FORMER METHODIST CHURCH PRESIDENT REVEREND TOMASI KANAILAGI DIES

Former president of the Methodist Church of Fiji, Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi, died yesterday. The president of the Church, Reverend Epeneri Vakadewavosa said his office had received news of Reverend Kanailagi’s death.

“I can confirm to you now that the former church president, the Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi, had passed away yesterday,” he said. A radio message he said was broadcast yesterday to all senior chaplains in the 58 divisions of the church in Fiji and Rotuma.

He said the church would meet with relatives to set up a programme for the funeral of the late president.

The late Reverend Kanailagi served in the Senate from 2001 to 2006 as a nominee of the former Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase.

His appointment was made under the 1997 Constitution where nine of the Senate seats were filled by nominees of the Prime Minister. As of January 2007, Kanailagi was chairperson of the Fiji Council of Churches. Reverend Kanailagi attended Lelean Memorial School before embarking on his Theological Studies at Davuilevu.