"President Kabua was serving as Chair for the Pacific Islands Forum when he passed away in 1996. To honor his legacy as one of the great leaders of the Pacific, a plaque was built, here at the Secretariat in commemoration of his outstanding leadership and valuable contributions in strengthening the solidarity and unity of the region. The Marshall Islands remains very grateful and appreciative of this very kind gesture by our Pacific Islands Forum family."
- HE Junior Aini, RMI Ambassador to Fiji and the Pacific.
STATEMENT OF HIS EXCELLENCY JUNIOR AINI,
RMI AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI AND THE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES
Presidents Day Commemoration Ceremony
November 18 , 2024, 7:00am-7:30am
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Suva Fiji
Thanking Acting Secretary General Esala Nayasi for his remarks.
Traditional Leaders, Acting Secretary General Esala Nayasi, colleagues and staff from the PIFS and Embassy,
1. Iakwe and a very warm good morning to you all.
2. Welcome and I am so grateful to you all for making time to join us. Special welcome and acknowledgement to our delegation from Majuro - Attorney General Bernard Adiniwin, Director Christopher Debrum of the RMI National Security Office, and FSO Conny Livai of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
3. It is my honor and privilege to make some brief remarks today to commemorate the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ Presidents Day on November 17, 2024.
4. Today is a significant national holiday in the Marshall Islands, in which the Government and people commemorate the birthday of our nations’ founding father, first President late Iroijlaplap Amata Kabua.
5. Born into Marshallese nobility from both his father and mothers side, late Amata Kabua was the son of two Paramount chiefs - one from the Ralik chain and the other from the Ratak chain. His illustrious career began in the 1950s when he was a school teacher and later a superintendent. He went on to be elected as a Representative to the Council of Micronesia, Senator to the Congress of Micronesia and served one term as President of the Congress of Micronesia.
6. Late President Amata Kabua was at the forefront of the movement to regain Marshallese Independence during the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) period and was instrumental in building our sovereignty and dignity as a nation. In 1979, late Amata Kabua became the first President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, serving five consecutive terms.
7. During his presidency, late President Kabua established strong ties with Leaders of the Pacific Island Forum and hence signed the Government Marshall Islands Treaty with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as a full member on November 23, 1987.
8. President Kabua was serving as Chair for the Pacific Islands Forum when he passed away in 1996. To honor his legacy as one of the great leaders of the Pacific, a plaque was built, here at the Secretariat in commemoration of his outstanding leadership and valuable contributions in strengthening the solidarity and unity of the region. The Marshall Islands remains very grateful and appreciative of this very kind gesture by our Pacific Islands Forum family.
9. This day also serves as a reminder to the Marshallese people about the contributions and efforts of their leaders in the nation-building process. I take this momentous occasion to honor ALL of the past Presidents and our sitting President Dr. Hilda C. Heine. I thank them for what they have done to our country. We are so proud to have had and continue to have strong and faithful leaders serving the Republic and people of the Marshall Islands.
10. Kommol tata and I thank you.--ENDS
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