Yacata Island, Fiji. - News & Information

Laisa Vulakoro - An FIT Music Fellow

2009-10-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

New staff to boost institution

www.fijitimes.com -Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Fiji Institute of Technology has recruited 16 new staff members in an attempt to boost academic activities.

Among those recruited are two Fellows in Music, Laisa Vulakoro and Seru Serevi.

FIT director Dr Ganesh Chand said: "We have our own music department but we want to move one step up the ladder and that is to set up a significant and lasting relationship with the industry," he said.

"The appointment of Seru and Laisa is a step in that direction and we hope to see over the coming years the involvement of these two with FIT on a full-time basis which would boost not only music education in Fiji but the entire industry."

Ms Vulakoro said they did not have the qualification but would use their 60 years of collective experience in the industry to prepare students for the competitive business.

"You can teach a student music theory and notation but you also need to prepare them for what they should expect when they step out into the real world," she said.

Professor Ram Karan has been recruited as the head of the accounting department. He has a PhD from the University of Technology in Sydney.

Other appointees include Dr Kunneth Ramakrishnan as the HOD for management and Professor Subramani as professor of literature.

Serekali Kei Yacata

2009-06-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

Yacata noqu koro au dau cibitaka

Rogo tu e Viti raraba

Ni cabo bula ena buca ni vala

Sukanaivalu VC na kena toa ni vala

Solia nona bula ena vukui Viti kei Peritania raraba

Tuvatuva ni yanuyanu me'u wasea mada

Ni yawa mai e vaka nai bulibuli ni sala

Ulunivanua o Delaikorolevu e cere ni dokana

Ucuna e rua Daku kei Tabaniya rau dreta na yasana

Kena tukutuku makawa e vakatubu vakasama

Se ni Valu ni Toga mai Wairiki era takasa e matasawa

Moku ra colati ena nodra takia ki Kakabale na koro makawa

Yalayala nei Tui Yacata vei Ra Turaga (Tui Cakau)

Mataivalu nei Wainiqolo ke o bula mai daru qai mai vala

Rarama ni lotu, Totokana sa mai tawani
Veivakatorocaketaki ko Yacata me vakacokotaki

Duavata, cola qele, kacivi na vanua ena qaravi tavi

Ulutaga e va me yavutu ni veiqaravi

Bula raraba, tubu vakailavo, sokalou, kei na vanua, me vakabibitaki

Nai tabagone meda mositi ira sara

Mera tiko ena uto kece sara ni sasaga

Ira qori na tina kei na tama kei Yacata ni mataka

Maumau na buno ke ra la'ki tawa yaga.

Noqu serekali me sa tini mada

Yacata au mai seretaki iko e veiyasana

Sai iko ga na vu ni noqu veika kece sara

Cava ki bulu daru na qai veitalatala.

by Sai Lealea

Police guard Taveuni hospital

2009-03-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

Police guard Taveuni hospital
http://www.fijisun.com.fj/ - 3/24/2009

Police are still guarding an island hospital in the Northern division after midnight following power rationing over the past two weeks.
Inconsistent supply of fuel to the Taveuni Hospital forces power supply to be cut off from 12midnight to 7am daily.
And a senior health official in Labasa is currently liaising with the Public Works Department to be consistent in their delivery of fuel for the hospital generator.
Ministry of Health’s media liaison officer Iliesa Tora confirmed yesterday that Labasa Hospital general manager Dr Samuela Korovou was sorting out the problem with PWD authorities.
Dr Korovou could not be contacted for a comment.
Mr Tora said police were still on guard at the hospital during the night for the safety of the staff and patients.
He said the problem is expected to be rectified today.
Last week, the Ministry of Health officials from Suva headed by interim Health Ministry Dr Neil Sharma visited health centres and hospitals in Vanua Levua.
Ministry of Health’s permanent secretary Dr Salanieta Saketa had reportedly blamed the PWD which supplies fuel to the hospital for the problem.
Dr Saketa had said that staff could not be working in the dark because of the risks.
Mr Tora added that following their fact-finding tour to the North last week, a lot of changes is expected to take place soon.

Solar Power for Homes

2008-06-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

State helps install solar home systems
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - www.fiitimes.com -

The interim Government, in keeping its commitment to working towards promoting renewable energy, has installed a total of 700 solar home systems in Vanua Levu.
The initiative is part of the interim Governments overall commitment to providing electricity to rural areas.
According to the Director of Energy, Makereta Sauturaga, selected villagers in Bua, Cakaudrove and Macuata have benefitted from this development project.
The Solar Home System (SHS) under the Renewable Energy Initiative is one of the strategic areas pursued by the Department of Energy, with this intention coupled with our goal to provide power to remote rural areas under the rural electrification policy, the adoption of SHS is an important instrument in achieving these goals, she said.
The Solar home system is an individual home system that utilises the energy radiated from the sun which is captured by the solar panel converted to electrical energy and stored in a battery.
The energy stored is utilised for lighting purposes and also with a power outlet for a small radio.

