REST IN PEACE RATU FINAU

MY HEARTFELT SYMPATHIES TO VITINIA BUADROMO, THE CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND THE MARA FAMILY

It is with much regret that I join others in acknowledging the untimely passing of Ratu Finau Mara and in doing so I extend the deepest sympathies of my family and myself to Vitinia Buadromo, their children, grandchildren and the Mara family for their sad loss.

I always envisaged that one day Ratu Finau Mara would emerge in a leading role in the governance of Fiji that his late father Ratu Sir Kamasese Mara was instrumental in creating, he was certainly more qualified than most to do so.

Quite apart from being the eldest son of the Tui Nayau and former Prime Minister and President of Fiji and Na Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Lala Mara, Ratu Finau was also a law graduate of the Otago University [NZ], he attained his Master’s Degree in law from Cambridge University, England and was in the service of the people of Fiji as a Member of Parliament from 1994 as well as Minister for Fijian Affairs and Chairperson of the NLTB before joining Fiji’s Diplomatic Corp as Roving Ambassador after his term in Parliament.

Ratu Finau was always courteous and a gentleman, who exercised humility and respect to all who had the good fortune to came into contact with him or get to know him as I was privileged to have done.

His untimely passing will leave unanswered the question I have often asked myself, which is, where would our troubled nation be today had Ratu Finau been able to exercise his full potential in a leadership role in Fiji.

Rest in Peace Ratu Finau.