It rained yesterday in the Capital City.
It didn’t deter many mourners though from lining parts of the route of the funeral cortege for the late former prime minister Laisenia Qarase, from Suva to Nausori Airport.
His body was airlifted to the island of Vanuabalavu in Lau, where he was finally laid to rest yesterday.
Delegations from villages around Vanuabalavu, and his relatives from Viti Levu had converged on Mavana Village yesterday morning for the funeral.
Naivaka, the Qarase residence and the chiefly seat of the Tui Kobuca, was decorated with fine Tongan mats fit for a king and masi kuvui which is brown smoked tapa associated with royalty.
The death of Mr Qarase has signalled the end of an era.
The outpouring of grief from around the country, and internationally, reflected the aura surrounding the former PM.
Whatever your take is on the life of Mr Qarase, there will be some common ground somewhere.
It was evident that Mr Qarase had captured the imagination of many people for various reasons.
Letters to the editor in The Fiji Times reflected views that hovered around humility, respect, and a willingness to listen.
He appears to have touched the hearts of people from a wide cross section of the population, even cutting across ethnic lines.
It seemed his death had moved many people who grieved over a man who, it appears, remained a village boy at heart, a father, a family man and grandfather.
We learnt about the life and the times of a man who was our PM from 2000 until he was forced out in 2006.
He was considered an astute businessman, and he also attracted criticism for some of his ideas.
For whatever it is worth, positive or negative, there are many lessons in life, and different people will latch on to episodes they consider important, and reflect on their links or association with the former PM.
Mr Qarase now lies at his village, a place he wanted to return to.
It rained yesterday on Vanuabalavu. It did not deter mourners. They were there to farewell a man they regarded highly.
Whether he would be considered a controversial figure or not, his memory will live on in the minds of those who have been impacted by his stint in various roles, most importantly as prime minister of Fiji.
He was our sixth prime minister.
For good or bad, history will tell its story.
Farewell Laisenia Qarase.