Waitabu Marine Park on Taveuni

2008-06-10T04:21:00.000-07:00

MARITIME - Waitabu marks marine park anniversary

www.fijidailypost.com - 6-Jun-2008

Sai's Comment:

- This is a great example of how naive Fijians could also contribute to preserving their environment while generating some earnings from their natural resources. Am proud to have met people involved in the Waitabu project when in NZ from the contributions of the NZ government. Am more proud to learn that my island of Yacata have just recently also designated a part of the fishery around the island as a marine reserve. Great effort and leadership by those on the island.

TWENTY years ago the villagers of Waitabu on the north-eastern coast of Taveuni would never give a second thought about their reefs or what dwelled on their shores. They walk on the reefs breaking the corals and take home whatever they can eat no matter how small they are.There was heavy algal or seaweed growth because there was no more fish to feed on it.The state of the Waitabu village coast was so pathetic that at first sight, Helen Sykes, a marine ecologist had no hope it could return to its natural state and refused when approached by the community to set up a marine protected area (MPA) or taboo on their fishing ground. But with the community’s continual persistence Ms Sykes finally agreed.As the project began, the community was constantly reminded that once the taboo was in place, they were to respect it. They were taught not to disturb the area by taking boats through the MPA or break any corals or take anything out whether it is fish, invertebrates or any dead coral. They were also not allowed to use poles when sailing across the taboo area or anchor their boats as it would damage the corals.Ms Sykes then held workshops with the villagers to monitor the taboo area. The monitoring was done to find out whether there was an improvement in the taboo area and if not, what can be done about it. The first three years they nurtured the MPA until 2001 when the marine park was opened to tourists and visitors.The US Peace Corps also placed a number of volunteers in the village over the past four years to provide organisational and directional support, otherwise the project has been largely self-supporting and self motivating, said Sykes.The project also had long-term support from the Reef Support and Marine Ecology Consulting, project-based development support from New Zealand through NZAID, Coral Reef Alliance, Reef Check, Fiji Water and Quicksilver clothing.A decade later the community of Waitabu in Taveuni are now reaping the benefits of its marine reserve called the Waitabu Marine Park, which is a five-minute boat ride away from the village.On May 26, Waitabu celebrated the 10th anniversary of their marine protected area, which covers an area of about 0.27square kilometres, of shallow fringing reef flat and slope.The chief guest for the day was Ms Sykes herself who was honoured by the village for her hard work. They referred to here as “the mother of the project”.In her celebration address Ms Sykes praised the efforts put in by the community.“I know what has made Waitabu so special is that many times we have not had a great deal of financial support, or a large orgarnisation behind us for 10 years or people who would just be able to bring money in whenever we needed,” she reminded the people.“When we started out we only had help from NZAID and most of this work had been done by small people and small organisations”.“I had been very lucky to have a relationship with the village for the last 10 years. And the marine park began in April 1998 after long talks with the community.“We were originally helped by the NZAID and the Tourism Resource Consultant and that time Sala Apao (the late manager of the park who died two years ago) had asked me to come down and three times I said no and the community insisted.”She said she refused because the villagers were fishing on the reef all the time, people were walking on the corals all the time and when she went in the water she saw “nothing, nothing , nothing”.But it was the determination and persistence of the community that they finally closed it for three years but did not have any tourism“And since that time it has been my honour to be proved wrong. Every year since then we have come back and counted the fish, corals and animals. We have seen the people of Waitabu make this area grow like a garden and create amazing things that will provide fish and animals and cash income in the future for its people.”Waitabu was the third site to start an MPA and also a member of Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas (FLMMA) through which they had been able to share all throughout Fiji what they had learnt from the MPA in Waitabu.It has been assisted by NZAID who supplied the first boat and also built the office with the National Trust. Tabu markers and boat moorings and marine tour guide training was done by Reef support and CORAL.A new boat was donated by Reef Check, Quicksilver and Fiji Water. Annual biological surveys were done by FLMMA, Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International, Coral Reef Alliance, Beqa Adventure Divers, Matagi Island Resort and the USP Institute of Applied Sciences.As part of the special day, guests were taken to the taboo area to snorkel and take a look for themselves the various forms of marine life that Waitabu had to offer.Our boat crossed over the village fishing ground before reaching the marine reserve, which was marked with buoys. We noticed how the fishing ground was covered with sargassum and other seaweeds and there weren’t hardly any corals and fish to be seen.But as one reaches the edge of the reserve fish begins to swim in schools next to untouched beautiful coloured corals. Ms Sykes explained: “In the Tabu area there has been no fishing for 10 years and there are very many surgeonfish (balagi or ika loa) and parrotfish (ulavi). These fish eat seaweeds and keep the rocks clean.“In the fishing grounds, large seaweeds had overgrown the tops of the coral boulders. And there are very few live corals in the area because new corals cannot grow amongst the overgrown seaweed.”Before going into the water, Marine Reserve tour guide, Okostino Apao, reminded the visitors on the importance of the marine park and its rules.“You are going to have tour guides with you and do not wander away from the group,” he advised.“You have to watch that your fins do not touch or break any corals. You must never pick or take anything out from its place. Leave them where they are even if they are dead corals do not disturb them because you are here to see and not to touch.”The tour began from the fish houses built by the villagers that are now overgrown with beautiful corals and a place for different fish species to hide and nibble.Snorkelling above the reef one could see that this area is really a haven for fish. They have hump head wrasse, surgeon fish, damsel fish, trevally and other reef fishes and such big sizes, one hardly finds nowadays on our reefs. It was an awesome sight just watching them swim at their leisure and it would be a motivating evidence for those qoliqoli owners whose fishing grounds have been over fished and want to set up an MPA.Added to the beauty were the giant clams that I had never seen which had embedded themselves in the reef and they also had troches shells.The quantity of corals was another story as they also have different species. I even saw a turtle swimming by and it was amazing to see what 10 years of protection did to an area that had been overfished and devastated by human activities.Best of all it seemed that the fish did not care about the intruders as they were very tame and unafraid going about their normal activities.Unlike other reefs where fish swim away when they see people the fish on these reefs just stay where they are and seem to think you are one of their kind.I had snorkled in three Tabu sights in Viti Levu and I consider Waitabu to be the best and would recommend it to any tourist.By 11 o’clock the villagers came to the beach bure in their colourful shirts and ‘jamba’ or dresses. Their beautiful radiant smiles revealed their happiness they got from the magnificent underworld of the Waitabu Marine Park.Ms Nakeke is the Ocean Science Reporter for SeaWeb. SeaWeb is a non government organisation that helps the media promote and protect a healthy ocean.ALUMECI NAKEKE

