“It’s important that we talk openly about our history and the facts that took place.”

This was stressed by Acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at the 139th Remembering Fiji’s Girmit Heritage celebrations in Suva last night.

Sayed-Khaiyum says just because we talk about the indentured history, doesn’t mean we cannot talk about the injustices of the i-Taukei or any other people.

He says Fijians can now freely talk about their history as it helps move the nation forward.

“Our richness is in our diversity and our ability to listen to all the stories, all the narratives, all the histories and that is what makes a country a mature country. A country that is comfortable with it’s past, a country that may recognize injustices but it looks forward to how we can fix it up.”

The Acting Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of having the ability to mainstream our history and recognizing it.

Meanwhile, the celebration was attended by many descendants of the Girmityas who arrived in Fiji on board the Leonidas in 1879.