PM’s My Idol: Year One Student
Six-year-old Arnav Maharaj yesterday waited patiently during the FijiFirst rally in Rampur Primary School in Navua to meet his idol, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Arnav did not know that Mr Bainimarama was not scheduled to be in Navua.
He was accompanied by his grandmother, Zarina Reece, both FijiFirst supporters.
Arnav was still happy to take a photo with the PM’s poster.
“He really wanted to meet Mr Bainimarama, he really admires him. Whenever Arnav sees the PM he would point at him and say Government,” said Ms Reece.
“He also calls him OB because he went to Marist Brothers Primary School. Arnav is very happy that the Government has provided him with free milk and Weet-Bix.” Arnav is a Year 1 student at Rampur Primary School in Navua. Ms Reece added that not only has the Government helped children, but it has empowered women and supported them as well.
“I am a new resident in Navua and I found out that there were many women employed around the place I stay now,” said Ms Reece. “When I was conducting a legal rights training workshop in the same area some 15 to 18 years ago, I found out that these women were not assisted in any way and women’s lives were even worse and they were in poverty.
“The women have been assisted by the Government in terms of agriculture, poultry and social welfare benefits,” said Ms Reece.
She is a human rights activist, a feminist and a social worker. “The most important thing that has attracted me to this Government is that it has given us equality.”
Ms Reece said she did not feel like a second-class citizen anymore. “I am a Fijian and this Government has given me this identity and I thank the FijiFirst Government for this.”
She said she would not choose any other party in the November 14 election.
She wanted the Government to continue its good work.
“Because I hear from other political parties, and reading posts on social media, they want to cancel or change certain policies and I don’t want that.”
He really wanted to meet Mr Bainimarama, he really admires him. Whenever Arnav sees the PM he would point at him and say Government Zarina Reece Grandmother of Arnav Maharaj