PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama could not contain his emotions as he spoke not as a public official but in his capacity as a comrade in arms and seaman at the farewell service for his ‘dear friend’, the late Commodore Esala Teleni at the Centenary Methodist Church in Suva today.
In a service attended by hundreds of well-wishers, Bainimarama reminisced his early Republic of Fiji Navy days when he served with Teleni.
“We competed together in rugby, served together in the diplomatic core, but our calling which would last a lifetime was during our service in the Fiji Navy,” Bainimarama said.
“We served together, trained together, we mend ships together we eat together and we prayed together.”
Bainimarama commended the dedication of Teleni who served the nation diligently during his tenure as Navy Commander, Fiji Police Force Commissioner and ambassador to the People’s Republic of China as well as his appointment within the Ministry of Defence.
Teleni was farewelled by members of the diplomatic core, members of Parliament, officers of Fiji’s security forces and hundreds of family and friends.
Teleni was laid to rest at the Lovonilase cemetery in Suva.
