Epeli Ganilau: Quotes about people

“I would like to offer for the unity of our people, the adoption of multiracialism as the core ideal in searching for a clear way ahead. We need to get out of our comfort zones, our ethnic boxes and truly embrace multiracialism.”

Epeli Ganilau

Guest speech to the conference of the Fiji Labour Party, Lautoka, 30 July 2005

People , Way , Search , Box

“To create a Fiji where people of different ethnicities, religions and cultures can live and work together for the good of all, can differ without rancour, govern without violence and accept responsibility as reasonable people intent on serving the best interest of all.”

Epeli Ganilau

Excerpts from a speech to the Fiji Institute of Accountants, 28 April 2005

People , Religion

“There are those people who are acting irresponsibly … and spreading their gospel of fear and hate and not doing anything to help the ordinary people put bread on their table for their families.”

Epeli Ganilau

Remarks made at the launch of the Navua branch of the NAP, 4 June 2005

Hate , People , Fear , Family

“The process of electing members of Parliament to represent the people is at the heart of western democracy. Fiji courts are also part of an independent judicial system which is firmly rooted in western democracy. The basic civil lesson that our children learn in school is that democracy is a government of the people, by the people, for the people … Mr Qarase should answer whether he wants the western system of governance which allows him to be prime minister or the Fijian tradition which requires the chiefs to rule by virtue of their birthright and rank. Otherwise, he is just being hypocritical to save face. (4 September 2005, reacting to a speech made by Qarase at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on 29 August, claiming that democracy was alien to Fiji).”

Epeli Ganilau

Miscellaneous quotes

Children , People , School , Democracy

“When we leave out people on the grounds of ethnicity we limit our options. As such, we become poorer because we are not making optimum use of our human resources, thereby depriving us of the returns and full benefit of our capabilities.”

Epeli Ganilau

From a speech to the Lautoka Rotary Club, 13 May 2005

People

“As a people, we have not been able to chart a clear map toward a common destiny. We will not be able to do this if our leaders continue to promote sectional and separate development.”

Epeli Ganilau

Guest speech to the conference of the Fiji Labour Party, Lautoka, 30 July 2005

People

“For our people to have lived together for one and a quarter century it is difficult to believe that at a personal level so little cultural transfers have taken place.”

Epeli Ganilau

Guest speech to the conference of the Fiji Labour Party, Lautoka, 30 July 2005

People , Personality

“We pay lip service to multiracialism but we fail to put it into practice because we continue to see most things and ourselves from our own ethnic perspective. So long as the personal attitude persists, we will not see us one people of Fiji and our future will not be secure.”

Epeli Ganilau

Guest speech to the conference of the Fiji Labour Party, Lautoka, 30 July 2005

People , Future , Personality

“In any case paramount traditional heads of provinces should, in my view, welcome the fact that their people who have had education and experience can relieve them as in the traditional line of delegation from the many functions the chiefs are required to do now, particularly if they are public servants or have not had the background of education and service as their people.”

Epeli Ganilau

Views on the chiefly system

People , Education

“Whether some people like it or not, Fiji is already a multiracial society. We have different races, but that does not mean we should only work for the good of our own race. We have to truly understand one another, learn each other’s languages, and truly work together. There is huge potential in Fiji, and we would be amazed to see what we will achieve, if we work together.”

Epeli Ganilau

NAPF convention, 17 December 2005

People , Understanding , Learning

“This is what the National Alliance stands for: To respect all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender and religion, to uphold godly principles and moral values and to respect the rule of law.”

Epeli Ganilau

Remarks made at the launch of the Navua branch of the NAP, 4 June 2005

People , Religion , Law

“As a country, we have not started to see how much we can achieve as a nation and we will not have any idea of our strength if we continue to deny ourselves the opportunity to come together as one people. We have not been able to pool the resources and talent of our people and exploit them for our common good. It will continue to evade us if we continue to stress our ethnicity and group differences.”

Epeli Ganilau

Guest speech to the conference of the Fiji Labour Party, Lautoka, 30 July 2005

People , Idea , Country

“Race is a fact of life and is not a problem unless people make it out to be so.”

Epeli Ganilau

2003
Miscellaneous quotes

Life , People , Problem

“To share responsibility with the people of the province should be, in my view, the proudest bequest of a chief to his people.”

Epeli Ganilau

Views on the chiefly system

People