The Head Teacher, Mrs. Ruci Vakadranu,
Members of the School Management Committee,
Distinguished Guests,
Parents, Teachers and Students

Good morning and Ni Sa Bula

It is my pleasure to represent the Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency Yutaka Yoshizawa, in officiating today’s handing-over ceremony of the refurbished classrooms and new toilet block at Kasavu Primary School. I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for your generous hospitality and the warm welcome accorded to me this morning.

Today marks a very important day in the history making of this school. Especially, when we recollect the achievements since its inception in 1928, Kasavu Primary School, despite sustaining major damages over the years mainly caused by sea breeze and its heavy usage, can now be witnessed to be a fully restored and a competent educational facility in this remote area providing better classrooms and equal learning opportunity to every student entering this school.

I am delighted that the Government of Japan was given the opportunity to restore not only the classroom facilities here but also the confidence of people in Kasavu Primary School. This project will certainly empower this school’s journey of success to greater height in the years to come.

To provide flexible and timely support to development projects at the grass-roots level such as this project, the Japanese Government offers a financial assistance scheme for development projects designed to meet the diverse needs of developing countries. Known as Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), this scheme supports projects proposed by such bodies as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Local Government Authorities.

Japan acknowledges the financial constraints faced by rural schools in undertaking major capital development projects to make the education system enjoyable and more rewarding for the children. It is therefore, my humble request to all stakeholders of this school to ensure timely maintenance of this building complex to keep the educational process and facilities of this School at peak efficiency.

To conclude, this project is the most evident manifestation of the friendship between the people and Government of Japan and the Republic of Fiji. With these few words, I officially declare the renovated classrooms open to the students of Kasavu Primary School and I urge all of you to make the best use of these new facilities.

Thank you very much, Dhanyevaad, and Vinaka Vakalevu.