In 1987, 2000, 2006 we experienced some racial incidents, and some of the worst riots in our history took place.
Our country was sorely tested at times.
We came close to the edge of a cliff, but we did not fall. In large part, this was due to the goodwill of the majority of ordinary people in this country.
Those were the words of Attorney General, Graham Leung as he spoke to principals, teachers, parents and students at Vunimono Community Hall to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Leung says we have managed to largely preserve the social order and harmony for which we are known however, these periods of lawbreaking and lawlessness set us back, caused damage to race relations, and eroded the trust between our different communities.
He says he takes immense pride in his multicultural heritage.
He says his father Lambert was born in Fiji in 1926.
His grandfather came from Southern China to Fiji in the early part of the 20th century.
Leung says his father met and married his mother Fanny in Levuka.
Her father was Chinese and her mother was an indigenous Fijian woman from the village of Muanisolo, Kadavu.
Leung says in Levuka, his parents befriended a iTaukei family, the Vuetis who lived in Draiba Village in Ovalau.
He adds Levuka was something of an ethnic melting pot in those days.
The Attorney General says their neighbours included an Indo Fiji family who ran a laundry, and his parents had a wide circle of friends of different races – they included Doctor Arthur Dass and his wife Maureen, the Youngs, Sandys, Pattersons, Doctor Ratu Dovi, the younger brother of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, and many others.
Leung says they often stopped by for a cup of tea, to play cards or to yarn.
He says Doctor Dovi’s son, the late Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi and he were childhood friends, and went onto university, and studied law and later worked together in the Attorney General’s Office, as lawyers.
Ratu Joni was to become a High Court Judge and Vice President of Fiji.
The Attorney General says Fiji has had its difficult and challenging moments — times when racial and ethnic divisions have threatened our unity as a nation but if we look beyond our shores, we see that in many places around the world, it has led to even greater suffering — wars, oppression, and even genocide.
He says in every case, it started the same way : by convincing people that their neighbours were not brothers and sisters, but "others" — people to fear, people to keep at a distance, people who are inferior.
Leung says this is why we must be vigilant as we cannot allow these seeds of division to take root.
He stresses that Fiji must never be a country where anyone feels like a stranger in their own land.
He says “to anyone who might even suggest that Fiji is not home to those who are not iTaukei, I say to you today as a descendant of immigrants, reject those feelings.”
Leung says those thoughts are racist, and they run against the tide of history.
He says this is not who we are, and he knows the majority of people in this country are peaceloving and kind.
Leung stresses that let us not be distracted by extremists of any colour.
He says history will not judge them kindly.
The Attorney General says what unites us is far greater than what divides us.
He says if we can recognize this truth when we are far from home, why do we sometimes struggle to see it when we are standing side by side in our own country.
He adds our diversity should be a cause for celebration because it is one of our strengths.
We cannot and must not allow discrimination to exist in our homes, workplaces, or institutions.
Those were the words of Attorney General, Graham Leung as he spoke to principals, teachers, parents and students at Vunimono Community Hall to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Leung says building a better Fiji starts with each and every one of us.
He says we can help by treating everyone the same regardless of their race or background; spreading love; speaking up if you see racism or bullying; speaking out against discrimination when you see injustice; celebrating diversity; learning about other cultures; trying new foods; and learning to appreciate the beauty in our differences.
He also quoted the late Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi saying “it is time to move forward together. Stronger for the bitter experiences we have shared, wiser for the suffering inflicted on us and more compassionate for having the capacity to forgive.”
Leung says while we can acknowledge that we have made some progress, we must also recognize that we must work harder at removing discrimination or perceptions of discrimination — in the way opportunities are distributed, in economic disparities, and in the biases that sometimes creep into our institutions.
The Attorney General says we cannot ignore these realities but today is not just about acknowledging problems — it is about committing to solutions.
He believes the politics of race is limiting but what we should be doing more as a country.
That means reducing poverty, finding jobs for our young people and improving the state of our hospitals.
Leung says we must challenge our own biases, and we must ensure that inclusivity is reflected in every aspect of our society — not just in our schools and workplaces, but also in sports, arts, and performance.
He says in education, we must ensure that children of all backgrounds learn side by side, sharing experiences that shape them into adults who see each other as equals.
The Attorney General says in employment, we must remove barriers so that everyone, regardless of their background, has the same chance to succeed and in sports, we must celebrate the way our national teams bring us together.
He says our rugby teams, for example, are a testament to the power of unity — players from different backgrounds coming together under one jersey, representing one nation, and making us all proud.
Leung adds in the performing arts, groups like Vou Dance Fiji have shown how blending traditions from different cultures can create something truly spectacular — performances that are rooted in our shared identity but take inspiration from all the cultures that make up Fiji.
He says when we ensure that everyone, regardless of ethnicity, has equal opportunities to participate, to lead, and to excel, we move closer to a Fiji that truly reflects the ideals of fairness and equality.
He says his belief is that you should grow up understanding and believing that diversity is a gift, not a threat.
Leung says the more we interact closely, the more we know someone of a different race, religion, background – we will have a little bit more of care and understanding each time we practice tolerance and understanding.
He adds his vision is for a Fiji where race is not a barrier, but a bridge, a Fiji where no child is made to feel lesser because of their ethnicity and a Fiji where we celebrate our differences but never allow them to divide us.
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