The villagers of Laselevu in Wainimala were excited to receive the late former prime minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, on Thursday November 19, 1970 to officially open the new Laselevu Central School building.
The Fiji Times on Saturday, November 21, 1970 published the late Prime Minister’s visit to Laselevu and how he was welcomed by the villagers.
On Thursday the prime minister had an armchair ride up the Wainimala River, a typical ride in those parts of Naitasiri.
He made the 53rd trip by punt from Serea to Laselevu Village that year in connection with the new building for Laselevu Central School. The first 52 trips involved loads of building materials.
According to the report, Ratu Mara made the three-hour trip to perform the official opening.
He travelled by car to Serea where he embarked in a smartly painted punt sporting an armchair planted amid ship and fluttering a miniature Fiji flag from the bow.
A small flotilla of punts carried the remainder of his party, including the Commissioner Central, Major J B Takala, the senior agricultural officer Central, Ratu Epeli Kanaiwai and the district officer Naitasiri, Fred Gibson. As the flotilla made its way upriver, people gathered at the water’s edge to wave.
First stop for the flotilla was at Naivucini where villagers and children gathered on the bank to perform a yaqona ceremony.
At Nakorosule, schoolchildren lined the river and waved independence flags as the punts approached.
The Fiji Times reported that the party stopped there for morning tea that day. When the prime minister arrived at Laselevu, he was greeted at the river with a traditional Fijian ceremony.
Warriors escorted the visiting party through ranks of schoolchildren who sang the national anthem while a lali was beaten.
After further ceremonies, Ratu Mara spoke of the changes in Fiji. He had emphasised the need for education to be geared to the country’s natural resources and their exploitation.
The prime minister then unlocked the new school building and inspected the classroom, dormitories and dining facilities.
The Fiji government had provided $5000 towards the $8000 cost of the buildings.
Construction began in February of 1970 and all building materials had to be brought by punt from Serea.
More than 100 children attended the school which took pupil up to class eight. As the prime minister left the village that day, following meke and lunch, people still lined the path to shake his hand.
Only one stop was made on the return trip – at Nakorosule for afternoon tea.
The punts reached Serea about 5:30pm.
The children who had formed a guard of honour when the prime minister arrived at 8 o’clock that morning still had enough enthusiasm to stand on the bank and cheer when the punt returned to Serea.
