THE Tui Nayau and former president Ratu Sir Kamisese
Mara will be farewelled in, what has been described a
majestic Fijian ceremony.
This was revealed at the Great Council of Chiefs meeting that
ended yesterday at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva.
Council chairman Sitiveni Rabuka said a planning committee
will be established to organise the function to acknowledge
the immense and invaluable contribution the Tui Nayau has
given to indigenous Fijians and the country.
The committee will liaise with the Fijian Affairs Ministry in
regards to the ceremony. "The next meeting of the GCC will
be for the official announcement of the date and time of the
ceremony marking an end to a distinguished career and an
era in Fijian leadership that has spanned over 40 years," Mr
Rabuka said.
Ratu Sir Kamisese's illustrious civil service career started as a
district officer in 1950. He was posted to Navua and came
under the supervision of the late Joseph Sykes who was
Commissioner South. He was posted on March 1952 to
Nausori when the central division was created before he
became district officer Maritime in the Southern Division.
His work took him across the islands. He was also posted to
Ba and Kadavu.
His rise in the civil service ranks continued in 1959 when he
was appointed deputy secretary for Fijian Affairs after
entering the legislative council in 1953. Twenty years later he
became Fiji's first prime minister after independence, having
gone through administrative posts in the transitional period from colonial rule
to self administration.
The Tui Nayau served as prime minister for 22 years and became president of
the Republic of the Fiji
Islands in 1993.
Fiji's Daily Post
This site is best viewed using Netscape 4.0 or higher.
Any problems or kind suggestions, please email: webmaster@lookinglassdesign.com
last revision July 16, 2000