Permanent secretary for iTaukei Affairs Ministry Pita Tagicakirewa says the Ratu Sukuna week celebration program will be finalised today. He said this in response to requests from The Fiji Times for a breakdown of the $500,000 budget for the seven-day celebration.
The Ratu Sukuna Day celebration is expected to take place on May 23 to May 29.
It will coincide with the opening of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meeting by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.
In December last year, the Coalition Government reinstated the Ratu Sukuna Day public holiday, It also announced a Girmit Day public holiday.
Assistant Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Isikeli Tuiwailevu had told Parliament Ratu Sukuna Day was being reinstated after a lapse of about 16 years.
“The National Committee for the Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day celebration is chaired by the Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu, and he has endorsed the tentative program and budget,” he had stated.
“In addition, there are working committees appointed from relevant agencies of Government, statutory bodies, universities and NGOs to facilitate the detailed planning on the logistics and execute the plan.”
Mr Tuiwailevu said the celebration would include participation from schools, universities and communities from across the four divisions with planned activities such as public lectures, oratory contests, cultural exhibitions, cultural sports, arts and other related displays that depicted the life of Ratu Sukuna.
