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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-NZ link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Fakalofa lahi atu, Kia Ora , Yadra Vinakalevu Seta, friends and members of the Pacific Disability community. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>On behalf of the Co-Chairs and the Board of the Pacific Disability Forum and our members, I want to express our condolences to the family of Lai at his sudden passing. Lai was a great human being, a friend, and committed to helping others. He was indeed a gentle giant, with many gifts, including a sense of humour to match his intelligence. A teacher and advocate Lai, and a champion are some of the tributes we will remember you by.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>From us in Aotearoa New Zealand we remember your passion to establish the first Pacific Regional Disability Rights Strategy which progressed some initiatives today.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Both Tewai and I remember great memories with you Lai , and are thankful for this.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Rest in peace Lai, your legacy will live on in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Aue Tulou!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Latoa Halatau-Talagi<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Co-Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Pacific Disability Forum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>Latoa Halatau-Talagi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US> PDFlist <pdflist-bounces@lists.pacificdisability.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ann Cheryl Armstrong<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 27, 2023 8:24 AM<br><b>To:</b> Setareki Macanawai <Setareki.Macanawai@pacificdisability.org>; pdflist@lists.pacificdisability.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [PDFlist] VALE: Mr Laisiasa Boginivalu Merumeru<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Yadra Vinaka Seta and PDF community,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Derrick and I join in the tributes being paid to Lai and express our sadness at his passing. While this is a loss for the Pacific Community, Lai was a good and faithful servant who left his mark wherever he went. We have much to be thankful for in having as a colleague and friend. We know that he served well and is no longer in discomfort. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>With deep condolences. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Ann Cheryl and Derrick<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div><div id=ms-outlook-mobile-signature><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from <a href="https://aka.ms/o0ukef">Outlook for iOS</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="98%" align=center></div><div id=divRplyFwdMsg><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='color:black'> PDFlist <<a href="mailto:pdflist-bounces@lists.pacificdisability.org">pdflist-bounces@lists.pacificdisability.org</a>> on behalf of Setareki Macanawai <<a href="mailto:Setareki.Macanawai@pacificdisability.org">Setareki.Macanawai@pacificdisability.org</a>><br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 26, 2023 11:05:18 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:PDFlist@lists.pacificdisability.org">PDFlist@lists.pacificdisability.org</a> <<a href="mailto:pdflist@lists.pacificdisability.org">pdflist@lists.pacificdisability.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [PDFlist] VALE: Mr Laisiasa Boginivalu Merumeru</span> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US>Warm Pacific Greetings PDF Members, Family and Friends<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US>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!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US>May his soul rest in peace!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US>So long Lai and I truly miss you!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US>Seta<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><b><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Setareki S. Macanawai</span></b><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Chief Executive Officer</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Pacific Disability Forum</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>GPO Box 18458, Suva, Fiji </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Tel: +679 331 2008; +679 773 0200</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Mob: +679 992 1486; +679 708 2891</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Fax: +679 3310469</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Skype: setareki.macanawai</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Email: </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black'><a href="mailto:Setareki.Macanawai@pacificdisability.org"><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Setareki.Macanawai@pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Web: </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black'><a href="http://www.pacificdisability.org/"><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>www.pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Facebook: </span><span lang=EN-US style='color:black'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificDisabilityForum/"><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Pacific Disability Forum</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Twitter: @pdfsec</span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-US style='color:black'><img border=0 width=276 height=139 style='width:2.875in;height:1.45in' id="x_Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01D9F13E.5BE941A0" alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated"></span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal style='background:white'><b><span style='font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Organisation in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Commission since 2012.</span></b><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>The information contained in this email message is intended only for the addressee(s). If you <b>are</b> not the intended recipient, you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it, including any attachments. If you receive this email in error please notify the sender immediately</span></i><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span lang=EN-US> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>