Light showers fell over the chiefly burial site at Vuniduva in Somosomo Village, Taveuni as the traditional pall bearers carried the casket of the late Ratu Epeli Ganilau to his final resting place.
At the gates which marked the entrance to the burial site, Republic of Fiji Military Forces officers set the casket of their former commander on the ground, indicating to the traditional liga tabu from the vanua of Wainikeli that they could take over from that point.
A volley of gun shots fired by RFMF soldiers broke the silence after the men from Wainikeli laid Ratu Epeli’s casket on the ground inside the sacred burial area.
Senior military officers, former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau placed poppy flowers on a mat that was buried with Ratu Epeli’s casket.
His younger sister Adi Lusiana Sivokidaveta Ganilau silently stood behind the hearse at the family house and bowed in respect to her older brother.
She said he was a humble man who always kept the family together even in times of differences.
For the vanua of Lalagavesi, traditional leader Waisale Mataitoga said they had had two different kinds of celebrations within a period of a week.
“Last week, we celebrated the inclusion of seven sons of Cakaudrove as government ministers and assistant ministers,” he said.
“But this week, we are farewelling our son, a chief, a leader and we thank God that he chose the vanua of Lalagavesi to shoulder various responsibilities from international, national and community levels.”
The Vunivalu na Tui Kaba, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, and the Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa, also attended the church service.
