Three Police Funeral during pandemic

Three serving police officers have been laid to rest in recent weeks with the Acting Commissioner of Police stating it has been difficult as the pandemic has prevented the institution from according full final protocols deserving of an officer who has served their country dutifully.

The fallen officers include the late Inspector Arieta Tuisese Namuaira who was based at the Western Division Headquarters, the late W/Police Constable Mereseini Adivunisalusalu who was based at the Delailabasa Community Post and the late Police Constable Timoci Rauca who was based at the Fiji Police Bands.

The funeral gatherings were held in accordance with health restrictions whereby protocols and final rites were scaled down to ensure compliance.

The first funeral was held in the Western Division following the passing of the late W/IP Arieta Namuaira who had served for more than 28 years in the Force in units such as the Fiji Police Academy, Traffic Department, Juvenile Bureau.

The late Inspector held the post of Training Officer West at the time of her death.

Another police death was recorded shortly afterwards in the Northern Division.

The late W/Police Constable Mereseini Adivunisalusalu was called to eternal rest following a short illness.

She had served for more than two decades in the Northern Division and was a familiar face to many in the friendly north.

This past week the organisation bid farewell to the late Police Constable Timoci Rauca at Waiqanake Village.

The late officer had served for 13years with the Fiji Police Band and was known for his musical talents and was a duty bugler at Presidential occasions as well as funerals.

It was an emotional farewell as the last post was sounded by a fellow band member, a task that was often carried out by the late officer during his years of service.

The Acting Commissioner said it has been difficult not being present at the funerals of fallen officers due to the restrictions.

“It’s has been very emotional not being able to be present in numbers to show our final respect to an officer who has been a loyal servant to the people of Fiji”.

“So many Fijians have gone through the same situation where they have had to mourn their loved ones without having their families and relatives present and I do hope and plead with those who are against efforts of containing the virus to adopt a change of mind-set so we can return to some form of normalcy”.