OBITUARY Deputy Speaker pays tribute to Dr Luveni

Deputy Speaker and Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Bhatnagar says Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni, who died last Saturday, set examples that people needed to follow.

Ms Bhatnagar said Dr Luveni was someone she looked up to.

“For me Madam Speaker was a role model. She was a woman of substance and dignity. She was a much respected and much loved not only by the parliamentarians, staff but also by the general public,” she said.

“She reached out to people outside Parliament. She took Parliament to the people, especially to students. I would call her a visionary leader because she initiated a lot of things.

“She was a trend setter and a motivator. She always encouraged us as women parliamentarians and she was very fair, impartial, fun and loving.

“She was someone who we respected a lot. She was a friend, a person who was down to earth, humble and she left a huge gap and I wish it was easy to fill.” Ms Bhatnagar said Dr Luveni would be missed greatly by those who knew her. “Madam speaker had vast experience. My deepest condolences and sympathies go out to her children and grandchildren,” she said.

“I have met them and they are already sad and grieving. Madam speaker has left an impression on a lot of people,” she said.

“As a woman, Madam speaker will live on in our hearts and in our memories. She was a very strong lady, compassionate woman and definitely that was what she wanted us to be.

“That is to be strong women and to be able to stand for ourselves and other women. She left behind lessons that she would want us to continue and improve on.”

A church service will be held at Suva’s Centenary Church at 10am today before Dr Luveni is buried at the Lovonilase Cemetery.

Dr Luveni, 72, died after a short illness.