IT’S INDEED A GREAT HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE TO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR SUCH AN AWARD OF RECOGNITION.
It was my father’s vision and humble beginnings that I was able to grow the small retail store in Nadi to what it is today Dilip Khatri, chairperson for Jack’s of Fiji Group of Companies.
Taking care of orphanages for the past 27 years, is what drives Sister Kalo Tuineau of St Christopher’s Home.
She is the sister in charge of facility based in Nasinu.
It is for this dedication that she was awarded a 50th Anniversary Independence Commemorative medal.
She and fellow recipients were awarded their medals by President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote at State House yesterday.
“I feel like I don’t deserve this medal, but at the same time I feel very honoured and thankful to the Government for the recognition and I give the glory to God,” she said.
“At St Christopher’s Home, the work of the sisters is not work, it is a call from God and this medal is for everyone at the Home.”
Sister Tuineau left her home and family back in Tonga to follow her dreams of becoming a missionary. “I always wanted to become a sister and a missionary because it meant taking people to God but I never knew that it would take my whole life to work with children,” she said.
“Serving at the home meant seeing the children have a good future, safe and protected and continuing to care and provide for the needy.”
Dilip Khatri
The chairperson for Jack’s of the
Fiji
Group of Companies, Dilip Khatri, yesterday dedicated his achievement to his family and his staff members for their hard work in the development of the conglomerate. “It’s indeed a great honour and privilege to have been nominated for such an award of recognition,” he said.
“It was my father’s vision and humble beginnings that I was able to grow the small retail store in Nadi to what it is today.”
The soft-spoken man was also the Mayor of Nadi Town from 1993 to 1999.
In 2002, he was made an Officer of the Order of Fiji and in 2006 was appointed as a member of the Fiji College of Honour and Awards.
Pramanand Paul Jaduram
Prominent Labasa businessman, Pramanand Paul Jaduram has quite an interesting story to tell. “I dedicate this medal to my late English wife, Stella Jaduram who passed away 17 years ago,” he said. Before becoming a well-known hotelier, he was on his way to fulfiling his dreams of becoming an air force pilot in England when all changed.
“I was 22 years old living in England and I was going to be an air force pilot. But my father called me one day and wanted me to return to Fiji to manage Hotel Takia,” he said.
“Thank God I did not sign a bond with them or else it would have made my return a bit difficult.” After taking his shares from Hotel
Takia, Mr Jaduram ventured out on his own and started Hotel Northwinds in Labasa.
He has three children and grandchildren.
As a life member of the Labasa Football Association, he also thanked the Fiji Football Association for having the Fiji FACT in Labasa this weekend.
Deo Narayan
For retired
Fiji nine
Police Force Su
perintendent, Deo achievement was wished he could again.
Mr Narayan became a Police officer in 1976 and moved up the ranks thereafter.
Force highlights:
Narayan, the such that he join the force
Officer-in-Charge for the Commissioner of Police’s Special Task Force under the late Commissioner Esala Teleni’s leadership,
■ Worked alongside former Chief Investigator, SP Nasir Ali, in many
fraud and murder cases in the past,
He has involved himself in many community works since his retirement including the setup of the Crime Prevention Community. “A lot has changed since my time and I have advised Commissioner of Police, Rusiate Tudravu to call us up to come and give lectures to the new upcoming Police officers.” He now has two businesses that keeped him busy.