FORMER vice-president of Fiji Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi has passed away.
Ratu Joni, who was also the Roko Tui Bau, passed away at the Intensive Care Unit of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital on Thursday morning after a short illness.
This was confirmed to this newspaper by his traditional herald Kinijoji Toganivalu of the Masau clan.
Mr Toganivalu said together with the family of the Roko Tui Bau (vuvale mai Naicobocobo), they had relayed the message to the vunivalu, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau (vuvale mai Mataiweilagi) and Ratu Tu’uakitau Cokanauto of the Naisogolaca household.
“It was decided that we have to first relay the message to all the paramount chiefs of Fiji before taking it to the yavusa Ratu — all the vanua under the rule of Roko Tui Bau in Tailevu. The message will also be traditionally relayed to all who have traditional link to the vunivalu and the Roko Tui Bau,” Mr Toganivalu said.
He said details of the ireguregu were yet to be decided, but confirmed that Ratu Joni would be buried in the sau tabu on Bau Island.
Ratu Joni was the eldest son of the late Doctor Ratu Jione Atonio Rabici Doviverata, who preceded him as Roko Tui Bau.
His mother Adi Losalini Raravuya Uluiviti was from the chiefly family in Nairai, Lomaiviti.
A lawyer by profession, Ratu Joni was vice-president of Fiji from 2004-2006. He was a partner of Howards law firm, former director of Fiji Times Ltd and a trustee of the Fijian Trust Fund.
He was also a human rights commissioner and former chairman of the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum, a pro-democracy and human rights organisation.
In January 2010, King George Tupou V elevated Ratu Joni to the Life Peerage in the Kingdom of Tonga, with the title of Lord Madraiwiwi Tangatatonga.
He was still the Chief Justice of Nauru, a position he held for the past two years, when he died at the age of 59. He is survived by his wife Adi Lusiana Tuivanuavou.
President of Nauru Baron Waqa paid tribute to the country’s late Chief Justice, saying Nauru was deeply saddened by the death of Ratu Joni who had re-established integrity and honour to Nauru’s court.
Ratu Joni was appointed Nauru’s top judge in September 2014.
Mr Waqa said the country and region had lost a great statesman.
He said Ratu Joni was instrumental in the recent reforms of Nauru’s legal system. His appointment followed the forced resignation of the former chief ustice Geoffrey Eames who later expressed concern about the rule of law and judicial independence on Nauru.
