SUVA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Friday introduced the official commemorative postage stamp to mark the island nation's 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.
Postage stamps are important symbols of national sovereignty and identity around the world, said Bainimarama, while introducing the poster stamps to commemorate Fiji's 50 years of independence at the Post Fiji outlet in Suva, capital of Fiji.
The prime minister said the stamps being launched had a face value of 38 Fijian cents (about 17 U.S. cents), so it can be placed on any letter to be sent anywhere in Fiji with a circulation period of two years before being withdrawn.
"This anniversary will only happen once in our lifetime, so a sheet of these stamps can be a keepsake or a gift that will help anyone remember this proud moment long into the future."
He commended Post Fiji for another beautiful design that has an elegant simplicity as it shows the Fiji flag and the official 50 Years of Fijian Independence logo.
"The design also includes the words 'celebrating 50 years of Fijian Independence,' because this postage stamp will travel the world, and we need to inform people about Fiji. It will be sought by collectors everywhere and will appear suddenly in the mailboxes of people who receive letters from Fiji."
On Wednesday, the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF), Fiji's central bank, also launched a commemorative 50 Fijian dollars (about 23 U.S. dollars) banknote and 50 Fijian cents (about 23 U.S. cents) coin.
Fiji gained its independence from Britain on Oct. 10, 1970. Enditem
