Tribute To Land Rights Lawyer Kitione Vuataki

The death of my trusted friend, mentor and colleague, Kitione Vuataki, came as a momentous surprise.

It shocked me beyond words.

I spoke to his wife, and shared a few tears.

He was a great man.

Kitione and I met, for the first time, in 2006, when he moved the motion that I be admitted to the bar in Fiji to practice law.

He rang me after I was admitted to the bar and offered me a job in his law firm.

After consulting a few people, I rang him back and said I would accept his offer.

The first case we did together was the land rights and compensation for the Suvavou people.

It was a massive case, we worked many hours together, researching, and putting our case together for hearing at the High Court of Fiji, honorable Patik was the judge.

Unfortunately, the coup took place and that put a hold to the whole thing.

Kiti was a gentle giant. He was humble, understanding, kind, tolerant, generous, compassionate, affectionate, understanding, hard working.

He transmitted a positive vibe with his spirit and attitude of positivity, integrity, encouragement and tolerance.

He also had the most polite way of talking to others in a way that is disarming and made others relax and show their true self.

He possessed a strong sense of right and wrong and always tried to live up to high moral standards, of fairness and justice.

He was so empathetic and did not want to see anyone in pain and seeing others in pain caused him pain as well.

Even though he was much younger than me, he was a lot older than me in the field of practicing the art of law.

Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj