On June 4, 1985, schools around the country celebrated Ratu Sukuna Day to commemorate the late great leader and statesman.
Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna’s widow, Lady Likutabua Maca Sukuna, according to an article published by this newspaper that same year, was expected to present a one-metre trophy and an oil portrait of her late husband to Queen Victoria School (QVS) at Matavatucou in Tailevu.
Lady Liku was to be the guest of honour at the school’s memorial celebration.
In a brief interview in Suva, Lady Liku spoke fondly of Ratu Sir Lala and his duty to his people and country.
“Words cannot express what a great man he was, nor can we compare or liken him to another person or leader,” she said.
“He was a statesman, a soldier, a paramount chief and leader of men. I remember him because of his greatness. He was a man of vision and had a depth of knowledge and understanding.”
Lady Liku said she had dedicated her life to upholding and burnishing Ratu Sir Lala’s name and reputation.
“He loved his people, and though he has been dead for 27 years, people still honour him. He gave everything to the people.”
She told The Fiji Times Ratu Sukuna was a great chief, a man of deep and profound intellect and perceptive insight,
He died at the age of 70 on board the Arcadia in May 1958, soon after leaving Bombay en route to England for a holiday.
He had been appointed the first speaker of the Legislative Council two years earlier in 1956, and had resigned in April because of an illness.
His body was brought back to Fiji and laid to rest in the chiefly burial grounds on the island of Lakeba.
Lady Liku married Ratu Sir Lala at Tubou on Lakeba in 1954 at the age of 23. She was a schoolteacher.
She belonged to the mataqali Vatuwaqa of the yavusa Vuanirewa, the head of which was the Tui Nayau and former prime minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
Ratu Sir Lala was the eldest son of Ratu Jone Madraiwiwi and Adi Litiana Maopa and was born on the chiefly island of Bau in 1888.
Lady Liku expressed her gratitude to the National Bank of Fiji, which donated the trophy in memory of her husband.
The portrait of the great leader was done by local artist MD Raj and presented to Lady Liku.
The article concluded with Lady Liku deciding to present the trophy and the portrait to QVS as it used to be called Vulinitu in the olden days and was a school only for chiefs.
