Top Lawyer Shares Life Of Her Grandad
The late Dr Isoa Bakani was a man who held his family and vanua close to his heart until his dying breath. These were sentiments by his granddaughter and well-known lawyer, Ana Tuiketei-Bolabiu, during his burial yesterday in his home village in Arovudi, Levuka, in Ovalau.
Tuesday 15 September 2020 | 11:24
The late Dr Isoa Bakani was a man who held his family and vanua close to his heart until his dying breath.
These were sentiments by his granddaughter and well-known lawyer, Ana Tuiketei-Bolabiu, during his burial yesterday in his home village in Arovudi, Levuka, in Ovalau.
Ms Tuiketei said her late grandfather would always put his relatives and family members’ needs first even if it was fare back to Buresala.
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She outline notable achievements by him:
- He became a cardiologist in the early 1960s and the first doctor in the family lineage
- Recipient of the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from the Queen of England in the early 1980s
Ms Tuiketei-Bolabiu shared one of humourous and witty moments with her grandfather during her time as a State prosecutor.
“I developed some swelling on my face which I thought was an allergy,” she said.
“I rushed to his surgery because I was working crazy long hours and he was the only doctor I knew who was in private sector.
“He took down my details and he took me to look at the mirror.
“With his hands on my shoulders he told me I look at myself in the mirror for too long and that I should go back to work and be useful to my country.”
He made his granddaughter pay the consultation fee and told her to go back and continue serving the country.
Dr Bakani, 88, is survived by two children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Edited by Ranoba Baoa
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