Handing over of Mahogany Beds and Desks to Nadarivatu High School
March 11, 2022 Nadarivatu High School
???????????The Chairman and Board Members of the Nadarivatu High School;
The School Trustees;
The Principal and Teachers;
Students and Parents;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Miau sa bula re and a very good
morning to you all.
I
wish to firstly thank you for receiving me with a warm traditional ceremony of
welcome. Vinaka vakalevu.
I
am deeply honoured to be here to meet with you and to handover the beds for the
school hostel and the computer desks. I understand that you have been eagerly
looking forward to these items especially in preparation for the new school
year.
The
20 double-bunk beds and 3 large computer desks were made from the mahogany
trees that were grown right here in Nadarivatu.
These are indeed unique items for the students to use knowing that they were
made from trees they have been seeing every day. Such is the beauty of our natural
resources. Like farming or fishing, nothing beats using products that are grown
right next to our homes, and in this case, your school. Fresh from the farm, as
the saying goes. These beds and desks are support tools for the students, to
make your stay in the hostel more comfortable, and your studies more
convenient.
At
this juncture, I wish to thank your school management and teachers for their
efforts in organising the beds and desks for you. I also thank the Fiji
Hardwood Corporation Limited for providing the timber, and the Ministry of
Forestry for building the beds and desks.
The
combined efforts of all these stakeholders in the long run contribute
positively to the economic progress of our nation as the efforts are aimed at
helping you, the students, to excel in your academic pursuits right here before
you choose your own career paths and achieve your dreams when you leave the
school. With today’s handover of the beds and desks, I wish all the students
here at Nadarivatu every success in
your studies and your future endeavours.
I
am also happy to re-affirm Government’s position in making education free and
accessible so that you, our children and future leaders, shall have the
opportunity for a solid education at pre-school, primary and secondary levels.
And should you choose to continue your studies after secondary school, Government
also provides scholarships for tertiary institutions.
Furthermore,
Government provides free public transport to school and free text books. I
believe that many adults across Fiji, including me, wish we had access to free
education, transport and text books during our school years. I recall that our
parents had to endure a lot more challenges having to pay for all these in
addition to uniforms, exercise books and lunches. Government has absorbed these
expenses all in the effort to provide Fiji’s children a great start in life,
through education. As Fiji’s President and Head of State, I encourage you all
to make the most of the opportunities you now have. As many of you know, these
opportunities are not limited to academic pursuit alone. Fiji has an abundance
of talent in almost every field or industry, from business to medicine, music,
sport and farming, among many others. I have every confidence that you shall
excel in any occupation you choose.
Ladies
and gentlemen, girls and boys, my visit to Nadarivatu
today is also to see for myself the mahogany plantation that is a contributor
to Fiji’s economic growth. Fiji’s mahogany plantations are among the highest
quality in the world and the Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited, in
collaboration with Government and other stakeholders, remain dedicated in ensuring
that we get the optimum returns from the international markets to benefit the
mahogany industry, the landowners and our national economy.
This
is green gold right before us and we are grateful to our national leaders for
their foresight in establishing and progressing the mahogany and pine plantations.
I am sure the Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited has plans to make certain that
our resources are sustainably managed to also take into account the protection
of our natural environment, and the needs of our future generations. I am also
visiting an agricultural farm today, and to have a better appreciation of your beautiful
and pristine surroundings here in the highlands of Nadarivatu.
I
wish to conclude by once again thanking the School Board, the Principal and
Teachers, the parents, Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited and the Ministry of
Forestry for joining hands to help our future leaders with the provision of
beds and desks that we are handing over today.
Vinaka vakalevu and May God
Bless you all!