Recognising A Stroke

2008-03-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

RECOGNISING A STROKE:

Something we should ALL know!!!!
Please do your part and send it on, I did mine.
It may just be one of US it saves.

Remember The 1st Three Steps

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR .
Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE .
T *Ask the person to TALK , to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently: It is sunny out today.)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

{NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue... if the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke}

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency services immediately and describe the symptoms. This is URGENT

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

Half-free Society

2008-01-31T19:56:00.000-08:00

Sai's Comment:

A great letter from a Yacata lady now living in Australia. Good on you Rosalind for the great letter.

Where is the logic of what Isireli Tawake (FT 28/1) had to say?

We all know that the events of 2006 were the result of this transition that Mr Tawake speaks about.

To many of us, it is a transition from what was a "truly free society" to a "half pie truly free society" where everyone has to please the regime and military because we are afraid of the guns they possess.

It doesn't make sense to me. If it is not broken don't fix it. As for my adopted country, democracy and the rule of law has always been in existence.

Let me also remind Mr Tawake that wisdom is for all and we are not living in the dark ages.

What is wrong with the legal process that was in existence before the events of 2006? Didn't the reforming process take place before and after the 1987 Rabuka Coup?

We were made to believe that the Rabuka Coup was about the defence of a system of traditional authority that was believed to define the taukei (indigenous). The regime's and people like Mr Tawake's perspective of democracy can be achieved when they voice their policies before next year's election.

It is a fair, democratic, legal and civil way of doing things in the 21st century. For a developing country with a habit of staging coups this process would be setting good examples for its future leaders.

As someone living overseas looking in, we may see the political situation in Fiji in a different perspective. Sometimes people like Mr Tawake may be too close and naive to see it from a proper perspective as they may be caught up in the emotions thus colouring their judgement.

Through out the years I've come to realize even though I was born and educated in Levuka, Ovalau and my paternal grandmother is full Fijian, a taukei from the Tui Yacata mataqali (clan) on the small island of Yacata in the Cakaudrove Province, I am and was a vulagi, person of another race of people living in a multiracial society.

I could never be a taukei or claim to be one. I believe through my up bringing, all respect should be given to the taukei for it is their qele (land). They arrived before any other race.

My connection, principles and yearning for justice in a beloved Fiji gives me the incentive to have my say. Also since arriving here I've continued to give my support to the people of Fiji. I've raised funds for many projects, including Yacata village projects, I've supported my immediate family and extended Yacata family, have returned to live for 10 years at different times and have served my chiefs. I am sure I speak for many!

Surely, for all the above reasons the likes of Mr Tawake would at least grant us to always call this multiracial paradise our home.

It is a pity that people like the Rabukas, Tawakes and Bainimaramas, all so-called educated taukei, and politics have somehow reared their ugly heads and have ruined it for me.

