Idle land is owner’s loss.

Namadi Heights, Suva

If we follow insights of late Ratu Sukuna the meaning and role of GCC can vary.

It can be Government/chiefs/churches, Girmitiya’s collaboration with clans, Government/chiefs/confederacies.

Wishing to see Fiji as an independent nation and protecting tradition, culture and heritage for indigenous people.

Importance of culture, tradition and language needs to be taught and maintained just as status, respect and heritage need to be earned and retained.

Relations between chiefs, clans and confederacies, communities and societies of different ethnicity need to be understanding and uniting and not demanding and divisive. If learned and not practised these elements for the next generation you cannot nourish. Culture and traditions need to be applicable in this era.

Having rights to land is a privilege but not utilising it rightly and holding on to it is no gain.

Just as the mind is a tool to spread peace and harmony one must keep cool and not adhere to rule likewise the land is an asset worth making a living if not just kept but toiled and sowed with what you are giving. This is where the role and effort of Girmit descendents comes in. One needs initiative, labour and cash to make this progress.

Just as an idle mind is a devil’s workshop, an idle land is an owner’s loss.

Knowledge is power, resources and relations if understood and used wisely will in return shower.

For a nation to tower all confederacies, communities and ethnicities need bonding to be strong.

The nation is like a three legged stool which needs firmness in the base with peace, harmony and understanding.

What good is the top if the supportive elements aren’t firm and intact?!

To give true meaning to these celebrations let’s apply the wisdom of it in reality. Preservation of culture and traditions very much depends on where one resides and availability of its experienced mentorship in its vicinity.