George Speight, who was imprisoned for 24 years for his role in the 2000 coup in Fiji, has prioritized family following his recent release. Speight, originally sentenced to life for treason, received a presidential pardon last Thursday.
Since his release, he has been avoiding the media, anticipating the arrival of his older brother, Sam Speight, from Hamilton, New Zealand, who landed on Friday. His niece, Jacqueline Speight, expressed the emotional significance of their reunion, stating, “Reunited after 24 long years, the brothers come together in freedom, celebrating the love, memories, and unbreakable bond that time can’t erase.”
Jacqueline went on to emphasize the importance of family in this moment, declaring, “It is family first. A season of gratitude.” She reflected on the unexpected nature of the events leading up to her uncle’s release, saying, “No one could have scripted the events that happened on Thursday. It will forever be etched in my mind and heart. Praise God indeed.”
Speight’s younger siblings, Jim, Esther, and Salome, along with their 93-year-old father, Sam Speight Sr., all live abroad. Meanwhile, other family members in Naivicula, Wainibuka, Tailevu, are eagerly looking forward to his return. A relative, who wished to remain anonymous, remarked, “He went in when he was 43; he is returning home now at 67. We’re looking forward to meeting him.”