Epeli Ganilau, MC
, MSD
, (born 10 October 1951) is a Fiji
an soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji
. His career has previously encompassed such roles as Commander of the Fiji Military Forces
and Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs)
. On 15 January 2007 he was sworn in as Minister for Fijian Affairs
in the interim Cabinet
formed in the wake of the military coup
which deposed the Qarase
government on 5 December 2006. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35128.shtml http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/15/Fijilive11.html
Ganilau was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School
, in New Zealand
, from 1965.
"Race is a fact of life and is not a problem unless people make it out to be so." (2003)
"We are here today, not so much as to launch a political party but more so and more importantly we are here today to project a vision that will inspire hope."
"For too long, we have allowed fear to dictate our politics and suspicions, to shape how we perceive other communities."
"If we learn how to love others, really, truly love them, not for who we want them to be, but rather for who they are – for the perfect souls that God has created – then we have learnt one of the greatest lessons of life."
"I would like to make the point that we cannot undo the past but we can learn from it, and we cannot predict the future but we can shape and build it."
"Now is not the time to be simply paying lip-service, it is time to stand up and be counted, to stand together and not to be swayed or moved from our path towards true unity, and the peace and security that we aspire to achieve."
"To create a Fiji where people of different ethnicities, religions and cultures can live and work together for the good of all, can differ without rancour, govern without violence and accept responsibility as reasonable people intent on serving the best interest of all".
"When we leave out people on the grounds of ethnicity we limit our options. As such, we become poorer because we are not making optimum use of our human resources, thereby depriving us of the returns and full benefit of our capabilities."
"There are those people who are acting irresponsibly ... and spreading their gospel of fear and hate and not doing anything to help the ordinary people put bread on their table for their families."