Acting Prime Minister, Inia Seruiratu says as the festivities of Diwali wind down, the fundamental message remains that light conquers darkness and we have also seen light overcome the darkness of the pandemic.
Seruiratu highlighted this while speaking during the Diwali Celebration organised by the Indian High Commission at the Suva Civic Auditorium last night.
He says in the context of COVID-19 crisis that we are currently facing, many have been forced to retreat into these proverbial dark places as they seek peace, relief and safety.
The Acting Prime Minister says the government is doing its best to help people, particularly those that have lost their jobs.
He adds India's donation of 100,000 COVID-19 Covishield vaccines this year immensely contributed to Fiji's vaccination programme in the fight against the pandemic and the anti-retroviral drugs to treat COVID-19 have also arrived from Indian following a request from the Fijian Government.
Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Palaniswamy Subramanyan Karthigeyan has expressed his gratitude to the frontline workers who toiled hard around the world to overcome this pandemic.
Karthigeyan has also thanked every Fijian on the frontline who have risked their lived and continue to risk it to keep us away from harm.
The Acting Prime Minister lit the Diwali Diya with the Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Palaniswamy Subramanyan Karthigeyan and his wife and the Chief Justice Kamal Kumar.
There were dance performances by various cultural groups and students of Swami Vivekananda College.
The Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Minister for Education Premila Kumar, Minister for Women Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar, Permanent Secretary for Education Anjeela Jokhan, Permanent Secretary for Environment Joshua Wycliffe, Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde and National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad and Electoral Commission Chairperson Suresh Chandra also attended the celebration.
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