Suva, FIJI – Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka this evening (08/05/23) officiated at the prize-giving event for participants at the Extra Supermarket Girmit Golf Open Tournament at the Fiji Golf Club in Vatuwaqa, Suva.
In its fourth year, this year’s tournament drew a sponsorship of $40,000.00 which Hon. Rabuka said was an essential and successful event.
“To the organizers and all the golfers who participated, thank you very much for making this tournament successful.”
“The Girmityas as we all know have contributed immensely to the development of our nation and during my earlier term in Government, we scrapped the India Repatriation law.”
“Now that I’m back, we have reintroduced Girmit Day to recognize and celebrate the Girmityas and their descendants and their rightful place in Fiji’s history. This is part of our effort in making Fiji a home for all,” said the Prime Minister.
“It is indeed an honor to be here as part of Government and I thank all the sporting communities for including us in this tournament as this is an occasion where we also celebrate and be united through the contribution of the descendants of our Girmityas and their forefathers who have made their sacrifices.”
Special guest, 77-year-old former school teacher Mr. Ram Rattan expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Prime Minister for recognizing the Girmityas and their contribution to the country.
“My hearty thanks to the Prime Minister Honorable Sitiveni Rabuka and the coalition government for allocating a day to celebrate and remember our forefathers,” said Mr. Rattan.
“To all the descendants of Girmityas, please let us raise our children to be generous, kind, and educated and further contribute to the development of this land.”
This year’s Girmit Day will celebrate the 144th year of their arrival in Fiji on May 14th, 1879.
It is estimated that 60, 965 Girmityas landed in Fiji from 1879 to 1916.
More than 100 golfers participated in the golf event, which included a junior tournament.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Hon. Professor Biman Prasad also attended the event.
