First Communication from the newly elected Speaker, Hon. Filimone Jitoko

The Prime Minister the Hon. Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, the Leader of the Opposition the Hon. Inia Seruiratu, the Deputy Prime Ministers the Hon. Dr Biman Prasad, the Hon. Viliame Gavoka and the Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, Ministers and Members of Parliament, distinguished guests in the public gallery, and those tuning into the television broadcast and livestream.

As  your newly elected Speaker, first and foremost, I give thanks to the Almighty God for this great honour bestowed on me; for his blessings and his favour.

Secondly, my sincere appreciation to the Prime Minister for nominating me and having the trust in me to carry out the duties and responsibilities that come with this high office.

Thirdly, I must sincerely thank the Members of this Parliament for the confidence you have placed on me to serve in this august Assembly as its Speaker.

I am deeply humbled by the trust that you have bestowed on me and

I take on this responsibility with the hope that I will be able to follow in the footsteps of the illustrious previous occupants of this Chair. I intend to listen to, and work with, each of you to continue the work of my venerable predecessor na Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau, in transforming our Parliament to be an effective and efficient instrument in serving our beloved nation.

I recognise and pay tribute to the indigenous Fijians, the iTaukei owners of this land, the Tui Suva and the Vanua of Suva on which this the Parliament of Fiji is situated for their generosity, their improvidence in allowing us to build, reside and meet on this land.

Honourable Members, allow me to also congratulate you for the progress you have achieved in your service to the people of Fiji in the last two years of the life of this Parliament.

Please allow me also to take this occasion to recognise the support and backing provided by my family to me, and like all our families, they have and remain pillars of strength and a never-ending sources of support and inspiration to each of us to do good for this nation. For me, I thank my family sincerely for their unwavering support, knowing that I will now be spending a little more time in these chambers and its precincts.

In my humble view, the seat I am now occupying is one that is entrusted with the highest level of responsibility. It requires a vigilant devotion to the rules and principles of Parliamentary democracy, guided by the 3 basic tenets namely that all members have equal rights and privileges as well as obligations; that the will of the majority prevails and must be carried out; and finally, the rights of the minority must be preserved. This position also in addition requires a progressive outlook to always constantly look for solutions and sustainable pathways to strengthen democracy in Fiji.

I am not and have never been a politician and this environment I now find myself in is, while new, I consider it a challenge but the basic rules of dispensing justice as was the objective in my previous calling, equally applies here.

Finally, with this appointment, I now would have served in all the 3 branches of government, the executive, the judiciary, and finally the legislature, the supreme law making authority of the land. I could not have had or wished a more fulfilling life of almost 50 years of public service to my country.

May God bless us all. In the words of our revered statesman Ratu Sir Lala Vanayaliyali Sukuna: “Floreat Viti”, May God bless Fiji.

Thank you Honourable Members.