ADDRESS AT THE INVESTITURE OF THE CHANCELLOR OF THE ORDER OF FIJI
December 2, 2021 Morning Room, State House.
The Chief Justice, Honourable Mr. Justice Kamal Kumar;
Members of the Judiciary;
Minister of Defence, National Security & Policing, Disaster Management, Rural & Maritime Development, Honourable Inia Seruiratu;
The College of Honour;
Heads of the Disciplined Forces;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Miau Sa Bula Re!
It is indeed an honour to address you as the Chancellor of the Order of Fiji.
I wish to thank you most sincerely for your attendance to witness my installation as the Chancellor of the Order of Fiji. I also wish to thank the Honourable Chief Justice for his time in administering the Oath of Office.
The efforts of the College of Honour must be equally acknowledged at this point; You have undertaken so much as custodians of the Fiji Honours and Awards System by safeguarding, preserving and conserving its integrity; and the essence in which the Order of Fiji with other awards and recognition have been awarded in the past to deserving individuals has been well-maintained.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Diversity and Inclusion shall be my priority during my tenure as the Chancellor of the Order, and I intend to continue the culture of higher recognition for deserving and meritorious citizens of Fiji by the Order.
To our citizens, I encourage you to continue to nominate the members of your communities who have given and continue to give selflessly through their time, resources and abilities toward the causes and the communities they respectively associate with, so they too are recognised. There are many youths who have contributed so much to our communities and our nation, let us recognise them as well for their extraordinary efforts.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are custodians of the Order of Fiji for a relatively short time in its history, however, that brings significant responsibility to ensure that we build sturdier shoulders for those who follow.
Today, I officially make a commitment to my duties as the Chancellor of the Order of Fiji; and I look forward to working with the College, to uphold the reverence that the Order deserves.
May Almighty God continue to bless our beloved nation.
Vinaka Vakalevu and Thank you all!