[PDFlist] VALE: Mr Laisiasa Boginivalu Merumeru

[Missy Morton]

Kia ora koutou, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa,

Thank you Seta for letting us know of this great loss to the disability leadership and community.

Kua hinga te tōtara o Te Waonui a Tāne
A mighty tree has fallen in the forest of Tāne

Our deepest condolences to Lai’s family, friends and colleagues.

Ngā manaakitanga,
Missy
Missy Morton
(she/her)
Professor Disability Studies & Inclusive Education
University of Auckland
(sent from my iPad)

On 26/09/2023, at 12:09, Setareki Macanawai <Setareki.Macanawai at pacificdisability.org> wrote:


Warm Pacific Greetings PDF Members, Family and Friends

It is with deep regret that I convey to you the untimely passing of an Associate Member, former independent Chairperson of the PDF OPD Fund Committee, great disability champion and very close friend, Mr Laisiasa Boginivalu Merumeru, fondly known to many of us as Lai who passed away in his sleep at his residence on Friday, 22 September 2023. Mr Merumeru also served as Lecturer in special/inclusive education at the Lautoka Teachers College now part of the Fiji National University, Disability Coordination Officer at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Lecturer also in inclusive education at the University of the South Pacific. He also spent few years in Rarotonga, Cook Islands supporting their work on special/inclusive education.

Our disability movement in the Pacific have lost some gentle giants in recent years and Lai is certainly one of them. His intelligent, wise and strategic advice coupled with his big heart, pleasant personality and huge smiles/laughter will be sorely missed. He committed himself in the last 2 decades to improving the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities in the Pacific. I thank Lai’s family for this wonderful gift to us and may his legacy continue to inspire us even more towards making our Blue Pacific Continent more inclusive and equitable for all its citizens, including those of us with disabilities!

May his soul rest in peace!

So long Lai and I truly miss you!

Seta

Setareki S. Macanawai

Chief Executive Officer
Pacific Disability Forum
Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade
GPO Box 18458, Suva, Fiji

Tel: +679 331 2008; +679 773 0200
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