The Fijian Government aims to deepen its relations with India, a country on its way to becoming a global leader, says Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
Speaking during the Holi celebrations in Suva yesterday, Prof Prasad thanked the India Fiji Friendship Forum (IFFF) and High Commission of India in Fiji for organising the event.
“When we came into government last year, one of the things that we decided to put in action is to restore our deeper relations with all our traditional partners,” Prof Prasad said.
“And whenever I speak on occasions like this, I want to pay tribute to our forefathers who, despite the totality of the indentured system, the struggles, made sure that they maintained, promoted, cultivated our culture, language and traditions.”
Prof Prasad said Fiji had declared Girmit Day a national public holiday honouring Girmit indentured labourers from India who were brought to Fiji from 1879, soon after cession in 1874.
Cabinet had recently agreed for the Girmit celebrations to take place on May 11-13 in Lautoka and Labasa.
