The President of the Australia Fiji Business Council, Mr Bob Lyon, today expressed to the family of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, and to the people of Fiji, the deepest condolences of the executive committee and members of the Australia Fiji Business Council at the passing away of Ratu Mara.

Mr Lyon described the passing of Ratu Mara as the end of an era.

"Ratu Mara was the last survivor of the group of young Fijian chiefs who led Fiji to independence and who played a crucial role in the government of the country in the post-independence years", he said

"Ratu Mara devoted his life to the advancement of Fiji and all its people, and Fiji’s economic progress under his leadership provided the foundation for its current stage of development", Mr Lyon said.

Mr Lyon said Ratu Mara had also been a regional statesman who worked to advance the interests of Fiji and of the region.

Mr Lyon said Ratu Mara had been a strong supporter of the foundation in 1986 of the Australia Fiji Business Council and its counterpart body the Fiji Australia Business Council. Ratu Mara had recognized the importance of the promotion of bilateral business linkages and of dialogue between government and business. The ongoing work of the business councils in promoting trade and investment and in conducting dialogue with governments were a testament to Ratu Mara’s vision and foresight.

He said the people of Fiji and the region, including those in Australia with interests in Fiji, are the richer for Ratu Mara’s leadership over an important period of their history, and will be the poorer for his passing.

Mr Lyon called on all the people of Fiji to create a legacy which will honour the life and work of Ratu Mara by setting aside their differences and working together in harmony for the advancement of the economic development of the country and improvement of the living standards of all Fiji’s peoples.

BRISBANE

21 April 2004