THE body of a five-year-old girl who died 25 years ago and was buried at Naseakula Village in Labasa was exhumed last week to make way for a building extension.
The daughter of the late Reverend Neumi Ratu and Luse Ratu of Yasawa died in the village during her dad's term as pastor in the 1980s.
Naseakula Methodist Church construction committee chairman Filmone Davelevu said the girl had died after a short illness.
The Tui Labasa at that time, Ratu Tevita Qomate Ritova, requested that she be buried at the entrance of the church.
"The church committee has been planning to extend the current building because the church membership was growing and the building was too small," said Mr Davelvu.
"We contacted Mrs Ratu and she gave her consent for the body to be exhumed.
"We are transferring the body to the current burial place for proper burial with the permission of the current Tui Labasa following the original consent given by her late father Ratu Tevita Qomate Ritova."