Fiji Times
Close to the heart
(Friday, March 11, 2005)
QUEEN Elizabeth holds the people of this nation close to her heart, said son Prince Charles.
Addressing chiefs, government officials and hundreds of villagers gathered at Viseisei in Vuda yesterday, the heir to the throne said he, too, had special memories of the country during his previous visits.
"She holds all the people in Fiji in a very special place in her heart and wanted me to send you her particular good wishes on this occasion,'' he said after a traditional welcome ceremony at the chiefly village.
"I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful ceremony.
"It is a real joy to come back to Fiji after 30 years and I am deeply touched and grateful for the wonderful welcome on this occasion.
"As you can imagine I have had the happiest and most special memories from my previous visits here and I look back with immense affection to those days in 1970 when I was able to represent her majesty the Queen at your Independence celebrations.
"I can assure you that I along with other members of my family have nothing but the most special affection for this remarkable country and indeed all its special people."
Prince Charles is on a tour of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
He last visited the country in 1985 when he passed through Nadi with the late Princess of Wales, Princess Diana.
He came here in 1970 to present the instruments of independence to Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in front of thousands of people at Albert Park.
He returned in 1974 for the 100th anniversary of Fiji's cession to Great Britain.
He said it was sad that on this occasion he was only visiting for a short time.
But he looked forward to seeing some of the examples of what was done here and the changes that had taken place in the past 30 years.
He said he looked forward to meeting as many people as possible.
It took a couple of seconds to gulp down the yaqona presented to him by Ratu Josaia Tavaiqia the son of the former Tui Vuda Ratu Jeremaia Tavaiqia.
Meanwhile, women of Vuda presented the vakamamaca (fine mats) for Prince Charles while the Great Council of Chiefs presented him with pigs and dalo fit which took about 16 men to lift.
While the traditional welcoming ceremony was conducted the Tui Vuda and President Ratu Josefa Iloilo continued to share light moments with the prince in a special bure in the village green.
The road down to the village was lined with school children in uniforms and ladies in matching blouses and skirts as the motorcade made its way down to the village.
On the way to Viseisei, people lined the highway to catch a glimpse of the prince.
Bau chief Ratu Tua'akitau Cokanauto, who presented the qaloqalovi, said it was a great honour to be chosen by the Great Council of Chiefs for the task.
"I also presented the qaloqalovi when the Queen came in 1977 and for other royal visits following that,'' he said.
"And it is indeed a great honor to perform this presentation on behalf of the chiefs in Fiji to the heir to the throne of England and maybe his next visit he will come as king."
Ratu Tuki said there was special bondage between Fiji and the royal
household and when one performs in an occasion like this you feel very proud indeed, he said.
He said the relationship between Fiji and England was a special one that goes a long way back to 1874 when the chiefs and Ratu Cakobau first asked for a commitment from Queen Victoria whether she could rule the country with affection.
"She agreed to rule with affection in order that unity and prosperity would be regarded and with that commitment the chiefs gave Fiji in cession — which is why the relationship remains very special." The prince was also presented with a club dance performed by more than 40 men from Vuda and even took time off to share some words with the men.
Women and children finally found an opportunity to greet him as he left the village green when protocol was slightly relaxed and they waved shouting: "Bula Prince Charles".
The prince later had a special session with the Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase before he attended a special dinner hosted by the British High Commission at the Sheraton.