The national Fiji Day celebration will take place on Thursday at Subrail Park in Labasa, with the armed forces currently preparing through mock drills.
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the Fiji Navy executed these drills yesterday, involving over 100 personnel from both branches. The RFMF performed traditional gun salutes and sung the national anthem at the site as part of the preparations. Additionally, inspections on floodlights were conducted, with extra devices installed.
Divisional Police Commander for the North, Senior Superintendent of Police Kemueli Baledrokadroka, confirmed that security measures for the event are progressing well.
Labasa Town Council’s special administrator, Samuela Ligairi, expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming celebration, stating that Fiji flags would be placed at various points throughout the Central Business District of Labasa starting today, marking 54 years of independence. “We intend to go big, better than 2018 when we last hosted the national celebration in Labasa,” Ligairi indicated.
Paul Jaduram, president of the Macuata Tourism Association, highlighted the celebration as a chance for Labasa to demonstrate its warm hospitality and raise its profile as an emerging town.
Commissioner Northern Uraia Rainima encouraged everyone to participate in the one-day celebration, which will commence with a march from Y-Corner through the town at 6:30 AM. Ligairi also noted that a national reconciliation program will be part of Fiji Day, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere expected to attend. He stressed the importance of such events in fostering reconciliation between the major ethnic groups, Indo-Fijians and iTaukei, urging residents in the north to seize this opportunity to engage in the national celebration.