ACSOG 40s, 50s decade upset with government’s proposal

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Sera Ravesi (left) Susana Tuisawawu, Ana Matai, Lavenia Padarath, Dr Asinate Boladuadua and Venaisi Ledua standing at the old Thurston Garden netball and volleyball court. Picture: ATU RASEA

THE proposal to have the Indian High Commission close to the Fiji Museum is not going down to well for many Fijians.

Just like all disgruntled members of the public, the ACSOG 40s and 50s decade is upset with government’s proposal and land dealings of the are they consider as sacred, in addition to the many memories they had during their younger years.

Retired school teacher Sera Ravesi said she has a lot of the Botanical garden and hurts to see one of their favourite hang-out spot set to be taken over by the Indian government.

“We look at this place as a place where we could come to have our leisure activities, where meet as friends and enjoy the scenery,” she said.

“I have a lot of memories playing basketball and netball here,” added retired nurse Ana Matai.

“When I was Minister for Women and Culture this place came under my jurisdiction, and we had agreed that the court area would be converted to an open space entertainment area, for cultural and other entertainment, but it was converted to a car park,” added former parliamentarian Lavenia Padarath.

To show their disappointment, the group has banded together and signed a petition strongly objecting to the rezoning of the land.

Some of the reasons to objecting as stipulated in their letter are as follows;

1. The property was gifted in perpetuity to the people of Fiji by the chiefs and indigenous landowners of Suva now residing at Suvaou.

2. The area proposed for the Indian Embassy is the indigenous people of Suvavou’s sacred ground and should not be desecrated, particularly by a government that purport to present the interest of all the people of Fiji.

3. There appears not to have been any serious consultation with the traditional owners of the land who had respectfully ceded the land concerned to the people of Fiji for their enjoyment.

4. Consultation in this particular situation is paramount and should have been conducted prior to the public declaration by the Minister concerned

5. We wish to refer to you the ILO Convention C169 to which Fiji is a signator. The Convention recognises the special rights of indigenous people to be fully consulted in matters that involve their specific culture, traditions and interest.

6. The Suva botanical garden not only provide much needed green, breathing and relaxing space for Suva’s fast growing population but also offers the opportunity to our future generation to value Fiji’s own natural heritance.

7. We do not object to the Fiji government donating a piece of land to the government of India.

We would rather the gift be of a more substantial freehold land in an appropriate location, in recognition of the historical role our Indo-Fijian community in the development of our nation.

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