To be present at a time when leaders such as the late Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau led government with humility and poise, one would instantly capture the essence of great respect for the nobleman.
Ratu Sir Penaia in the words of the late former prime minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara “exemplified the qualities of a chief — honest, diligent and kind”, a true portrayal of the former president which have been echoed in similar sentiments by many in books and heartfelt stories over the years.
He was a leader that many looked up to as president and he also led by example in his chiefly title as the Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau.
In December 1993, Ratu Sir Penaia shared his final moments with his immediate family and those close to him.
One of the few who was around during his final days at the Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington D.C. was the then-Fiji ambassador to the US and Mexico, Pita Nacuva.
Mr Nacuva vividly recalls the time he shared with the late former president when he was admitted and having shared stories when he was hospitalised.
“In 1993, the late president wasn’t well and a special US military aircraft flew to Fiji and flew the late president to Washington D.C. but unfortunately he could not recover after the medical visit,” Mr Nacuva said.
“Every night I use to go there (hospital) and chat with him. He enjoyed talking to me as he had known me when he was the Minister for Tourism and I was appointed to be the local counterpart to the international consortium that was selected by Government to prepare the tourism development program for Fiji.
“Two plans were prepared: The Tourism Development Program for Fiji: 1993 and the special Tourism Master Plan for Natadola.”
The late president at that crucial moment confided in Mr Nacuva — a task taken up attentively by the former ambassador to the US and Mexico.
“Every night we would talk and share a lot together during that time in hospital.
“I was even told by his doctor that he didn’t have much time left and when the doctor told me about his condition, me being a Christian, said we needed to have a devotion together and partake in the holy communion.
“I spoke to our pastor of the Chesterbrook United Methodist Church to come along and worship with us on Sunday morning, on December 12, and partake in the holy communion.
“This was the Sunday before the president passed away. I’m so thankful that the late president’s family agreed with me to have morning worship that Sunday and partake in the holy communion.
“The pastor shared the message of God with us and we had holy communion together that special day.”
Now thinking back, Mr Nacuva always hoped that the late president would have recovered from that hospital visit in December 1993.
“It was December 15 on a Wednesday, when I received a call from Colonel Sakiusa Raivoce, the president’s aide.
“Colonel Raivoce called to inform me about the sad news of the president’s passing. I was quite shocked at the time of the call and I would’ve thought that I would have been beside him during that time.”
Like any official matters concerning diplomatic relations, Mr Nacuva, after receiving the call, immediately reported the matter to the US State Department.
Tavaiqia (standing), the Permanent
Representative of Fiji to the UN Ratu
Manasa Seniloli and Fiji ambassador
to the US and Mexico Pita Nacuva
inside the aircraft.
Picture: Courtesy of PITA NACUVA
“I rang the officials at the state department and said that I would like to inform them in the matter of protocol that the President of Fiji had passed away at Walter Reed Military Hospital.
“What would you want us to do for you?”
Was the response from the state department when I called about the news.
“The thing that came to mind when they asked the question was how we were going to take His Excellency back to Fiji.
“The state department said they would take care of it. For us it showed the great level of diplomatic relationship we had with each other.
“Fiji and the US have a well-rooted relationship.”
He said the president’s stay at the hospital at the time was of no cost to the Fijian Government, as it was handled by the US Government at the time.
With the immense support from the US Government during that crucial moment, Mr Nacuva with Fijian officials and Ratu Sir Penaia’s family decided on when his casket was to return to Fiji.
The US Government provided an aircraft, not any ordinary aircraft but one that represented high status.
The aircraft that was given to fly the late president’s casket to Fiji was the Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000.
According to the National Museum of the US Air Force, the aircraft was specifically built for use by the president of the US and is one of the world’s most historic aircraft that carried eight American presidents, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W Bush and Clinton.
The aircraft, according to the national museum, played an important role in US presidential, political and diplomatic history.
And for Fiji, it fulfilled the crucial role of returning the late president back home.
Mr Nacuva said the only contribution the Fijian Government made after the death of Ratu Sir Penaia on US soil was the casket because everything else was done by the US Government.
Ratu Sir Penaia’s insightful leadership over the years was even heartily sensed during his final days in US — it was portrayed by the smooth arrangements of his last return.
It was surely befitting for a president and a paramount chief.
Mr Nacuva said he would cherish his moments with the late president and was blessed to have worked under Ratu Sir Penaia’s leadership during that time.
