Infrastructure Minister Jone Usamate

Modernization and social media pose a threat to our culture and language.

The vast increase in modernization comes with a great responsibility to protect our language and culture.

This is the statement of Infrastructure Minister Jone Usamate while speaking to FBC News.

Usamate says this is one of his main messages while visiting a lot of rural and maritime villages last week.

He says modernization and social media are the biggest influence and a lot of work is needed to protect what Fijians are known for.

“Social media has a very powerful impact and I’m glad to see there are some groups that propagate the issue of culture and language and I think there is a need to do more and there is a need for media for more vernacular shows because if we don’t do this it might gradually die out over time”.

Usamate says more collaboration is needed to find the balance between modernization and how it has impacted our tradition and culture.