Methodists laud life of late vice-president

The late Vice-President of the Methodist Church in Fiji has been hailed as a great leader who brought in notable changes to the church within the three months of his appointment.

Speaking at the funeral service of Minister Kalisiana Koroi at the Centenary Methodist Church in Suva yesterday, President Reverend Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa told the congregation one of the lessons that he had left behind was never to be late to the office or to any assignment.

“He will be the first one in the office and will never be late to any church assignment he was assigned to. The late Mr Koroi carried out his work faithfully,” Reverend Vakadewavosa said.

“He was a man who always sit at the back and would like things done properly. “When he was working in Lautoka he helped in the increase in number of church members there.’’

Delivering the eulogy on behalf of the faith, general secretary the Reverend Ili Vunisuwai thanked his widow, Raijieli Koroi, for supporting the late vice president carry out his duties faithfully.

He said that the late Mr Koroi had done his work and would like church members to be led by God all the time.

His namesake, Mr Kalisiana Koroi (Junior) who is now in the British Army, described his father as a family man.

He said in many of their telephone conversations his namesake usually told him that he wanted to leave. “Where to? I asked him,” Mr Koroi Junior said.

“To heaven, he replied as I have done my duty,” was his reply.

Mr Koroi Junior said that at one time one of his grand-daughters asked him of what he would like to be in future.

His reply: “I want to be the vice-president of the church.” He was elected the vice-president early this year and died three months after.

“My father would always be our role model,” Mr Koroi Junior said.

The Minister for Labour Jone Usamate said when he was leading the Fiji National Training Council Training, now the Productivity Authority of Fiji (TPAF) Mr Koroi was the head of Mechanical Engineering Department.

Mr Koroi he said changed the courses taken to accommodate what was needed by the industry.

“He prepared the students to fit in to any industry they worked in as apprentices,” Mr Usamate said. The late Mr Koroi taught students the skills needed by the industry.

He was a lecturer at the Fiji Institute of Technology before joining TPAF

The late Mr Koroi also attended many overseas training.

Mr Samu Tamani delivered the Ratu Kadavulevu Old Boys eulogy. The late Mr Koroi was the school head Boy in 1966 and was a great leader.

The late Mr Koroi was buried at the New Suva Cemetery, Lovonilase.