Rosalind Pratt
Townsville
Australia

Mago Island, Fiji

2007-10-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

Source: www.uniqueproperties.ca

History

Mago Island is as rich in history as it is in its physical beauty. Its extraordinary natural bounty has long held the interest of early explorers, cartographers and geographers. Captain's Cook, Bligh & Von Luckner all wrote glowingly about Mago's splendor. The history of the Island however dates back as far as 2800 years as the earliest known evidence of human settlement in the South Pacific has been identified at Votua on the Island's northeast coast.

In modern times, the Island has only ever had three freehold owners. The first owner under a freehold title was Mr. Rupert Ryder, a leading planter, who purchased the Island from the Somosomo Chiefs after they adopted Christianity and removed the local population in the mid 19th century. Mago islanders were among those who sided with Ma'afu's warrior Wainiqolo, to fight Tui Cakau, Ratu Golea at Wairiki in the Tongan War and with Wainiqolo were defeated. As a punishment, Tui Cakau sold Mago to Ryder and the inhabitants were forcefully relocated to Namalate island in Narocivo, Vanuabalavu. There were 5 villages on Mago namely; Tai, Butoni, Naivilolo, Colobau and Nadogo.

Ma'afu was given the task of enforcing the sale and repeatedly had to punish the inhabitants who returned to Mago after its sale. Rumours abound that some of the inhabitants were also shot by the earlier owners and some refer to a cave on the island with skeletons of those killed.

In 1995, as part of the Affirmative Action Programme, the inhabitants of Mago from the yavusa Vuaniivi, sought Fiji Government help to stop Australian actor, Mel Gibson, buy the island. However, the Government was not able to assist as the island was freehold land according to Prime Minister Qarase. The Mago inhabitants cited the dubious and forcible nature of the sale of their island plus limited land and fisheries on Namalate island as reasons for wanting to reclaim their island back.

Ryder, who later became Fiji's Minister of Trade and Finance, was a talented planter and businessman who pioneered the cultivation of a unique type of cotton known as "Sea Island Cotton". This "new unique cotton" gained international attention for Mago Island and Fiji, after winning gold medals at exhibitions in Paris and Philadelphia in the late 1800s. Even after the collapse of the cotton market in the late 19th century, Sea Island cotton remained in high demand. Ryder also established, what was at one point, the largest cane sugar plantation in the South Pacific.

The Ryder family held its interest in the Island until 1930 when it was sold to the Borron family. The Borrons operated a copra plantation until the mid 1980s when it was sold to the Tokyu Corporation of Japan. Tokyu purchased this rare island ecosystem as a retreat, with the intention of a creating an ecologically sensitive resort development and a goal of long-term conservation and preservation. To this day, copra remains plentiful on the Island.

The Island

Mago Island's outstanding physical attributes also include of two lagoons (officially not part of the offering): a rare inland navigable lagoon on the northern side which is accessible by small craft; and an external reef protected lagoon which is rich in sea life and benefits from a protected fishery. The perimeter lagoon also has three beautiful islands off the southern shore - Edward, Goat (Magolailai), and Kid Islands, all of which are included in this sale offering. The largest of these three islands - Goat Island - is approximately 15 to 20 acres in size. One of the Mago Island's most extraordinary features is its abundance of free flowing natural artesian spring water. Analysis indicates that this valuable natural resource is of superb quality virtually unlimited quantity.

Mago Island represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire an oasis of unparalleled beauty and unequalled privacy - a one of a kind acquisition as a retreat, eco-resort or conservation hold.

Location

Mago Island is located in the Northern Lau Group of islands, which is in the northeast sector of the Republic of Fiji. The Lau Group is actually about equidistant between Viti Levu (Fiji's largest island) and the neighboring Kingdom of Tonga being located approximately 290 km (180 miles) from Suva, Fiji's capital city. Due to the proximity of Tonga, there is a strong Polynesian influence in these islands as well as a rich history. Vanuabalavu, the largest of the Northern Lau Islands is situated approximately 25 km from Mago and provides the closest airstrip with regularly scheduled flights to and from the main islands.

The Offering

Mago Island is offered on the basis of a freehold transfer of title at a price of US$15 Million. The offering includes all equipment, vehicles, boat and goodwill

Sold Date: March 9, 2005
Price: 15,000,000 USD
Size: 5,400 acres

How Tui Cakau Ratu Golea Became Catholic

2007-05-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

source: www.islandbusiness.com.fj

The story behind the Holy Cross How the crucifix came under dramatic circumstances to Wairiki

Margaret Snider

The Holy Cross church... in Wairiki since late 1800s.

Holy Cross Church sits on the hillside among the classrooms and dormitory of its schools, above the rugby field, looking out over the Somosomo Strait at Wairiki on Taveuni Island.

There since the late 1800s, the church presents a peaceful scene now. But its presence is related to an exciting story: the story of the Holy Cross. For there really is a Holy Cross.

