Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has applauded Fiji Sevashram Sangha for naming this Nationwide Celebration “A Celebration of National Unity.”

He was speaking at the Ganesh Utsav celebrations at My Suva Picnic Park, Nasese, Suva yesterday.

He said he was impressed by the way “you have reached out to all Fijians to invite them to share in this celebration—to share the joy and devotion you feel.”

“During the 10 days of the Ganesh Utsav Celebrations, more than 1200 school students—all from different schools around Suva and Lautoka and from different backgrounds and religious traditions—have participated in the educational competitions you have organised.

“In our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, we all must do more to share the important symbols and traditions of our faith—not to force our belief on others, but rather to build understanding and unity.

“The Hindu scriptures emphasise the central importance of the family, the importance of the family sharing food and worshipping together. Seeing you all praying here together this afternoon – in fact seeing good people all around Fiji praying together today—shows us that if families are united, communities will be united and our nation will be united.

“We are one people, one nation and one destiny. We are all Fijians.

“That was not always a reality. But today – thanks to our unrelenting push for a fair and impartial society– we can stand together, as equals. Whatever differences exist between us, do not exist to divide us, but rather serve to make us even stronger.”

“I congratulate you and express to you my sincere admiration for your deep devotion to your faith and to your willingness to sacrifice your time and energy and resources for it.”

He said he was always taught to remember that there was a power that existed higher than him.

“In my work as Prime Minister, it is my faith in God that guides me in serving the Fijian people. It is my faith that shows me right from wrong. And it is that same faith that has given me a deep respect for people of other religious traditions and has driven me to understand and value the ways they worship,” he said.

“People of faith are important in a free society, a free society like we now have in Fiji. People of faith give a voice to morality and ethics. They demand good government, justice and social responsibility. When people of all faiths come together in tolerance and understanding.”

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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