A moment of silence was observed during the official opening of the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers meeting in Nadi last night to commemorate the lives that were lost during TC Winston and also the devastation caused by Cyclone Gita in Tonga and Southern Lau.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says what happened two years ago has made Fijians stronger.
“Our people have recognized the need for a new standard of resilience to meet the constant threat we now face, even outside the traditional cyclone season. They know – because they lived through it – that we must build back stronger and better to survive the more frequent and more intense cyclones that are coming because of climate change.”
Bainimarama says that despite homes and schools being rebuilt, what could not be brought back was the 44 lives that Winston claimed.
“They were someone’s father, someone’s mother, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins. They were ordinary Fijians – the backbone of our nation. And because we are a small country, they were known to many of us and they mattered to all of us. We still mourn their passing and on this anniversary we remember them, as they rest in the loving arms of Almighty God.”
The Prime Minister also asked the delegates to keep those that were recently affected by Cyclone Gita in their thoughts as they recover from the devastations.