The crucifix came to Wairiki under dramatic circumstances during the war with the Tongans around 1862. Father John Crispin, who is at Wairiki now and has served the Catholic Church in Fiji for 26 years, says of the background of the war: "The way they would do it when there was a local fight they (the Tongans) would ally themselves with the weaker side and would help them to win, so they would overcome the more powerful ones and the weaker ones would be beholden to them."

Such was the case in the mid-1800s. Ratu Koila had assassinated Ratu Golea's father and now had allied with the Tongans to defeat Ratu Golea, who was a chief on Taveuni. Ratu Koila's general was Wainiqolo.

"Send messengers to all the tribes," ordered Ratu Golea. "All warriors are to go as quickly as possible to Wairiki. We will fight with Wainiqolo and we shall see if Cakaudrove is afraid of the Tongans."

The Cross

"Sir," he was told, "Wainiqolo has gone to Somosomo and removed your brother Ratu Kalou (Chief of Cakaudrove) and taken him to Lau. He has also taken your son."

Ratu Golea's son was just one year old.

"Very well," said Ratu Golea to his men. "Let's get going."

As they passed in front of Nawi, Ratu Golea saw a Catholic priest on shore. "Jump in the water," Ratu Golea told one of his men, "and go tell the priest that I don't have time to stop here, but I need to talk with him. Ask him to come and see me this evening at Korodogo."

Ratu Golea had a long meeting with the priest, Father Favre, and told him about the assault by the Tongans.

Father Favre assured him that if he would accept this cross, he would not need to fear; he would triumph over his enemies. Ratu Golea and several other important chiefs were encouraged and accepted the cross.

"After the battle is over," Ratu Golea told Father Favre, "come and visit me in Wairiki. If I am victorious over the Tongans, I shall be Catholic and all of Cakaudrove with me."

After arriving in Wairiki, Ratu Golea gave a charge to Tui Tunuloa. "You know that my son Ratu Lala is in Wainikeli," he said, "where he is being held by force. Take your warriors, go to Wainikeli and see that before sunset today my son is in my arms."

"He will be there, sir," said the old warrior. That evening before sunset, the child was in the arms of his father.

Ratu Golea had a younger brother, Daunivavana, who was so named because he was a marksman: he never missed his target and he always hit the smallest bird on the highest branch of a tree with his first shot. Ratu Golea assigned Daunivavana to be the general of his army.

Daunivavana had received information that the Tongans would attack from the interior while Ratu Koila and his followers would come by the shore. Therefore, Daunivavana and his army took on what they thought were the Tongans coming by land and defeated them, after which they realised it was the Fijian enemy. Then he knew that the Tongans must be coming by sea. He rushed with his army to Wairiki and when he was almost there saw four Fijian chiefs bearing his brother, Ratu Golea.

"Are you fatally wounded?" Daunivavana asked.

"No," said Ratu Golea. "But I have perhaps a broken arm."

The men of Cakaudrove attacked the Tongans and when the deed was done only one in fifty Tongans had survived and Daunivavana himself had killed Wainiqolo.

Ratu Golea's older brother, Ratu Kalou, was returned and he addressed all the assembled chiefs: "I don't have much longer to live," he said. "Agree together and name Ratu Golea chief of Cakaudrove."

Ratu Golea became Tui Cakau (Chief of Cakaudrove) in place of Ratu Kalou. Concerning Ratu Koila, he said, "Let Ratu Koila be my second in command, so that he will remember that I have pardoned him and above all that he will never forget that he is obliged to me for that."

Ratu Golea, now Tui Cakau, addressed his chiefs and leaders of his three thousand warriors. He instructed those who wished to be Catholic to join him the next day with Father Favre.

At that time, he said to Father Favre, "Father, all of Cakaudrove is Catholic, I beg you to receive us all today into the Catholic religion and to reunite us all for prayer."

The very cross that was the hope and inspiration in the war has been cared for over the years and is now in a glass case at Holy Cross Church in Wairiki, Taveuni Island. The plaque says the following:

"This crucifix inspired the Tui Cakau to defeat the Tongans under Ma'afu led by his warrior Wainiqolo. The crucifix was given to Tui Tunuloa for safekeeping by Ratu Golea and in 2005, after 143 years, the Tui Tunuloa, Ratu Igenasio Loaloa returned the crucifix to the Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, in Wairiki, on Friday, 14th September, Holy Cross day. The Tui Cakau then traditionally handed it over to His Grace Archbishop Petero Mataca D. D. for safe-keeping. His Grace ordered that it be kept in the Church of the Holy Cross, Wairiki, for veneration by the people of Cakaudrove."

The above account of the war in Wairiki is derived from the narrative compiled by Father John Crispin of Holy Cross Church in Wairiki.

He, in turn, has obtained his information mainly from Historical Notes on the Catholic Mission of Wairiki, Taveuni, Fiji, by Father Fabiano Terrien, who spent 27 years in Wairiki from 1895 to 1922; and History of the Catholic Church in Fiji, by Father Alfred Deniau, written about 1887.

