The Head Teacher of Korotolutolu Primary School,
Members of the School Management Board,
Teachers, Parents and Students,
Invited guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good Morning, Namaste and Ni sa bula to you all

It gives me pleasure to represent His Excellency the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Yutaka Yoshizawa, in today’s handing over ceremony of the project for upgrading work, provision of furniture and water tank, and construction of new toilet block funded by Japan at Korotolutolu Primary School. I am confident that these new facilities are a clear manifestation of Japan’s love and care for the grassroots people of Fiji. I take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the generosity and the warm reception extended to me this morning.
I also wish to convey to you Japanese Government’s appreciation for the support and messages of condolence from the Government and people of the Republic of Fiji, during and aftermath of the unprecedented March earthquake and tsunami that devastated part of Japan, leaving behind mass destruction and loss of lives of our beloved ones.

Japan, while recovering from the horrible disaster, continues to provide assistance in the development of schools around Fiji that lack basic educational facilities. In addition, the Fijian Government’s announcement to introduce School Zoning scheme will make Japan’s such assistance to rural schools more effective and meaningful. In this regard, I encourage everyone in this community to work collectively on the maintenance of this building to sustain its useful life for future generations of Korotolutolu.

Since the inception of its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects programme in 1993, Japan funded 256 projects with a total value of approximately 11.4 million US dollars around Fiji. Under the GGP Programme, Japan continues to provide small and flexible grants to support development projects at the grass-roots level through its GGP Programme that is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include education, water supply, basic sanitary environment, health, vocational training and rural infrastructure. In the last Japanese fiscal year, namely April 2010 to March 2011 period, Japan had identified 13 projects under its GGP scheme with a total value of approximately 1 million US dollars, and among these 13 projects, nine were considered for schools around Fiji. Today’s handing-over ceremony also commemorates Japan’s ninth project in Fiji to be handed over successfully.

Finally, it is my deep conviction that this project will serve to strengthen the close relationship currently enjoyed by the people and Government of Japan and the Republic of Fiji. With these few words, ladies and gentlemen I officially declare the renovated classrooms, new water supply system and the new toilet block open to the children of Korotolutolu. I am very much hopeful that this project will motivate the young to achieve academic excellence.

Thank you, Dhanyvaad and Vinaka Vaka Levu