700086 / 9905965 that same principle in Fiji, where using it. I know we don’t send as shows the Fiji flag and the official ers. They have standing accounts North: 8811276 / 9905971 it costs 38 cents to mail a letter, many letters as we used to because 50 Years of Fijian Independence with Post Fiji’s Philatelic Bureau, Fax: 3305139/3304663 [email protected] whether it travels from one part we now rely so much on email logo. and they are already ordering this @FijianGovt of Suva to another or from Ono-i- and texts, but we still use the Post. “The design also includes the stamp,” the Head of Government Fijian Government visit us at www.fiji.gov.fj Lau to Rotuma. This is one way we And we can celebrate our proud 50 words “celebrating 50 years of said. 2 Friday October 16, 2020 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 NATIONAL MATTERS PM: You are our future Konrote: Stand together FROM PAGE 1 AZARIA FAREEN on the opportunities at your WHEN we stand together, as friends, as feet by taking advantage of family, as fellow Fijians, there is no chal- free primary and secondary “lenge we cannot overcome and there is schooling, and unprecedent- nothing we cannot achieve.” ed access to tertiary institu- This was the message to the nation by the tions like FNU.” President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote “You are the generation in an address to the nation after the national that will represent Fiji on the celebrations of Fiji’s 50th anniversary of inde- world stage, known not as a pendence at Albert Park in Suva. colony that answers to the In addressing hundreds of Fijians following whims of a greater power, the celebrations which culminated in a sea of but to the needs of our peo- blue to watch the military parade and the 21 ple. It’s all you’ll ever know gun salute, President Konrote told Fijians; “To- and for that, you are the fu- day is our day – our Fiji-50 Day – and no vi- ture.” rus, no once-in-a-century crisis can temper the The Head of Government love we share for our nation, our people and told students during his term our home”. as Prime Minister the best “I began our 50th Anniversary celebrations in way of opening opportunity Levuka, Fiji’s first capital under the colonial for Fiji was to open oppor- government where I journeyed through his- tunity for the young people.