Remarks at the Official Launch of the Pasifika Communities University Act, 10-Year Strategic Plan and RELM
Remarks by the Speaker the Hon. Filimone Jitoko
On the occasion of the Official Launch of the Pasifika Communities University Act, 10-Year Strategic Plan and RELM
“Our Home, Our Identities, Our Futures”
Friday, 6 November 2026 @ 5.00 p.m.
Pasifika Communities University Campus, NASESE
- Taumoana (The Chancellor), Sione Silongo Uluʻilakepa;
- Tautai (The Pro Chancellor), Dr Akanisi Kedrayate;
- Manu Folau (The Vice Chancellor), Professor Dr Upolu Luma Vaai;
- Members of the PCU Council;
- Members of the Diplomatic Corps, distinguished partners, and representatives of the 20 founding member churches across the Pasifika region;
- Esteemed facilitators of learning , staff, and most importantly, the students;
- Ladies and Gentlemen.
Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, and a very warm Pacific greeting to you all.
I begin by giving thanks to Almighty God, from whom all wisdom, learning and good order flow, and in whose name this gathering has so graciously been opened.
This week’s Parliament sitting was set aside from the introduction and 3rd reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026. The secretariat of the Parliament understood that it meant that the sitting each day of the five days, was going to be long and possibly well into the night, and it was for that reason alone, that I had sent to the Manu Folau my apologies.
Well, I am here now.
I should have known, that any impediments that stands in the way of the Lord, will dissipate. That is not to say that I am some sort of John the Babtist bringing some revelation or divine message; for I am just a mere servant, like all of you, of our Omnipotent God whose power, wisdom and goodness, we are privileged and blessed to serve and live under.
Before I proceed further, let me acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we are gathered here today, ki na Vanua ko Nadonumai, vei ira na Turaga Tui Suva, I pay my respect to their Elders/Chiefs, past, present and emerging. And we honour their enduring connection to this land. Ki Burebasaga ki Vua na Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi, Na Vunivalu.
I come before you this evening with a deep sense of modesty. When I received the invitation to serve as your Chief Guest, I understood it to be an honour that belongs not to one person, but to the institution I am privileged to serve, the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji. I accept it in that spirit, and I thank you most sincerely for the trust and kindness extended to me.
Let me say at the outset that the credit for tonight belongs to others. It belongs to the churches of the Pasifika family who dreamed of a university of their own. It belongs to the scholars, the teachers, the administrators, and the faithful supporters who carried that dream through many years, and through many seasons of hurdles and of hope. Those of us in public life may have had the privilege of completing a procedural step, but you are the ones who built the road.
On 19th of August this year, I witnessed a moment of historic significance, not only for Fiji but for the wider Pacific region. In enacting the Pasifika Communities University Act 2026, the Fiji
Parliament did far more than pass legislation. It responded to a pressing need, to garner together what is aptly described by the Honourable Minister for Education as the “moral fragmentation of our society and region.”
Through this landmark Act, we established a strong legal foundation for this University’s dedication to nurturing ethical leadership, sound values, and responsible citizenship. By transitioning from a charitable trust to a bona fide body corporate, we have empowered the University to confidently advance its educational and ecumenical mission in service of Fiji and the Pacific.
As one who has spent a lifetime in the service of the law and a short stint in Parliament, permit me to reflect briefly on why such a moment, matters. An Act of Parliament, whilst may appear to be just another document, it is actually something more. It is a promise, a public declaration that an institution is recognised, that it has a legitimate purpose, and that it will be held to proper standards of governance, accountability, and service. For a university, that recognition carries practical weight. It gives its degrees credibility. It gives its students confidence. It gives its partners, here and abroad, a firm foundation on which to build upon.
But a promise made in law must be kept in practice. The Act opens the door. It is the work of this University, in the years ahead, to fill the halls beyond it with learning, with integrity and with service.
As we gather under the theme, “Our Home, Our Identities, Our Futures,” we celebrate the unfolding of a vision whose foundations were laid. Tonight, we mark three significant milestones: the unveiling of this plaque, the launch of the PCU Strategic Plan 2026- 2035, and the introduction of the Research, Evaluation, Learning and Monitoring (RELM) Framework.
Together, these initiatives provide both purpose and direction. The Strategic Plan sets out a bold vision to develop leaders grounded in values, equipped to serve their communities, and prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. Drawing strength from our Christian heritage and Pacific traditions, it affirms a model of leadership founded on stewardship, service, and responsibility to our people, our land, and our ocean.
Equally important, the Research, Evaluation, Learning and Monitoring (RELM) Framework, which ensures that this vision is not only aspirational but measurable and enduring. Inspired by the Pacific tradition of wayfinding, it provides a framework for continuous learning, accountability, and improvement, enabling the University to navigate confidently towards its long-term goals.
At its heart, this University reflects a simple but powerful truth: education must strengthen our connection to home, deepen our sense of identity, and prepare us for the future. As a regional institution serving the peoples of Oceania, it stands as a testament to what can be achieved when faith, learning, and public purpose come together in service of the common good.
Tonight, we launch not only a plan for the next decade, but a legacy for generations to come.
Allow me, as someone who has seen many plans presented in many halls, to offer three humble thoughts for the journey ahead.
First, let governance be your strength. The most inspiring vision starts with a strong determination and decision. Sound financial management, transparent decision-making, respect for academic freedom and clear accountability to your students, your churches and the public are what turn good intentions into enduring institutions. The Act gives you the framework. Honour it faithfully.
Second, let access be your mission. Many of our young people, in the outer islands, in the settlements, in communities far from major centres, have the talent but not always the opportunity. May this University be a place where a young person’s circumstances do not decide the limits of their learning.
Third, let service be your measure. We shall judge this University in years to come, not only by its buildings or its rankings, but by the outstanding professionals, visionary community leaders and compassionate public servants it sends back into our villages and towns, and by the character with which they serve the nations.
To the students here present and to those who will walk through these doors, I say this. You are the reason for tonight. Every page of the Act and every line of the Strategic Plan is, in the end, written for you. Study diligently. Ask questions. Serve generously. And remember that you carry, in your own person, the hopes of families and churches who have sacrificed a great deal so that you might have this opportunity. Wear that responsibility with honour.
As the Speaker of Parliament, I wish to say that the doors of the Parliament of Fiji remain open to this University. Parliament, too, is a place of learning, of reasoned debate, of respect for the rule of law and of service to the people. I would warmly encourage the University, in time, to build ties with your Parliament through visits, research, internships and public lectures, so that your students may see how laws are made and understand that democracy is a living practice that belongs to every citizen.
A nation that values education and honours the work of its Parliament. A Parliament that values education and honours the work of its universities. May the two-walk side by side, hand in hand.
Before I conclude, I wish to thank the Manu Folau, Rev. Professor Dr Vaai, and the entire Pasifika Communities University community for your vision and steadfast leadership. What you have established here tonight is more than a university; it is a beacon of hope, wisdom, and leadership for the Pacific.
As Pacific peoples, we are not just custodians of a proud past. We are architects of our future. We are called to map our own paths, strengthen our Pacific household, and shape generations of leaders grounded in knowledge, faith, and service.
As Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, and as a proud son of the Pacific, I am honoured to witness this historic milestone. The impact of this institution will extend far beyond these shores and well into the future.
May God bless Pasifika Communities University, its leaders, staff, and students.
May God bless the peoples of the Pacific.
And may this institution stand as a pillar of wisdom, service, and excellence for generations to come.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank you. And may God bless us all.
