ADDRESS AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL INVESTITURE CEREMONY
October 20, 2021 State House, Suva.
Your Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Former President and Honourable Speaker of Parliament;
Honourable Government Ministers and Assistant Ministers;
The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major-General Jone Kalouniwai;
Commissioner of Police, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho;
Permanent Secretaries;
Members of the Diplomatic Corp;
Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau – Former Commander Republic of The Fiji Military Forces (RFMF);
The Chairperson of the College of Honour Dr. Akanisi Kedrayate and the Members of the College of Honour;
Recipients of Fiji’s 50th Anniversary of Independence Commemorative Medal, and Members of your Respective Families and Friends;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Ni sa Bula Vinaka, Namaste, Asalaamu Alaykum, Ni Hao, Noa’ia ‘e Mauri, and a very Good Morning to you all.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is so wonderful to see you all and it gives me so much great pleasure to Welcome you to the State House on behalf of my wife, Sarote and The Staff.
In fact, we could not proceed with our scheduled Investiture Ceremonies towards the end of last year because of the latest spike and restrictive protocols imposed upon us by the dreaded COVID-19 Pandemic which subsequently compelled us to re-schedule the remaining Awards Ceremonies to a later date, hence today’s historical event – to continue and hopefully complete the Series before the end of my term in Office. In that regard, we should continue to Acknowledge, Praise and Thank Almighty God for His continued Love, Mercies and Blessings on our Beloved Nation and the rest of Humanity – because I believe that we have endured and survived the most deadly and damaging stage/phase of the Pandemic COVID-19 Virus – and are slowly on our way to successfully containing its spread.
Ladies and gentlemen, now I would like to acknowledge and commend the good Reverend for the short inspirational Divine/Spiritual presentation which has started off today’s Investiture Ceremony. Furthermore, it gives me great pleasure to see former colleagues and acquaintances and to Officiate and Confer you with the Commemorative 50th Independence Anniversary Medal – which you all well and truly deserve.
As your President and Chancellor of The Order of Fiji Awards, I have been looking forward to today’s historical and significant Ceremony which fulfills one of my obligatory duties in This Office – and that of appropriately acknowledging, honouring and rewarding your individual and collective selfless contributions to our Beloved Nation – Fiji’s Development and Progress as a Young and Developing Independent Sovereign State since our Independence in 1970.
Hearty congratulations to you The Recipients who had served and continue to serve loyally and selflessly within the various sectors of our communities and I also consider it prudent that I also acknowledge, commend and thank your spouses and other members of your respective families for supporting you in your noble journey of service.
Ladies and gentlemen, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge and thank our former President and the Current Honourable Speaker, His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Government Ministers and Assistant Ministers, Honourable Members of The Judiciary, and all Heads of Missions and members of The Diplomatic Corps for continuing to avail themselves in attending the Investiture Ceremonies held last year and again Today by gracing this historical and memorable Investiture Ceremony with your presence – Thank you – Vinaka Vakalevu – Dhanyavaad!
Ladies and gentlemen, at this juncture, please allow me to commend, acknowledge and thank Dr. Akanisi Kedrayate – The Chairperson of the College of Honour and her dedicated and hardworking Team who over these past years had strictly adhered to my request, by ensuring that all Nominations are scrupulously assessed and recommendations are only submitted and considered after careful vetting. The College Team has been very particular and diligent in their work to ensure that this special and historic commemorative Medal is only presented to deserving members of the Public/Private Sectors and Civil Society and this, Ladies and gentlemen is in conformity with my wish to further nurture and promote This Institution’s and hopefully our National psyche and “Culture of Appreciation and Inclusivity”.