Faiyaz Koya said says we are strongest when we celebrate our shared identity as Fijian.

The Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Land and Mineral Resources was speaking to those who attended the Fiji Day celebrations at Subrail Park in Labasa yesterday.

“That same theme is also deeply engraved in our Bill of Rights in the Constitution.

“They’re the basic protection that levels the playing field for our people are enshrined for all time and that is very much worth celebrating as a major milestone in our history.”

He said that despite the major hurdles that the country came across, it was unity which enabled the nation to get through this.

“When Cyclone Winston ravaged our nation, causing vast destruction, taking lives and leaving many of our people on their knees, we came together – like never before- to care for those affected and rebuild the livelihoods that were lost.

“In the midst of this tragedy, we also experienced triumph when our rugby sevens team took Rio by storm and won our first every Olympic Gold medal.”

The programme in Labasa started with a march through the town.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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