BODY STILL MISSING 10 YEARS AFTER TRAGEDY

Former senior civil servant and diplomat Cama Tuiqilaqila Tuiloma was a distinguished public servant who belonged to the finest generation of diplomats that Fiji produced. This was the comment by another former diplomat Ambassador (Retired) Litia Mawi while delivering the Government’s eulogy at the late Ambassador Tuiloma’s funeral service at Suva’s Centenary Methodist Church yesterday. Ms Mawi said Ambassador Tuiloma was a man of principle and devotion and always ensured that everything he worked on wore the hallmarks of his great architectural lens.

“He had a formidable reputation because of his many accomplishments and it has always been his dream for our beloved Fiji to be the `Singapore’ of the Pacific,” she said.

Eulogies were also given on behalf of Ambassador Tuiloma’s family and the vanua.

Also attending the funeral service were Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Ratu Epeli Nailatikau

In 2008 he became the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Utilities, Wastewater & Energy until July 2008 when he was appointed Acting High Commissioner to New Zealand.

From 2009 to 2011 he was the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Works, Transport and Public Utilities before his posting as Fiji’s Ambassador to Brazil in 2011. Ambassador Tuiloma also served on various boards and statutory positions.

He was the Registrar of Architects and chairman of the Fiji Registration Board for seven years. He also served as a board member for the Housing Authority, Public Rental Board, Fiji Electricity Authority, Water Authority of Fiji and the Land Transport Authority.

The architect-turned-diplomat served the Government of the Republic of Fiji for 45 years. Originally from Tubou, Lakeba, Lau, Ambassador Tuiloma was educated at Ratu Kadavulevu School and Marist Brothers High School. He also attended the University of the South Pacific, the University of Technology in Lae, Papua New Guinea and the Monash University, Mt Eliza Business School in Australia where he obtained his Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture Studies and Graduate Certificate of Management. He was laid to rest at the Vatuwaqa Cemetery.

Photo: Kelera Sovasiga The pall bearers taking the late Ambassador Cama Tuiqilaqila Tuiloma’s casket from the Centenary Church to the hearse.

Photo: Kelera Sovasiga The Speaker of the House of Representatives Ratu Epeli Nailatikau outside the Centenary Church after the funeral service of the late Ambassador Cama Tuiqilaqila Tuiloma.