A MAJOR milestone was celebrated in Nabua, Suva yesterday as students, teachers and parents gathered for the official ground-breaking ceremony of the Ratu Sukuna Memorial School sports and recreational ground, a project worth $243,000.
Officiating at the ceremony, Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula said it was a significant moment for the school because the project would be of immense benefit to future and potential star athletes.
“This is where future athletes will take their first steps towards greatness,” Ratu Viliame said.
“Students before you have gone on to represent Fiji in various sports both locally and abroad. I believe many more will rise from this very ground once it is completed.”
Ratu Viliame said for 16 years, the school endured a lack of essential maintenance, mirroring a period of national dormancy that also saw the disestablishment of the GCC and the suspension of Ratu Sukuna Day.
“Today, we are not here to dwell on that lost time in despair. Instead, we have turned our challenges into opportunities.
“This moment — like the return of the GCC last week — represents the rise of the phoenix, a revival of what was once lost.”
The ceremony was held alongside commemorations for the late Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, whose legacy has been highlighted as a guiding light for both national leadership and educational advancement.
“The vision for this restoration aligns with the aspirations of the Great Council of Chiefs to uphold tradition, empower future generations and honour the leadership that shaped our nation,” Ratu Viliame said.