With Father Crispin's kind permission, his account has been paraphrased and/or quoted in this telling of the story.

"It's quite unique," says Father Crispin, "to have so much contemporary history written.

Especially (Father Deniau's history) is not well-known and it was only last year that we found this in Rome..."I found a reference to this writing in a French book and then it was supposed to be in Suva - and it wasn't there."

He goes on to say that the Pope gave a commission in 1836 to evangelise the South Pacific and the general archive in Rome is the place to look for records on the early part of the church in Fiji.

"Sure enough," he says, "they had this original document."

Additional entry from wikipedia

The Tui Cakau's Army was an alliance of armies allied to the nobles of Cakaudrove, in northern Fiji. These included the armies of the Tui Tunuloa and other armies from the Natewa Peninsula. Namuka tribe in Macuata, to the north of Cakaudrove, were allied to the Tui Cakau's Army also, and contributed to its defeat of the Tongan army at Wairiki in the Tongan War (I Valu ni Toga) in the late 1860s. Namuka tribe warriors slayed Vainikolo (known as Wainiqolo in Fijian), the right-hand man to the Tongan warlord Enele Ma'afu.

Tui Cakau - Ratu Naiqama Tawake Lalabalavu

2007-04-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org

A Biography -From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu

Ratu Naiqama Tawake Lalabalavu is a Fijian Paramount Chief and politician. He was the Minister for Lands and Minister for Mineral Resources in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, prior to his resignation on 7 April 2005. On 3 April, he had become the first-ever Cabinet Minister to be imprisoned while in office, following his conviction, along with three other chiefs, for unlawful assembly during the Fiji coup of 2000. Following his release from his extramural imprisonment on 13 September, he was reappointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation on 21 September. His reinstatement was criticized by then-Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Following the parliamentary election held on 6-13 May 2006, he became Minister for Fijian Affairs, as well as Minister for Lands and Provincial Development.

Tui Cakau Title

In 1999, Lalabalavu succeeded his late father, Ratu Glanville Lalabalavu, as the Tui Cakau, or Paramount Chief of Cakaudrove and of the Tovata Confederacy, one of three confederacies to which all Fijian tribes belong. He was challenged in court by Ratu Epeli Ganilau, son of former Fijian President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau who had himself held the Tui Cakau title prior to his death in 1993, but in 2001, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Lalabalavu.

Political career

Lalabalavu was elected to represent the Lau-Taveuni-Rotuma Open Constituency in the House of Representatives in 1999 as a candidate of the ruling Fijian Political Party (SVT), one of only 8 SVT candidates to win seats. He defeated his chiefly rival, Ratu Epeli Ganilau of the Christian Democratic Alliance, by a margin of 58 percent to 32 percent.

By the time the 2001 election was held to restore democracy, some major political realignments had taken place. Now a leading member of the Conservative Alliance, a nationalistic party which included many supporters and associates of George Speight, the chief instigator of the 2000 coup, Lalabalavu won the Cakaudrove East Fijian Communal Constituency) (one of 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians in the House of Representatives. In the coalition government that was subsequently formed, Lalabalavu was appointed Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources. The appointment was later harshly criticized by Senator Adi Koila Nailatikau, daughter of former President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who had been deposed in the coup. She accused him of having ordered the burning of the Matailakeba Cane Farm in Seaqaqa (owned by Ratu Mara) in the midst of an army mutiny at Sukanaivalu Barracks in Labasa on July 29, 2000.

On 6 April 2003, it was reported that Lalabalavu had called for an overhaul of the country's constitutional institutions. Political authority, he said, should be returned to Fiji's chiefs. He said that as it was the chiefs who ceded the islands to the United Kingdom in 1874, paramount authority should have been returned to them when independence was granted in 1970. As a first step, he proposed the abolition of the Senate, the functions of which could be taken over by the Great Council of Chiefs, he said. He opined that restoring the authority of the chiefs would lead to a breaking down of Fiji's race barriers, as the chiefs would then be the leaders not only of the indigenous people, but of all races. His proposal was rejected by Ratu Epeli Ganilau, who was then the Chairman of the Great Council.

Trial and aftermath

At his trial, Magistrate Sunil Kumar rejected his defence that his meeting with coup instigators while the rebellion was in progress was for the purpose of defusing the situation, and declared that Lalabalavu had let his people down by failing to provide the kind of leadership expected of a chief by aiding and abetting an unconstitutional revolt. He sentenced him to an eight-month prison term, to be served at Vatarekuka prison in Labasa.

