More than $200,000 allocated for the 145th Girmit Day celebration

More than $200,000 has been allocated for the 145th Girmit Day celebration that will be held at the Lautoka Girmit Centre from the 11th to the 13th of May and in Labasa on the 11th of May.

This has been confirmed by Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection and Girmit Celebration Committee Chair Sashi Kiran who says this will also include the maintenance and repair works of the Girmit Centre in Lautoka.

Kiran says they have also presented a sevusevu to the Taukei Vidilo Ratu Wiliame Bouwalu earlier this week to be part of the celebrations. The Chair further says this is to commemorate, remember and acknowledge the sacrifices of the Girmitiyas and our ancestors who have contributed to our nation as everywhere they settled they built Schools, temples and Mosques.

She says this year's celebration will be different from last year as last year they mainly focused on the arrival of the girmitiyas however, this year they will focus on the contributions of the girmitiyas.

Kiran also says that there will be a lot of activities such as drama, poetry, oratory and games including soccer tournaments amongst different religions.

She says the celebration also marks the relationship between different religions and cultures of people.

President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere will be officiating the Girmit Day celebration in Lautoka.

The Girmit Day Committee includes farmers, town councils and other stakeholders from Nadi, Lautoka, Ba and Tavua and Rakiraki.