With a large part of Fiji’s history marred by political strife, Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says current generations must work together to leave behind a healed Fiji for their children.
Recounting her one-year experience in office, Ms Kiran said this was one of the biggest goals she had since coming into politics.
“How can we have one Fiji? We look like one good Fiji, most of the times. We do really well. We take part in each other’s joy and pain,” she said.
“But political events have always polarized us, and many people are carrying many hurts, and our narrative of pain is the gift we keep giving to our next generation.
“Each generation born, who might not even have seen the pain of the past, carries the narrative. So, it’s important for Fiji to heal.”
Ms Kiran also stated she was extremely blessed and honoured when she was asked to move the motion on truth and reconciliation in Parliament earlier this year.
She admitted that this was a long process and had to consider a lot of factors.
“It’s not an easy journey, let’s say because there’s so many emotions and fears and narratives we have to deal with. It’s something that I’m a little apprehensive about as well because, how do we deal with the different pains and different narratives over the years?
“But I’m very hopeful that the country is ready for us to heal and move forward in a way that our children can be gifted with a cleaner narrative of love and of harmony. Truly, what Fiji can depict. So yeah, in the years to come, that’d be an interesting journey.”
She also applauded the leadership of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and all ministers who were walking on the path of forging a united country.
“You know, our Prime Minister keeps telling us in every caucus, whatever you do, we do it with love. We do it with kindness. Don’t take negative narratives. So, we have a leader like that.
“We have different ministers. We see different institutions wanting to deal with the pain. Personally, I’ve been very aggrieved by this since 2000. And every time you see a political upheaval, that’s been such a painful thing. So, we can give our children a healed Fiji.”
