The Speaker of Parliament and the Turaga Na Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, has endorsed the repatriation of the late Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu’s remains.
At a traditional ceremony held at the Parliament Precinct, Ratu Naiqama gave his approval and blessings for the initiation of the repatriation process.
Emphasizing the gravity of the ceremony, Ratu Naiqama said the remarkable sacrifice of Corporal Sukanaivalu and the coordinated efforts of the governments of Fiji and Papua New Guinea to transport his remains home bear enormous significance.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, leading the government delegation, sought Ratu Naiqama’s assent to proceed with the repatriation process in his role as the Tui Cakau.
Rabuka revealed that he had been contemplating this operation for a while, acknowledging the diplomatic relationship between Fiji and PNG. This also refers to the fact that the late Corporal Sukanaivalu’s present burial place is Rabaul.
Dr. Lesi Korovavala, the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, briefed Ratu Naiqama about their progress so far and the correspondences initiated by the governments to wrap up the process.
Corporal Sukanaivalu, originating from Yacata in Cakaudrove, was the lone Fijian soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross – the highest honor for bravery in the presence of the enemy that can be awarded to Commonwealth Forces. He joined the ‘Vanua’ in 1942.