Loyal Fijian after much deliberation, consultation with Fijian from all walks of life and much reflection has decided to award its 2009 Loyal Fijian Person of the Year 2009 Award to the Ordinary Fijian.
That's right. The ordinary Fijian who wakes up at 4 in the morning and travels to the Suva Market to sell his produce, the ordinary Fijian who cleans the homes of those who have more money than time for $15 a day.
The Ordinary Fijian who works the land from dawn to dusk and still struggles to pay the school fees of their children, the only hope for them to escape the grinding poverty or the Ordinary Fijian who travels in a Pajero, enjoys overseas holidays and lives in relative security and comfort.
The Loyal Fijian Person of the Year 2009 Award is to all of you mentioned above and those not.
Here's why.
For those struggling to makes pay their school fees, the school fees has been waived, for those finding it difficult tp pay the bus fare for their children, the bus fare ha been subsidised. And for those who have no problems with access to money, well for you, it is now possible to enjoy your wealth and go to bed without the fear of waking up to the cold blade of a knife held to your neck.
Crime is down, The poor people are the main focus of the Government, corrupt practices which used to be the norm are down and out.
The Ordinary Fijian after a long time feels that they have a voice.
The Ordinary Fijian can for the first time dream of their children having a better life then they did with access to free education. Many Governments have promised but nine have delivered this before.
The Ordinary Fijian after a long time can have the same access to services that without money was denied to them.
The Ordinary Fijian who has no problems with money, and there are a fair few as the $7.50 cappuccino sold in certain Suva cafe's indicate, can enjoy their wealth and leave their homes and be sure of coming back.
The Ordinary Fijian who has lost hope at the failure of the wheels of Government to move without the rquired greasing with liberal amounts of hard currency, have an avenue to take up their case.
The Ordinary Fijian who has seen the incompetent and corrupt civil servant drink yaqona whilke they wait for serice, can now take up their case with those who have the power and will to make a difference.
The Ordinary Fijian has been the Winner. No doubt about it.
INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.
