On July 19, 1977, stores in Suva closed early as approximately 3,000 people took to the streets to demonstrate against foreign influence in Fiji’s internal matters during the ongoing dock strike. The march, spearheaded by Liebling Marlow and a committee of 13, featured a crowd holding placards and was notably led by Marlow and BD Lakshman, a key figure in Fiji’s trade union movement, who participated in a wheelchair.
The gathering was filled with a serious yet spirited atmosphere, as families brought their children and carried signs. Predominantly composed of women, the march included nuns, housewives, store workers, and the spouses of politicians. Many ex-servicemen proudly displayed their medals while carrying the Fiji flag, accompanied by schoolchildren and local leaders.
Among those present at the march were Finance Minister Charles Stinson, Commerce Minister Edward Beddoes, and retiring Attorney-General John Falvey. The crowd received support from onlookers, as business staff clapped for the marchers, which snaked along Rodwell Road and Victoria Parade.
The demonstrators were filmed by both the government’s film unit and a New Zealand television crew, while banners proclaimed slogans such as “Fiji for Fiji,” “Keep the Kiwis out,” “Stand by your country,” “Right on Ratu Mara,” “Hands off Fiji,” and “Fiji first, no outside interference.” Police facilitated the march by redirecting traffic as participants passed by closed shops, with only Burns Philp (South Seas) Co. Ltd remaining open, albeit largely empty of customers.
Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara engaged with the protestors, addressing around 6,000 people gathered at the waterfront. In her speech, Marlow expressed that her initial letter to The Fiji Times, expressing frustration over strikes hindering Fiji’s progress, had unexpectedly sparked this significant movement.
“This march demonstrates our unity in striving for a brighter future for upcoming generations; that we stand together as a sovereign nation, having gained independence not to be dictated by outsiders,” she stated.
Lakshman emphasized that the march was intended to promote law and order rather than oppose unionism. Ratu Mara characterized the event as a spontaneous yet supportive display of public backing for the government’s handling of the strike, warning against the pitfalls of foreign trade unions that seek to influence Fiji based on misleading or nonexistent information. The leader of the Opposition at the time, Siddiq Koya, dismissed the gathering as a ploy of the Alliance Party.