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Joni Madraiwiwi Quotes
born 1957 Fiji
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (born 1957) was the Vice-President of Fiji from 10 January 2005 to 5 December 2006. By profession he is a lawyer and former judge.
Also known as: Madraiwiwi, Ratu Joni
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48 quotes
There will necessarily be a tension between the church and tradition on one hand and human rights on the other.
The politicians pontificate and manoeuvre with eloquent manifestos and pronouncements saying little about the challenges we must confront.
Indigenous rights are those, which relate to indigenous people, their way of life, their land and their resources. They are connected in nature and the birthrights of indigenous people.
Reconciliation and forgiveness is inextricably linked to the identity and unity we develop as a nation.
Who would have planted the cane, run the mills and funded the colony if they had gone to battle?
It is not easy to remain motivated in the face of widespread apathy and self-indulgence.
However social integration cannot be forced and not proceed at the pace that the community considers uncomfortable.
The (racial and cultural) difference is to be celebrated, not fried or criticised, and we are so much richer for it.
Inclusiveness is disguised by the ability to offer a sometimes disturbed community a vision of themselves and the means to achieve it together.
To say that power should have been returned to the Fijian chiefs is to ignore what occurred between 1874 and 1970.
Relationships between our ethnic communities are generally good but we need to continue weaving connections to the point where they are interwoven and unbreakable.
This is a small country with limited resources. Can we afford the time spent on endless debates about ethnicity and identity?
It is easy to decry the nature of ethnic politics in this country. We are hostages to history and the ethnic compartmentalisation that began in the colonial era.
We need to move forward and beyond the point where we endlessly pursue the demons bequeathed us by our history.
When you (Military personnel) serve in uniform, you serve your country, not your mataqali, yavusa or particular vanua. You serve the larger vanua that encompasses all of us.
The critical element is inclusiveness. It is only when the model we adopt and implement is one all can accept, can the prospect of genuine and lasting reconciliation be real.
Those who decry the rule of law as a Western principle or an imported construct, misunderstand the concept. It is about abiding by a set of standards for the well-being of society as a whole.
Remember that the actions of a few, with commitment, can alter the course of world history.
We need to try and focus less on ethnicity in this country and concentrate on trying to improve the lot of the marginalized whoever they are.
It (education) broadens our minds and creates opportunities, equipping us with the skills and the knowledge to participate in the world beyond the classroom.
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