On the face of it, our own national savings performance has been poor over several decades, and that has been reflected in persistent balance of payments deficits over more than a quarter of a century – and very high private sector levels of indebtedness to foreign savers as a result.
And like the saqāmoli, these Fiji treasures will become everyday reminders when we look at our coins or notes – everyday reminders to protect the uniqueness with which we have been blessed. Ladies and Gentlemen, like all other issuers of currency, the Reserve Bank must ensure the integrity of our notes and coins.