Lalabalavu initially refused to resign from Parliament or the Cabinet, and Prime Minister Qarase took advice, but expressed reluctance to dismiss him because his conviction and imprisonment, along with his fellow-chiefs, were "for matters which have absolutely nothing to do with their ministerial conduct or exercise by them of their ministerial positions." As Qarase relies on the six votes of Lalabalavu's party in the House of Representatives, his reluctance to remove him was widely seen as politically motivated, and was strongly criticized by former Prime Ministers Sitiveni Rabuka and Mahendra Chaudhry. In the end, however, Lalabalavu decided to avert a crisis by resigning voluntarily. He said, however, that he would remain as a member of the House of Representatives and as parliamentary leader of the Conservative Alliance.

On 14 April 2005, Lalabalavu and Senator Ratu Josefa Dimuri, who was convicted with him, were released on parole, after having served only eleven days of their eight month sentence. According to Solicitor General Nainendra Nand, this freed the two to attend Parliament, unless the Speaker ruled otherwise. Their parole provoked an angry reaction from the opposition Fiji Labour Party and from the Citizens Constitutional Forum. Poseci Bune, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, called their release "a travesty of justice (which) made a mockery of the country's judicial system," and accused the government of perverting the course of justice in order to retain the support of its coalition partner. Akuila Yabaki of the Citizens Constitutional forum concurred, saying that the decision smacked of political interference in the judicial process, showed disrespect to the court, and abused principles of equal treatment. On 17 April, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces, added his own voice to the criticism. In a strongly worded statement, he said that he was "frustrated, disturbed, and disappointed" by the decision to release Lalabalavu and Dimuri, which he said "made a mockery of the military, police and the judiciary".

On 18 April 2005, Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau of the House of Representatives suspended Lalabalavu from participation until 13 December. He said he had taken this "difficult decision" for "the good of Parliament and the country," on the grounds that Lalabalavu was still subject to a prison sentence, though serving it extramurally.

Lalabalavu's extramural prison sentence expired on 13 September. He took up his parliamentary seat and resumed the leadership of the Conservative Alliance on 19 September, and was reappointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation on 21 September. The Fiji Village news service considered that his twin positions as Paramount Chief of Tovata and leader of the government's coalition partner made him a "vital cog in Cabinet."

Father Sulio Turagakacivi of the Nadera Roman Catholic Church, where Lalabalavu served his extramural sentence helping out at the Catholic sisters' home and doing work for the underprivileged, said that Lalabalavu was a changed man. "He accepted his fate and we were able to discuss this through what we can call counselling sessions and he admitted his mistake," Turagakacivi said. "I think he will emerge a better leader for his people and country ... he was a big help and we have seen a big difference in him."

Lalabalavu defends his actions

On 18 September 2005, Lalabalavu publicly apologised for having tarnished the reputation of his chiefly title, the Ai Sokula clan (which he heads), Cakaudrove Province, and the government of Fiji. He had accepted his sentence and gone to prison in order to unify his people, he said, but many had failed to understand that. He defended his actions at the time of the coup, however, saying he had no regrets about what he said was his motive of preventing bloodshed.

Lalabalavu reiterated this stance in a Parliamentary speech on 17 November. While the mutiny was in progress, he had gone to the barracks at the request of the police, he said, to diffuse the situation. "I will live with it without regret or shame because I do not only believe, but I know, I know, I know that what I did then was right because if I did not do anything, then part of my people, who were soldiers at Sukanaivalu Barracks would have been dead," he declared. He said it was indicative of how chiefly authority in Fiji could be abused that he was asked to intervene in his capacity as a chief - and was subsequently punished for doing so. He insisted, however, that forgiveness was the only way forward, and saw the controversial Reconciliation and Unity Commission as embodying the principles of forgiveness.

In the same speech, the Tui Cakau expressed disappointment that his offer of a traditional apology to Military Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama and Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry had not been accepted. Chaudhry confirmed this claim, saying that the apology was not aimed at victims of the coup and was therefore irrelevant.

Lalabalavu's defence was not accepted by Poseci Bune, the Deputy Leader of the opposition Labour Party (FLP). Speaking in Parliament on 23 November 2005, Bune said Lalabalavu had not told the truth when he claimed to have asked Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry for forgiveness. According to Bune, Lalabalavu had only invited Chaudhry as a guest to a matanigasau (traditional Fijian reconciliation ceremony) for President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, and that Chaudhry had declined the offer.

Bune also dismissed Lalabalavu's claims that his presence at the Sukanaivalu Barracks in Labasa during the mutiny was to diffuse a potentially explosive and lethal situation. On the contrary, Bune said, Labasa would have been looted unless local business owners had made a deal with the mutineers to supply them with food and supplies, in return for being left alone. "Is this the kind of positive influence (he) is speaking of?" Bune demanded. He accused Lalabalavu of trying to rewrite history.

Bune's attack provoked a sharp reaction from Prime Minister Qarase, who said that Lalabalavu had approached him personally about offering a traditional apology to Chaudhry. Bune's comments about a Lalabalavu as a chief were not only "disrespectful" but false, and showed that he did not think like a Fijian, Qarase said.

