Tuesday, May 15, 2007
THE late King Malietoa Tanumafili II of Samoa attended school with locals during his childhood days in Fiji's St Philips School, says long time friend Fred Caine.
Mr Caine yesterday said he was saddened by the news of the king's death and he had instructed his son, Abel Caine to represent the Caine family at the funeral in Samoa.
"The Samoan head of State was brought up by my grandmother, Johana Caine. She was from the same village as the king and his father had sent him to Fiji for his education," said Mr Caine.
He said his grandmother lived at Naiqaqi, in central Suva, at the time and she was asked by the king's father to take care of him during his time in Fiji.
"I remember my father telling us how he used to hold his hands when he took him to school every morning and back home. Naiqaqi then was a like a headquarters for the Samoans and they used to come and go at my grandmother's place," he said.
FROM THE FIJI TIMES
EMT
Wellington New Zealand |