Joseva Sokovagone Tuitubou and Letirina Lutu, who had originally planned to wed in December, surprised their families and government officials by getting married yesterday at the Nasau Village Hall on Koro Island. This ceremony was facilitated by Deputy Registrar General and marriage officer Viliame Kubunameca, who was visiting the island with Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga and his team.
Ms. Lutu, visibly emotional, shared her thoughts about the unexpected nuptials. A native of Tuvuca Village in Vanuabalavu with maternal ties to Naceva Village in Cicia, she expressed her long-standing desire to marry. “When we started living together, I always reminded my now-husband that we needed to get married because we have two children and we live in the village. To be married today is a dream come true for me,” she remarked.
She highlighted that for her, a civil marriage was sufficient, stating, “I always told him that we didn’t need to get married in a church, as long as we had a civil marriage.”
Mr. Tuitubou expressed gratitude for the government’s initiative. “I am thankful that the Government brought the service to the people. It makes it easier for us and we don’t have to pay for the fare to go to Suva to get married. I am happy this happened, and I will cherish my wife and our two children,” he said, smiling modestly.
Mr. Kubunameca took the opportunity to remind the couple about the significance of their vows. He described marriage as a voluntary union of one man and one woman, likening it to sailing on the sea with its unpredictable nature. He shared some key principles for a happy marriage: avoiding raising voices unless absolutely necessary, refraining from bringing up past mistakes, ensuring that both partners are not angry at the same time, offering constructive criticism with love, and never going to bed with unresolved arguments.