The first baby of the century was born to a couple in Ba, five minutes into the new millennium on January 2, 2000.
According to an article published by The Fiji Times on that date, the parents of the newborn named him Samisoni Vu Ruanaudolu, the third name meaning 2000 in Fijian.
Samisoni’s parents, Luke Waqalevu, 35, and Merewalesi Lewe, 27, were overjoyed.
Weighing 3.95 kilograms, Samisoni was born at the Ba Mission Hospital at 12.05am. He was the first baby boy of the new millennium and was likely to receive a monetary reward by the Government.
According to the article, the newborn was the second child in the family. Mr and Ms Waqalevu hailed from Nawaqarua, Ba. Their eldest child, also a boy, was five years old.
On whether he was aware that the first millennium baby boy and girl would receive $5000 each from the Government, Mr Waqalevu said he only heard about it after his son was born.
“If I get the $5000 for my son being the first millennium baby boy, then I will give some donation to my church,” Mr Waqalevu said.
Meanwhile, the first new millennium baby girl was from the West as well.
A 3.67 kilogram baby girl was born to 21-year-old Joshika Chand at Lautoka Hospital at 1.10am.
Originally from Votualevu, Nadi, the baby is the first child of Ms Chand and her husband, Umesh Chand.
Ms Chand told this newspaper if her daughter was the first baby girl of this millennium, then she would open a bank account for her daughter from the award.
