Government of the Republic of Fiji
Government of the Republic of Fiji
10/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/06/2024 23:09
HE PRESIDENT RT. WILIAME KATONIVERE'S ADDRESS AT THE SPECIAL INVESTITURE CEREMONY FOR THE ORDER...
·Your Lordship, Acting Chief Justice, Justice Salesi Temo,
·Honourable Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers,
·Honourable Members of Parliament,
·The Chairman of the College of Honour, Mr. Nesbitt Hazelman,
·Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
·Permanent Secretaries,
·Members of the Disciplined Forces,
·Recipients of the Order of Fiji Awards and Citizenship Awardees,
·Distinguished Guests,
·Family and friends of the Award Recipients and
·Members of the media.
Miau sa bula re and Good Morning to you all.
Allow me to first thank the Reverend Viliame Tunidau of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces for his inspirational message and for blessing this morning's Special Investiture proceedings and the Citizenship Award Ceremony.
I am honoured to welcome you all to the State House. I sincerely hope that you will take back with you memorable moments of today's award ceremonies. I also welcome our viewers that are joining our live stream this morning.
As we draw closer to the commemoration of Fiji Day on 10th October 2024, it is befitting that we honour individuals, who have contributed their services to their communities and the nation at large in their varied fields. Additionally, to honour and welcome citizens who will now call our beloved nation their home like all of us.
Today, we celebrate the conferring of awards in three categories - the Order of Fiji in the General and Military Divisions, the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal presentations, and awards for the Civil Service Medal.
I acknowledge the recipients, who have travelled far. In fact, I acknowledge all the awardees here today and thank you for your commitment to a humble call from my office to be awarded today. To our servicemen recipient in the disciplined force, thank you for your service to the nation and to our contribution to global peace.
To all awardees, we recognise your dedication. You have demonstrated selflessness in the midst of challenges. Your impact in the communities you serve, your professional spaces, and to the nation, is acknowledged.
Awards are impactful tools. They drive us to achieve higher and effect changes in ourselves, and in the spheres that we operate. Your awards must motivate you to positively influence others to serve meaningfully and with conviction.
The conferment of the national awards is a recognition of the culture of appreciation. I urge you to cultivate that across your spheres. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the awardees who are unable to attend today's ceremony due to work commitments or physical distance. We recognize your commitment.
Ladies and Gentlemen today is also exceptional for seven individuals, who will receive their certificates for citizenship. I personally congratulate each one of you for gaining your Fiji residency united under our noble banner blue, a national symbol of solidarity.
Ladies and Gentlemen, citizenship provides a sense of belonging and most importantly invoke a sense of inclusion in society.
To:
1. Mrs. Sabnum Sarona Khan
2. Mr. Wayne Raymond Lancaster
3. Mrs. Nehal Vikesh Chauhan
4. Ms. Lydia Rose Tokona
5. Mrs. Bedi Joylyn Racule
6. Mrs. Patricia Kaur Notra
7. Miss. Amarie Seraphim Asena Naulivou
I, on behalf of the people of Fiji, extend a warm congratulatory welcome to you all once again as you shall be officially recognised as citizens of the Republic of Fiji.
As your Head of State and as we welcome you as citizens of Fiji, may I remind you of your civic duty to adhere to the laws of our beloved nation - exercise your rights responsibly and always have respect for one another. I reminded the previous recipients, we live in a multi-racial, multi-cultural society, and I cannot emphasize enough the importance of respecting the differences between ethnicity, religion, gender, and economic and social status.
I hope that your newly instilled civic pride encourages you to participate and contribute with passion to the communities you patronise as well as to the nation at large.
To all the award recipients, as well as to the recipients of the citizenship certificates, may the awards urge you to grow as individuals and professionally for a better quality of life and a better Fiji for all. I personally acknowledge and thank your family members as well as they are present here today to witness your achievement at the State House.
Thank you all for indulging me your patience and time. To all awardees and certificate recipients - Congratulations!
May God bless you all and may God bless Fiji. Vinaka vakalevu.
·Honourable Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers,
·Honourable Members of Parliament,
·The Chairman of the College of Honour, Mr. Nesbitt Hazelman,
·Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
·Permanent Secretaries,
·Members of the Disciplined Forces,
·Recipients of the Order of Fiji Awards and Citizenship Awardees,
·Distinguished Guests,
·Family and friends of the Award Recipients and
·Members of the media.
Miau sa bula re and Good Morning to you all.
Allow me to first thank the Reverend Viliame Tunidau of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces for his inspirational message and for blessing this morning's Special Investiture proceedings and the Citizenship Award Ceremony.
I am honoured to welcome you all to the State House. I sincerely hope that you will take back with you memorable moments of today's award ceremonies. I also welcome our viewers that are joining our live stream this morning.
As we draw closer to the commemoration of Fiji Day on 10th October 2024, it is befitting that we honour individuals, who have contributed their services to their communities and the nation at large in their varied fields. Additionally, to honour and welcome citizens who will now call our beloved nation their home like all of us.
Today, we celebrate the conferring of awards in three categories - the Order of Fiji in the General and Military Divisions, the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal presentations, and awards for the Civil Service Medal.
I acknowledge the recipients, who have travelled far. In fact, I acknowledge all the awardees here today and thank you for your commitment to a humble call from my office to be awarded today. To our servicemen recipient in the disciplined force, thank you for your service to the nation and to our contribution to global peace.
To all awardees, we recognise your dedication. You have demonstrated selflessness in the midst of challenges. Your impact in the communities you serve, your professional spaces, and to the nation, is acknowledged.
Awards are impactful tools. They drive us to achieve higher and effect changes in ourselves, and in the spheres that we operate. Your awards must motivate you to positively influence others to serve meaningfully and with conviction.
The conferment of the national awards is a recognition of the culture of appreciation. I urge you to cultivate that across your spheres. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the awardees who are unable to attend today's ceremony due to work commitments or physical distance. We recognize your commitment.
Ladies and Gentlemen today is also exceptional for seven individuals, who will receive their certificates for citizenship. I personally congratulate each one of you for gaining your Fiji residency united under our noble banner blue, a national symbol of solidarity.
Ladies and Gentlemen, citizenship provides a sense of belonging and most importantly invoke a sense of inclusion in society.
To:
1. Mrs. Sabnum Sarona Khan
2. Mr. Wayne Raymond Lancaster
3. Mrs. Nehal Vikesh Chauhan
4. Ms. Lydia Rose Tokona
5. Mrs. Bedi Joylyn Racule
6. Mrs. Patricia Kaur Notra
7. Miss. Amarie Seraphim Asena Naulivou
I, on behalf of the people of Fiji, extend a warm congratulatory welcome to you all once again as you shall be officially recognised as citizens of the Republic of Fiji.
As your Head of State and as we welcome you as citizens of Fiji, may I remind you of your civic duty to adhere to the laws of our beloved nation - exercise your rights responsibly and always have respect for one another. I reminded the previous recipients, we live in a multi-racial, multi-cultural society, and I cannot emphasize enough the importance of respecting the differences between ethnicity, religion, gender, and economic and social status.
I hope that your newly instilled civic pride encourages you to participate and contribute with passion to the communities you patronise as well as to the nation at large.
To all the award recipients, as well as to the recipients of the citizenship certificates, may the awards urge you to grow as individuals and professionally for a better quality of life and a better Fiji for all. I personally acknowledge and thank your family members as well as they are present here today to witness your achievement at the State House.
Thank you all for indulging me your patience and time. To all awardees and certificate recipients - Congratulations!
May God bless you all and may God bless Fiji. Vinaka vakalevu.