Back in history: ‘Leader of stature and vision’

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Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara receives his doctorate degree from the vice-chancellor of the University of the South Pacific. Picture: FILE

After receiving his doctoral degree from the University of the South Pacific in 1980, the former prime minister of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, was described by the chancellor of the University of the South Pacific as a leader of stature and vision.

This memorial day for the country was recorded in The Fiji Times on December 13, that year.

The chancellor, Dr James Maraj said Ratu Sir Kamisese was an eminently worthy candidate for the degree.

“In so honouring him, we honour the country and the region he serves, in so honouring him-we honour ourselves,” he said.

“It is not easy to lead any nation and we are blessed to have a leader like Ratu Sir Kamisese.”

He said Fiji was fortunate in its natural resources, in the vigour and initiative of its people, in its location of sea and friends-but its problems, as it was understood, were immense.

“Ratu Sir Kamisese has never failed to see to these problems in terms of the opportunity they present, rather than the danger they conceal.”

In his speech, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara congratulated the university and urged it to continue its good work.

Addressing 270 graduands at the national gymnasium in Suva, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara said the university had attained good measure in the twin aims of improving its ability to produce graduates who were equipped with relevant knowledge and who were applying that knowledge to the better conditions of the people of Fiji.

He warned against using imported systems and techniques from other societies and economies without carefully considering their relevance to the regions need.

It had been said individualism offered the only viable route to advancement for the islands and little to no account was taken of the group approach, Ratu Sir Kamisese said.

“Individualism for the sake of greater material acquisition is held up as the only salvation for the Pacific Island man.

“Some of our own people have swallowed that dictum without carefully analysing its consequences and the alternatives which might be better suited to us.”

He also mentioned there was much to learn from the local scene in introducing methods of analysis in the country.

The nature of the university demanded that the rate if regionalism in staffing and other matters was watched so that it did not favour one country only.

As an institution of higher learning, which had to remain vibrant and responsive to the needs of the people it sought to serve, he said USP needed to associate with similar situations in the region and elsewhere institutions whose interest and activities were similar to or complement its own.

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