The idea that descendants of the Girmityas are still foreigners to Fiji is a grave mistake, said Manoa Rayawa.

Mr Rayawa is the community project officer for Nabudrau village in Noco, Rewa.  He was speaking during the Nabudrau Day celebration where the plaque to commemorate the Luvedra na Ratu (descendants of Girmityas) was unveiled.

Mr Rayawa said some of their village members, who had nationalistic views, forgot their Christian duties.

“We have decided to put to practice what we preach in terms of our relationship with our brothers and sisters of the descendants and survivors of the Syria ship that was shipwrecked on Nasilai Reef,” he said.

“This village is the core of everything that is based on the ideals of nationalism, this is the engine room. Yet all the while we called ourselves Christians.

“Almost everything that has ever happened in the past that wreaked havoc on our political system was molded together here to rally the vanua all over Fiji while we call ourselves Christians.”

Mr Rayawa said the Luvedra na Ratu were very much part of this land.

He added most of the time the villagers declared they were Christians, but their nationalistic ideals contradicted the Bible teachings.

He said the late Turaga na Ratu Tui Noco, Ratu Isoa Damudamu, was a chief who practised Christianity.

“With that in mind, it is best to have the plaque,” he said.

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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