About 150 senior descendants of the girmitya in the Northern Division will be honoured this weekend for their contributions to the nation.
Girmit committee chair and Multi Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh said the Government recognised the hard work and commitment of the descendants of girmitiya 85 years or older.
“We’re very proud of our ancestors and these elderly descendants of the girmitiya, who are our great-grandparents, grand partners or parents. They struggled to allow us to have a better future,” Mr Singh said.
“We salute them for their sacrifices.”
The oldest descendant of the girmitiya is believed to be Jamiran Bi, who is 108 years old. She was born in 1917 and hails from Basoga in Labasa.
Mr Singh said the three-day event would feature a schools oratory contest, a float procession and a replica of the ship Leonidas which brought the first indentured labourers from India.
The event is expected to be aired live on FBC and the Government website. The celebrations, which start on Saturday, will be held at Subrail Park in Labasa.
