Letirina Lutu’s long-held dream of marriage became a reality this week when she and her partner, Joseva Tuitubou, participated in a civil marriage ceremony organized by the Justice Ministry. The event took place at Nasau Hall on Koro Island and was attended by local villagers as well as a government delegation visiting the area as part of the ministry’s outreach.
Ms. Lutu shared that she was initially surprised by the announcement made by ministry representatives regarding the marriage services being offered. “I thought he was joking, but I saw that he was serious about it, and I gladly accepted,” she said. The couple, who have two children together, were pleased to have the opportunity to formalize their union.
Mr. Tuitubou expressed his gratitude for the service provided by the ministry. The couple had originally planned to hold their marriage in December, which would have required costly travel arrangements to the mainland, Viti Levu. “One of the challenges we face is the more than $200 in boat fares, plus the expense of staying at a relative’s place before returning to Koro. Those trips and the one-week stay on the mainland can cost us more than $1000,” he explained.
The civil marriage was officiated by Deputy Registrar General Viliame Kubunaceva, who noted that the ministry is dedicated to bringing essential services, including Births, Deaths, and Marriages, to remote maritime regions and highland areas of Fiji, with this initiative having commenced that week.