Lalabalavu responded to Bune's attack with a strongly worded statement of his own on 25 November. In an emotional speech, Lalabalavu declared that he had genuinely sought forgiveness from Chaudhry, for whom he said he had great personal respect despite political differences. Chaudhry had been the aggrieved party in 2000, Lalabalavu said, and his offered apology had been genuine. He was less kind in his remarks about Bune. If Bune was truly from Macuata Province, he said, he would not speak against the people who had acted to save the lives of Macuata people.

Presidential candidate in 2006?

The Fiji Village news service reported on 23 February 2006 that some chiefs wished to nominate Lalabalavu for the office of President or Vice-President. A Lalabalavu candidacy would have been controversial, as the Military had already indicated that it would not accept as President or Vice-President anyone convicted of coup-related offenses. When Great Council of Chiefs met on 8 March, however, it reelected unopposed Ratu Josefa Iloilo and Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi as President and Vice-President, respectively.

A Young Life Tragically Lost in A Fire - Peni Vulakoro

2007-03-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

This post contains photos of Peni Vulakoro who was among the four people tragically lost in a fire in Mead Road, Suva, Fiji. Peni is a young man with a great life in front of him. Growing up as a boy in his village of Yacata in Cakaudrove, he proved to be resourceful, obedient and talented, always highly regarded by his peers, teachers and family. He attracts friends and peers around him and displays the qualities of a young leader. He is always surrounded by friends and he will be very sorely missed by his parents, Sairusi and Mudu, whose photo is also in this post.

Gone is a young and promising life whose talents and qualities will now never be realised. Moce Peni ka me nomu na vakacegu tawa mudu mai vei ira kece sara na wekamu.

Fire victims laid to rest

Jona Bola
www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, March 28, 2007

INTERIM Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama took time off yesterday to attend the funeral service of the family of four who died in a fire at Nabua last week.

Edward Heffernan, 69, his 40-year-old wife Mere Vulakoro, their 16-year-old daughter Shirley Heffernan and 14-year-old nephew Peni Vulakoro were farewelled in a moving church service at Gospel High School.

The four coffins lay side by side in the school hall as mourners bid them a tearful farewell.

Major Heffernan's coffin was covered with the Fiji flag and his medals were placed on top. The other coffins were draped in masi and flowers.

About 400 attended the service conducted by Reverend Sani Matalomani, who said Edward was a man of principle.

"He was respected by many of us who knew him and carried out his duties faithfully until the day he was called home," he said.

Former PM Sitiveni Rabuka, Bau chief Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto, interim ministers Dr Jona Senilagakali, Adi Laufitu Malani and former police chief Isikia Savua were at the service.

Mr Rabuka said Heffernan was a cheerful man who was always rushing.

Form Four students of Laucala Bay Secondary School recited Psalm 23 for their mate Peni and Shirley's fellow students from Suva Grammar School wore white.

The family was buried at the new Suva extension cemetery.

Fire Kills Mere Vulakoro's Family

2007-03-21T18:52:00.001-07:00

Fire victims laid to rest

www.sun.com.fj - 28 March 2007

More than 1500 people gathered at the Gospel High School in Suva yesterday to farewell in prayer the family that perished in an early morning fire last week. The funeral service of Major Edward Heffernan, his partner Mere Vulakoro, their daughter Shirley and nephew Peni united students of Suva Grammar School, Gospel Schools, Laucala Bay Secondary School, Marist Brothers High School, Cabinet ministers, soldiers, veteran politicians, relatives and friends. Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka reminisced of his days as a soldier serving alongside Mr Heffernan. The family perished in their Mead Road home after trying to break through their grilled front door last Thursday. Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and former soldiers in his Cabinet rose, Interim Minister for Fijian Affairs Ratu Epeli Ganilau and other serving and former soldiers rose to their feet while Mr Rabuka cited an excerpt from For the Fallen: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them."
Shirley's best friend, Renata Cinavilevuka, said since they were girls at Veiuto Primary School, Shirley wanted to become many things, a lawyer, a politician or a doctor.
"She was a great friend who made sure her friends did their homework. Her classmates, her friends and her teammates will miss her," said Renata. Peni's uncle, Julian Simpson, remembered saving Peni from his cousins when running from them. "I raised him like a son. In his final battle, I was not able to save him," he said.Mjr Heffernan's son, David, remembered his dad as one that was almost military-like in the way he raised his children. "I remember lining up with my sisters to get a belting and he always told us that if we were not by the car at 7am then we should just walk to school." Mere, a direct descendant of Fiji's war hero Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, is the third youngest in a family of ten and fulfilled obligations asked of her without any complaints. In his eulogy, her cousin, Nacanieli Takele, spoke of Mere as someone that had deep respect for her custom, especially those older than her. After a church service by minister Sani Matalomani, Maika Bovoro of the Raiwai Chapel and the Gospel Church choir, the family was buried at the Suva Cemetery under an overcast sky.