Fijian Prime Minister commemorates the 143rd Anniversary of the Leonidas at Civic Centre, Suva

The history that began on this day, 143 years ago may be a history of injustice and brutality, but its totality over nearly a century and a half is a story of great hope, resilience and great capacity of human beings to overcome hardship and do great things.
These were the sentiments of Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama as he addressed the descendants of the Girmitya’s and guests during the 143rd anniversary of the Leonidas.
“The Girmitya, as they came to be known, endured years of backbreaking labour under brutal conditions that meet the definition of slavery that we hold today,” he said.
“They performed the hardest work of building the colonial economy; working cane fields, farming copra, laying brick, and carving out roads - they worked under the whip,” he added.
“They lived under constant threat of abuse and sexual assault - whether you were called a slave or a servant, a thrashing cuts the same. Rape is rape. Abuse is abuse. The conditions were so terrible it was not uncommon for labourers to be driven to suicide.”
“We have come a long way since the Girmit era; a long way since 1987; and a long way since 2000,” he added.
PM Bainimarama also stated that the 2013 Fijian Constitution enshrines the Fijian Government’s unwavering commitment to protect the rights and freedoms of every Fijian - equally.
14 May, 2022