Qarase’s ‘wish’ for island burial
A family presenting their ireguregu at the home of former PM Laisenia Qarase at Moti St in Suva yesterday.
Picture: JONA KONATACI
Picture: JONA KONATACI
FORMER prime minister Laisenia Qarase’s wish to be buried at his village of Mavana on Vanuabalavu in Lau will depend on the lifting of travel restrictions to outer islands.
As members of the diplomatic corps and business community poured in to pay their respects at Mr Qarase’s Moti St home in Suva yesterday, traditional spokesman Mesake Koroi said the former PM wanted to be buried with his elders in the village.
“We are being governed by COVID-19 and unless those restrictions change, we can’t really do anything so we are still in the preparation stages,” he said.
“If there is anything that he wanted, he wanted to go and rest with his elders in the village.
But then with all that is happening due to COVID-19, we are bound by the laws and regulations of Government.
“If we are unable to go to the village, then the burial will take place in Suva.”
Questions sent to the Office of the Prime Minister on whether a State funeral would be accorded to the late Mr Qarase remained unanswered. Mr Qarase, 79, died at the Oceania Private Hospital in Suva after a short illness.
He served as Fiji’s sixth prime minister from 2000 to 2006.
He is survived by his wife, Leba, seven children, 26 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
As members of the diplomatic corps and business community poured in to pay their respects at Mr Qarase’s Moti St home in Suva yesterday, traditional spokesman Mesake Koroi said the former PM wanted to be buried with his elders in the village.
“We are being governed by COVID-19 and unless those restrictions change, we can’t really do anything so we are still in the preparation stages,” he said.
“If there is anything that he wanted, he wanted to go and rest with his elders in the village.
But then with all that is happening due to COVID-19, we are bound by the laws and regulations of Government.
“If we are unable to go to the village, then the burial will take place in Suva.”
Questions sent to the Office of the Prime Minister on whether a State funeral would be accorded to the late Mr Qarase remained unanswered. Mr Qarase, 79, died at the Oceania Private Hospital in Suva after a short illness.
He served as Fiji’s sixth prime minister from 2000 to 2006.
He is survived by his wife, Leba, seven children, 26 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.