4 February, 2026, 3:49 am Central - 24°C Clouds

Bia questions the government why there is no holiday for Melanesians

Bia questions the government why there is no holiday for Melanesians

By Iliana Biutu
16/02/2023
Opposition MP Aliki Bia

Opposition MP Aliki Bia has questioned the government why there is no allocated day to commemorate the arrival of the Melanesians to our shores in the late 1800s.

Bia quoted the President's speech about the two new public holidays to commemorate the arrival of the Girmityas in 1879 and Ratu Sukuna Day.

He adds Fiji is a multi-ethnic nation and the introducing of multi-ethnic policies and ideas will end the separation of people.

Bia states there are close to 30 settlements of Solomoni and Vanuatu around Fiji, none of these communities has secured their land ownership of where they lived, and many of their generations called Fiji a home.

He says all parliamentarians need to engage themselves with positive talanoa of ideas that will move the nation forward and bring prosperity to the nation.

Bia says he will ensure that everything promised to the people of Fiji must be delivered with equality.

He thanked the previous government for calling everyone Fijian.

FEATURE NEWS
PM to assess SG options and JSC decisions before deciding on appeal - Tabuya
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka will now assess the presentation and options given by Solicitor General, Ropate Green, and also await the Judicial Ser...
11 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
126 serious sexual offence cases filed in High Court last year, women and children most affected
Serious sexual offences continues to be a concern as 126 cases involving 252 counts of serious sexual offences were filed in the High Court last ...
10 hours ago

Dr Alpana balances motherhood and academia to earn doctorate
Balancing motherhood, sacrifice, and years of hard work, Dr Reema Alpana has achieved a major milestone for herself and her family, graduating with a ...
10 hours ago

Reinstate Malimali as FICAC Commissioner and get this car back on the road - Waqanika
Reinstate Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner and let's get this car back on the road.That is the message from Malimali's counsel, Tanya Waqanika ...
10 hours ago

UniFiji to host Tertiary Teaching Symposium to boost academic excellence
The University of Fiji is set to host a Tertiary Teaching Symposium for its academic staff as part of its continued efforts to improve the quality of ...
10 hours ago

Finance Minister says errors and verification problems slow $200 Back to School Grant
Delays in the $200 Back to School Grant have largely been caused by verification issues, including incorrect telephone numbers, errors in parents’ ...
10 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Ailava Samuels to represent Fiji in Miss Pacific Pageant
Miss Fiji 2025 first runner-up and Miss Nasinu, Ailava Samuels, has been officially appointed as Fiji’s representative to next month's Miss ...
13 days ago

Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy - Dialogue Fiji
The National Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy by criminalising political expression, enabling state overreach and excluding young people ...
14 days ago

Shocking move : FNU reassigned under PM
The Fiji National University is being reassigned under the Prime Minister's Office Ministerial Portfolio via the Ministry of Strategic Planning, ...
15 days ago

TOP