Tui Bua Funeral

Province mourns paramount chief

From PAULA TAGIVETAUA in Bua Village, Bua
www.fijitimes.com Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The body of the late Turaga na Tui Bua, Ratu Isikeli Nagagavoka, arrived for the last time at his royal residence at Cakaunitabua yesterday.

The masi-draped hearse arrived from Nabouwalu Hospital, escorted by police and vehicles with relatives who accompanied the body from Nabouwalu to Bua.

When the party arrived in Bua Village, the Tui Bua's traditional handlers, Navunievu Village men dressed in traditional attire, then escorted the hearse through the village to Cakaunitabua, where he will lie in state.

There was a heavy rain when the body arrived over the village for 30 minutes before the sun returned.

Women in black sat down when the hearse arrived and lined the path from the roadside to the chiefly home.

The three villages of Bua, Dalomo and Tiliva have been catering for delegates from all over the country since Wednesday last week.

Delegations at the village included the chiefly household of Verata who wore white shirts while the rest of the village wore all black outfit, the Tui Macuata, Ratu Aisea Katonivere, the chiefly household of Vidilo and the Methodist Church in Fiji.

The funeral church service will be held in the Peceliema Church at 10am today with Bua Divisional Superintendent, Reverend Peceli Tubalili leading the church service.

The late paramount chief will be buried in the chiefly burial grounds. His traditional warriors from Navunievu are guarding his body.

The late Ratu Isikeli died last Tuesday at Nabouwalu Hospital after a long illness. He was 87 years old.

He is survived by his wife Salote, daughter Adi Ane Lagamu, son Ratu Makutu Nagagavoka and four grandchildren.