Women of Ba Province mourn leader Adi Sivia Qoro

Women from across Ba Province gathered in tears and silence today as they mourned the loss of their leader, Adi Sivia Qoro, president of the Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei ni Yasana ko Ba (SSViT Ba).

Women representatives from districts throughout Ba assembled at the SSViT office at Rogorogoivuda House in Lautoka to collect traditional burial items, including mats, to honour and commemorate Adi Sivia’s passing.

Many described the atmosphere as emotional as women reflected on the leadership and guidance she had provided to communities across the province.

Adi Sivia served as president of SSViT Ba from 2022 until her death last week.

Her assistant, Adi Litiana Sovasova, said Adi Sivia brought significant change not only to the women of Ba but also to the wider Vanua o Ba.

“She transformed the women’s organisation into a non-government organisation and introduced policies to strengthen and protect our women’s organisation,” Adi Sovasova said.

“Before, we always came together as a Vanua whenever issues needed to be addressed in districts.

“When she took up leadership, she visited the tikina to understand the needs and challenges faced by women.

“That was how our strategic plan was developed, based on what women in each district wanted to achieve for their Vanua.”

Adi Sovasova, wife of the late Tui Vitogo, said Adi Sivia restructured the organisation’s operations through the appointment of a board.

“She appointed Radini Vanua, wives of chiefs from the tikina, and five technical advisers to sit on the board.

“She believed we are community-based and that we represent our people and our women, whose voices need to be heard.

“She believed not only the Government could provide for the people, but that the provincial office could also do much for the province.”

Under Adi Sivia’s leadership, SSViT Ba completed several community projects.

Women and youths across Yasana o Ba were encouraged to develop community-based solutions to address climate change, flooding and agricultural challenges.

Projects included the Yavusania riverbank project in Nadi last year and the construction of a seawall at Marou Village in Yasawa.

Adi Sovasova said Adi Sivia also strongly focused on addressing school dropout rates in Ba Province through the Bread for the World-funded “Empowerment through Education: Reintegration and Vocational Training for School Dropouts Project”.

The initiative was developed in response to concerns raised during visits to districts across Ba, which has one of the country’s highest school dropout rates.

Through the initiative, school dropouts in Ba were given opportunities to access tertiary education.

Through her leadership and SSViT Ba’s agricultural initiatives, women in the highlands of Ba also thrived in the turmeric business.

“Her passing is a great loss to us women of Yasana o Ba,” Adi Sovasova said.

Adi Sivia is expected to be buried in Suva next week.

Originally from Najia Village on Viwa Island in the Yasawa Group, with maternal links to Marou in Naviti, Yasawa, Adi Sivia was widely respected for her leadership in Government, politics and community development.

The former Minister for Commerce and Industry began her career in the civil service at the Prime Minister’s Office under Fiji’s founding Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, before later serving in the Office of the President under Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau.

She later joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as First Secretary in Canberra before moving to the Ministry of Women.

Adi Sivia was also instrumental in establishing the Department of Heritage and Arts and became its first director.