AILING ‘LAVELUA,’ KING OF WALLIS, DETERIORATES
By Patrick Antoine Decloitre
SUVA, Fiji (Oceania Flash, Dec. 28) - Traditional Wallis island chiefs and villagers have this week for the first time paid bedside Holiday respects to the 87-year-old King of Wallis, whose health has been deteriorating for the past few weeks.
[PIR editor’s note: The neighboring islands of Wallis and Futuna, located just west of Samoa, are a French territory. ]
The King of Wallis, Tomasi Kulimoetoke, also known locally as the "Lavelua", was crowned in 1959.
He has been unable to attend several official ceremonies since August this year, French broadcaster RFO reports.
Several official ceremonies have since had to be held without his attendance.
This week, chiefly houses and well-wishers from Wallis islands paid their traditional Holiday respects to the King, but had to see him at his bedside.
They had brought gift and also offered prayers to the ailing...