Community lauds new $50 note featuring Girmitiya

Some members of the iTaukei community in Vanua Levu have voiced support for the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s (RBF) decision to feature a Girmitiya woman on the new $50 note.

The support comes amid criticism on social media, where some commentators have argued that only indigenous themes should be reflected on Fiji’s currency.

Labasa Town Council special administrator Samuela Ligairi said Fiji’s strength lay in its multiracial identity.

He said the inclusion of a Girmitiya woman on the $50 note recognised the immense contribution of Girmit ancestors, who toiled on sugarcane plantations and helped lay the foundations of Fiji’s early economy.

“These Girmitiyas arrived from India during British colonial rule to work on sugarcane farms, and many also contributed to the construction of buildings and infrastructure in early Fiji,” Mr Ligairi said.

He criticised those who continued to downplay the Indo‑Fijian contribution, saying such views ignored Fiji’s shared history.

“I don’t agree with this thinking. We live in a multiracial country and should respect the sacrifices and efforts of all minority groups,” he said.

Nadogo district representative in Macuata province, Ranadiceve Raluna, said she had experienced warmth and mutual respect from the Indo‑Fijian community in her district.

Ms Raluna said Nadogo was known for its inter‑marriages and multiracial setting, where iTaukei and Indo‑Fijians had lived peacefully together for generations.

She said the new banknotes helped citizens appreciate the dedication of all ethnic groups who contributed to Fiji’s economic development.

“If we want to move this country forward, every person must leave behind stereotypes and hate, and focus on national unity,” Ms Raluna said.

She added that younger generations, particularly those in Generation Z, were less concerned with racial divisions and more focused on education, employment, and supporting their families and communities.

Ms Raluna said recognising all races on national symbols such as currency was a step in the right direction for unity and progress.

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