VILLAGERS MARK SUCCESS OF TABUYA, QEREQERETABUA
The two women Members of Parliament from Kadavu are among the four women in the coalition Government.
Two communities on Kadavu Island, during the Easter holidays, celebrated the achievements of two of its female Government Members of Parliament – Lynda Tabuya and Lenora Qereqeretabua. Ms Tabuya, the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and Ms Qereqeretabua, the Deputy Speaker and Assistant Minister for Housing and Local Government, were hosted to a congratulatory get together in their respective villages.
Ms Tabuya of Tiliva Village, Nakasaleka, was hosted by her district to a vakasenuqanuqa ceremony, to mark her achievement in becoming a Government Minister.
Ms Qereqeretabua, of Dravuni Village, was hosted by her families and youth of Dravuni, to a thanksgiving luncheon on Saturday.
Ms Tabuya, while thanking the villagers for the reception, said there was no place like home.
“Vinaka vakalevu to my vanua of Nabala, Turaga na Tui Nakasa, for a blessed day of thanksgiving and celebration. My heart is full,” Ms Tabuya said.
She did not expect a big reception but was thankful for the gesture.
While in Kadavu, Ms Tabuya also visited boarders of the Kadavu Provincial School.
She also handed over a personal donation to the school’s Coca-Cola games team who are preparing to travel to Suva for the annual school athletics competition on April 27-29. Ms Qereqeretabua acknowledged the youth of Dravuni, the Turaga na Tui Buliya, the Turaga na Ramalo, Turaga ni Yavusa and family and friends for the reception hosted in her honour.
“In my thanks, I acknowledge those from Dravuni who have paved the way for me including Uncle Kaliopate Tavola and my own dad,” she said.
“I spoke about being blessed to drink from wells I had not dug, and eaten from vineyards I had not planted, while urging the elders to also take advice from our Dravuni ‘youngsters’ who are making a name for themselves in civil society.”
The two women MPs are among the four women in Government, including Alitia Bainivalu and Sashi Kiran. Premila Kumar is the lone women MP in Opposition.