One year on, the 44 lives claimed by Tropical Cyclone Winston were remembered today by the nation as it marked the first anniversary of the category five natural catastrophe.
A Multi-faith National Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving was held at Albert Park in the capital this morning.
A solemn event to remember the 44 lives and those affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston which brought widespread devastation on this day last year.
It started with a National Anthem and a state prayer followed by roll call of Winston victims, minute of silence observed, prayers by religious leaders and the President’s address.
“For far too many families, the pain of losing their homes and places of learning and worship was matched by the pain of losing a loved one. Killed by falling roofs and walls, flying debris or the raging torrent that accompanied the roaring winds. When the skies finally cleared, we counted the material cost. 40,000 homes damaged or destroyed and hundreds of schools and other public infrastructure laid waste. Winston left us with a total damage bill of close to US two-billion dollars or nearly a third of our Gross Domestic Product. “ said Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote – President of Fiji
People from some of the worst affected communities from as far as Koro, Vanua Balavu and Ra were at the service.
“12 months on, we are still as a nation dealing with the aftermath. But while things can be rebuilt or replaced, our loved ones are gone forever. Names and faces unknown to many Fijians but not to those they left behind. And today we gather in the presence of many of their families and friends to remember those who Winston took from us. A roll call of the fallen in one of the worst disasters – perhaps the worst – that nature has ever inflicted on our people.They were mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, aunties, uncles, cousins and friends. Ordinary Fijians who are the backbone of our nation. Now gone but who we are determined never to forget.” said Konrote
The President assured the people , Fiji will do all it can through its Presidency of the 23rd Conference of Parties on Climate Change in Bonn Germany for further global action.
“We must get the community of nations to continue reducing the carbon emissions that are causing global warming. This is a fight that we must win. Our entire way of life is at stake. And that is why Fiji is taking a leadership role in the world to persuade the industrial nations to act decisively before it is too late. As you know, our Honourable Prime Minister has been given the task of moving the current global climate negotiations forward. As incoming President of COP 23, the Prime Minister will preside over the deliberations of nearly 200 countries when they again gather in Bonn, Germany, in November. His job is to keep them committed to the carbon emission reduction targets contained in the Paris Agreement of 2015.
My Fellow Fijians, let there be no doubt about the magnitude of the task that Fiji has been given. It is easily the biggest responsibility the world has ever asked us to take on as a people. The prayers and best wishes of every Fijian go with the Honourable Prime Minister as he embarks on this mission. And none more so than the prayers and best wishes of every Fijian who was affected by Cyclone Winston, and especially the families of those who died. “
Students, members of Government and the diplomatic corp attended the service this morning.