The Fiji-New Zealand Business Council (FNZBC) and Suva’s retail sector have moved to publicly mourn Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and mark his final journey, with the business community asked to pause trading briefly this morning as the Bau chief’s funeral procession passes through the capital.
In a statement released following Ratu Epeli’s death late last month, FNZBC president James Trusler described the late statesman — who was the council’s patron — as a stalwart supporter of ties between Fiji and New Zealand. “He was always one of the first to confirm that he would be attending our members’ networking events and always had a good joke to tell us,” Trusler said. He added that the council’s members “will miss him” and pledged to continue the patron’s legacy through ongoing business and community engagement.
Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, who was 84, passed away late last month. The incoming statements did not provide an exact date of death but referred to a national outpouring of respect for the former statesman, noting his long record of public service across a range of roles and his commitment to national unity and governance.
As the city prepares for the funeral procession, the Suva Retailers Association (SRA) has formally requested that retail outlets and other businesses in Suva temporarily close between 9:45am and 11:30am today. The association said the closure window has been timed to coincide with the procession while the late chief’s body is carried through central parts of Suva on his way home.
SRA president Jitesh Patel framed the closure as a collective gesture of respect and gratitude from the business community. “His leadership, humility and commitment to national unity have left a legacy on our country,” Patel said, urging retailers and service providers — including non-members of the SRA — to participate so staff and the public alike can pay their respects. He described the moment as one for the nation to “pause, reflect, and honour a remarkable son of Fiji.”
Organisers emphasised the symbolic nature of the closure rather than a formal directive, asking that businesses allow time for public attendance and to minimise disruption during the procession. The association’s statement noted the role the late Ratu Epeli played in supporting stability, growth and confidence in Fiji’s economic and social development, and said the temporary cessation of trade was intended to give the public an opportunity to line the route and pay tribute.
The FNZBC reiterated its condolences to Ratu Epeli’s family and said the council would carry forward his spirit of fostering trade, friendship and cooperation between Fiji and New Zealand. For the business community in Suva, today’s brief pause is being positioned as both an expression of respect and a reminder of the late patron’s long-standing engagement with the private sector and civic life.
Leave a comment