Indo-Fijians are among the most hardworking and enterprising people in the world. With diffidence, devotion and dedication as their attributes, they are never known to moan and groan about not being able to obtain employment. Their spirit of adventure encourages them to seek gainful employment and if that fails, be self-employed. Thousands of Indo-Fijians are proud owners of large, medium and small enterprises throughout New Zealand.
They judiciously allocate their time for work, family, friends and the community and enjoy every moment of each of these; which is what makes them unique.
The inner scar
But beyond those smiles and merriment, there runs an inner scar that is reminiscent of a bitter and cruel past; an era in which their ancestors were forced to lead a life of mortification, and indignity; an era which is best forgotten and yet well remembered.
The Girmit period which saw the first settlers set their feet on a strange land called Fiji on May 14, 1989 has entered its 136th year.
In presenting this Report, we salute those settlers and their successive generations that suffered the worst insinuation that they endured; and their sons and daughters and the generations that followed- we salute them for their spirit of sacrifice. We also hope that as we mark the completion of 135 years of Girmit, there will never again be repetition of history.
Indo-Fijians have suffered too long to allow a parade of avoidable events. It is time they too reaped the harvest of their hard labour.
Ensuing election
The Bainimarama Government, which has been in power following a military coup on December 5, 2006, aims to rid Fiji of race-based elections, prejudicial treatment and equality for all Fijians irrespective of their ethnicity. Democracy is under test in this South Pacific nation with the general election due to take place on September 17.
We hope that all Fijians, including those in New Zealand, eligible to vote will exercise their franchise, thereby strengthening the democratic process in Fiji.
We offer our sincere felicitations to the members of the larger Indo-Fijian family for their achievements thus far and hope that they will continue to prosper and give us opportunities to rejoice with them.
The Indian Newslink team
Photo :
The first ship of Girmityas
