Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has formally welcomed former Fiji citizens back into the Fijian family.
Speaking at the Fiji day celebrations in Sydney today, Bainimarama referred to the events of 1987 and 2000 and apologized to those who suffered.
The Prime Minister told the Fijian community the fact that they were made to feel unwelcome in their country of birth is the most shameful episode in the nation’s history.
Bainimarama also told the Fijian community in Sydney they were some of Fiji’s best and brightest and Fiji had lost a precious resource that robbed Fiji of decades of development.
Bainimarama invited the Fijian community to return adding the time to do so has never been better referring to the country’s economic growth and multiple citizenship.
Meanwhile, Bainimarama was hosted to a Fijian reception in Liverpool, New South Wales yesterday.
Bainimarama also met with the Liverpool City Council Mayor Ned Mannoun at the Council Chambers.
Majority of Fijians in Australia live in Sydney