The country's former President and Turaga Na Tui Vuda, Ratu Josefa Iloilo has passed away.

Ratu Josefa Iloilo, who was 90, passed away at the Suva Private Hospital on Sunday morning, and arrangements are now being made for a state funeral to be accorded to him.

Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama made the official announcement of the passing away of the former President in the last hour.

He announced on 28th July 2009 that he would be leaving office on 30th July that year.

Looking at his career: after working as a teacher and civil service administrator, Ratu Josefa Iloilo later became a member of the House of Representatives.

He subsequently served as a Senator in the 1990s, and was President of the Senate prior to his becoming Vice President of Fiji on 18th January 1999.
 
He was in this position under President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in 1999 and 2000, when Mahendra Chaudhry's government was overthrown by George Speight and his group in 2000.

He was sworn in as President on 13th July 2000 and reappointed President after the events of December 2006.

In his traditional speech opening Parliament on 1st August, 2005 Ratu Josefa Iloilo told the parliamentarians that they must carefully examine their conscience on the deliberation of sensitive issues and not be swayed by racial remarks which had been a common and unfortunate hallmark of debate in  Parliament.

In an opening address to the Great Council of Chiefs on 27 July 2005, Ratu Josefa told his fellow chiefs that they needed to adapt to the modern era, or else risk "simply becoming decorations."

The Tui Vuda was a lay preacher for many years, and was Vice President of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma in 1997 and 1998.

These are the late former President, Ratu Iloilo's last few words during an official engagement.

More details of the state funeral are expected to be released later this week.


Story by: Vijay Narayan