Drowning has been an alarming cause of death in Fiji each year.
Those were the words of the President, Jioji Konrote while accepting the I-tatau from the Fiji National School Swimming Team to the 2017 Pacific School Games.
Konrote says that despite the fact that Fiji is surrounded by water, not many parents and guardians are making an effort to see that their children are taught the basics of swimming and water safety.
He says that he appreciates parents who have savings for their childrens swimming classes and says that he hopes to see swimming being taught as a regular subject in all schools around the country.
The current drowning toll is 17 compared to 23 for the same period last year.
Konrote told the young swimmers that swimming does not only saves lives but also a sporting event that can take people to places.
The team consists of 38 swimmers from the Under 10 to the Under 18 grades
