Mara: "You are welcome"

Fiji’s Chief Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, has strongly urged the Banabans of Rabe to register and vote in Fiji’s general elections.

In April when he visited the island, which is 45 minutes by launch from Vanua Levu’s Buca Bay, Ratu Sir Kamisese praised the effort of the Banabans in making a new home for themselves in what was a strange environment to them. , , You are wecome here as members of our Fiji family, he said, speaking as Chief Minister and as Cross Voting Member for the North Eastern Constituency, in which Rabe lies.

“Of course, you have your own customs and traditions. I hope you will cling to them and maintain them. They add to the rich diversity of Fiji, which is one of its greatest strengths.

“You have special skills, particularly in fishing. You can make a real contribution to Fiji.”

As citizens of Fiji, said the Chief Minister, it was the duty of the Banabans to take part in the country’s political life by voting in elections.

“Our constitution will continue to enshrine all the fundamental human rights. You can therefore be con fident that your rights as individuals and as a community will be re spected.”

Replying, the chairman of the Rabe Island Council, Mr. Rotan Tito, said the Banabans felt that their 1,000-mile migration to Rabe from Ocean Island had been a “most suc cessful transplant operation.”

This success was due to the manner in which the people of Fiji had com pletely accepted the Banabans, who had brought very different customs and traditions with them.