The funeral service for social justice advocate Father Kevin Barr is currently underway at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva.
Father Barr passed away at 1.10pm last Thursday at The Home of Compassion.
Opposition parliamentarian Ro Teimumu Kepa described the late Father Barr as a “shepherd of our poor, champion of our workers, courageous and fearless servant of God”.
She said despite being persecuted and threatened with deportation by the highest authority in the land for comments he made on Fiji’s flag, Father Barr maintained his composure and reassuring demeanour throughout, and never stopped caring for the poor and less fortunate.
Former prime minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry while responding to news of the Catholic priest’s death, said he was deeply saddened by the passing away of a renowned champion of the rights of the poor.
“The workers of Fiji have lost a man who stood by their side in all their struggles for a fair wage,” he said.
