The Republic of Fiji Military Forces will deploy personnel to Bau Island next week to lead logistical, engineering and ceremonial preparations for the State funeral of former President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, officials confirmed on Friday. The operation will include a reconnaissance of the chiefly island, construction of temporary infrastructure and detailed planning of parade formations to ensure the final rites proceed with “precision and dignity,” a Tunitoga spokesperson said.
Ratu Peni Komaitai of the Tunitoga told reporters the RFMF will map out the island ahead of the burial and identify locations for parade formations, guest marquees and other facilities. “The RFMF personnel will conduct a reconnaissance of the island for their parade and build structures for guests,” he said, adding military engineers would be responsible for erecting marquees and other support infrastructure to accommodate dignitaries and visitors expected to attend.
Beyond engineering tasks, the deployment will see the military take charge of large-scale hosting arrangements for the day, including catering and crowd-management support. The RFMF’s role will extend to determining marshalling points and procession routes on both Bau and on the mainland leg of the final journey, Komaitai said, as chiefs and state representatives coordinate traditional protocols with ceremonial requirements.
The government has set April 17 as a national pause for Ratu Epeli’s final journey through Suva. Following a church service at Albert Park, a procession led by RFMF personnel will move through the city from the park to the Flea Market, before continuing to Bau Island for the burial. Authorities have said the route and timing will be finalised after the military’s reconnaissance and in consultation with island custodians.
Bau Island, a key centre of Fiji’s chiefly system, has limited permanent infrastructure, which officials say makes the military’s logistical input essential to hosting a State-level burial. The RFMF deployment is intended to marry the formal state ceremonial elements — including parade formations and dignitary seating — with the customary chiefly observances that will govern rites on Bau.
This is the latest development in arrangements surrounding the former president’s state funeral. Military planners are expected to complete their initial survey and begin construction of temporary facilities next week, after which more detailed publicly available schedules for events on April 17 will be released. Officials emphasised that coordination between Tunitoga custodians, government protocol teams and the RFMF will continue in the days ahead to ensure both respect for tradition and orderly management of the national event.
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