Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says President Jioji Konrote through his six years as President, and all of his life of service, has embodied the very best of who we are as Fijians.
While congratulating President Konrote on the success of his term and thanking him for his service to Fiji, our region and the global community, Bainimarama says the outgoing President is a fine soldier, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, a humble servant and a champion for great causes of humanity.
Bainimarama says a career UN Peacekeeper, his legacy as a Soldier's General is one of the greatest in "Blue Helmet" history.
He says as the Force Commander in UNIFIL, he provided exemplary leadership in repositioning UNIFIL to play an enhanced peacekeeping role in one of the most difficult regions of the world at that time, but even after those decades of service, he had much left to give his fellow Fijians and global citizens.
The Prime Minister says as our President, he was a founding father of Fiji's tree planting revolution.
He says as an avid farmer, President Konrote was a world leader for the cause of sustainable food systems and nutrition-security to combat the plague of NCDs.
He says the President called on the young people of Fiji time and again to help us celebrate our national days and he led us through the 50th anniversary of our independence, helping us mark a proud moment in the midst of the difficultly of the pandemic.
Bainimarama says in the President’s own words on that magnificent day, he summed up everything that makes Fiji special: "Fiji's success is not owed to luck or chance. It has come because our people, with their diverse strengths and skillsets, have together propelled Fiji forward, both knowingly and unknowingly. Because we have united, because we worked hard, and because we have pooled our talents, we have built a great nation; we have defined what it truly means to be a Fijian. And what is that? To be a Fijian is to have courage and optimism. To be a Fijian is to love this country, love your neighbours, and look after your fellow citizens, irrespective of their background. Because to be a resilient people, we must be a strong people, a caring people, and a united people. Together, have done great things, and together we will do more great things in the next 50 years."
The Prime Minister says we know that President Konrote will continue to champion the success of every Fijian.
A farewell ceremony for President Konrote will be held at 3.30pm today at State House.
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