SODELPA will be presenting a token of appreciation to the late chief of Lau Ratu Finau Mara

SODELPA will be presenting a token of appreciation to the late chief of Lau, Ratu Finau Mara today but due to the COVID-19 restrictions, only their President will be attending the funeral.

This has been confirmed by SODELPA’s Ro Filipe Tuisawau who says that their members collected funds to help the family in organising the funeral and other arrangements required for the late Ratu Finau.

Ro Filipe says the late Ratu Finau was a Minister for Fijian Affairs and Chairman of the Fijian Affairs Board, member of the Native Land Trust Board and the Great Council of Chiefs from 1997 to 1999 during the SVT coalition led government of former Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.

He later joined the Foreign Ministry serving as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d’affairs at the Embassy of the United States of America.

From 2001 to 2006 he served as Fiji’s Roving Ambassador for the Pacific Region in the SDL administration led by the late former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

The late Ratu Finau was the eldest son of the late Tui Nayau and Tui Lau, former Prime Minister and President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and the late Adi Lady Lala Mara the Radini Nayau and Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi.

Meanwhile, women of the Vuanirewa clan and all other women from the province of Lau led by the late Ratu Finau Mara’s sister, Adi Elenoa Mara have presented mats to the Head of Burebasaga Confederacy, Marama Na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa.

These mats will be spread throughout the Burenivudi where the body of the late Ratu Finau will spend a few minutes before being interred alongside his late mother at the chiefly burial ground in Lomanikoro.

Ratu Finau who was 60 years old, passed away last Wednesday.

Ratu Finau is survived by his wife Vitinia Buadromo, his two children Ratu Salesi Kinikinilau Mara and Adi Lawerua Mara, his four sisters and one brother, one son-in-law and two grandchildren, Taru and Salesi Dauni.

His funeral service will be held tomorrow at the Stella Maris Convent Chapel.

The family says family and friends who wish to pay their last respects will need to be at the parish from 9am to 10am but 10 people will be allowed in at a time at 5-minute intervals.

The thanksgiving service will be held behind closed doors from 10am to 11am with only immediate families.