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A tribute to the Mother of
the Party: Mrs Jokapeci Koroi
[posted 13 July 2011,2.45]
The Fiji
Labour Party is deeply saddened by the death of its long serving Party
President Mrs Jokapeci Koroi, a former trade unionist and Senator.
Mrs Koroi, 79, passed away peacefully at her Tamavua home at 6.45pm last
night. Her health had been deteriorating slowly for over a year and she had
been in and out of hospital for sometime.
Mrs Koroi, a founding member of the FLP, has been the longest serving
President of the Party. She was elected to the position in 1991, taking over
from Adi Kuini Bavadra. She was fondly called the Mother of the Party by the
rank and file.
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said she was a lady of tough resolve and
will be remembered for an “exceptionally disciplined and no-nonsense
approach” to issues and Party matters.
Mrs Koroi brought to the Labour Party many years of administrative and
negotiating skills acquired fighting for the rights and welfare of nurses,
and promoting the development of the Fiji Nurses Association as its General
Secretary.
She carried the distinction of being the first local Matron of the Colonial
War Memorial Hospital, the highest position in the nursing cadre. She also
served on the Board of the Fiji Trades Union Congress for a number of years,
focussing on health and women’s issues.
Mrs Koroi was a Vice President of the Party since the FLP’s founding in 1985
until taking over its highest office in the second half of 1991. She was
first nominated to the Senate by the Party in 1999 and remained the FLP
Party Leader in the Upper House until the military takeover in December
2006. She also served as President and Deputy President of the Senate.
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