pn618a. I take My Hat Off to Ro Teimumu: Duavata for all Fiji's People

It takes courage to go against the common tide, even when you are a chief and a paramount one at that. I take my hat off to you, Ro Teimumu.

Ro Teimumu is the only SODELPA MP to accept "Fijian" as a common name for all Fijians but says more work needs to be done for the name to be generally accepted by iTaukei, especially because it was a forced decision by Government.

Speaking at the Forced Labour and Migration conference at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni, Lautoka, some time ago she spoke of her personal reasons for making this decision.

I did not know that Ratu Mara also wanted Fijian as a common name or that the Indian indentured labourers who survived the shipwreck of the "Syria" were adopted as clan members by the Tui Noco of Rewa.

"From it (the adoption in 2017) I derive hope for the future", she said.  "It opens the door to a new form of togetherness, duavata for Fiji's people."

Read also Syria shipwreck rescue efforts of 1884 leads to communal reconciliation in Fiji

--  ACW