Widow gets $12,000 compensation after death of husband

The long wait is finally over for 44-year-old Amelia Kotobalavu after receiving a compensation payment of $12,000 after the passing away of her husband Timoci Ratoki in 2007.

While handing over the cheque, Deputy Secretary National OHS and Workers Compensation Isimeli Tuivaga said the compensation comes to a total of $24,000 where her two children will also get a share.

Tuivaga said since the two dependents are below the age of 21 the Ministry will open their trust account.

He added that the children aged seventeen and thirteen years old will have $5,000 and $7,000 respectively in their trust account.

The late Timoci Ratoki, who was a former employee of the Ministry of Fisheries and Forest, passed away in 2007 when delivering giant clams for the Ministry’s reseeding program in Dawasamu.

It was reported that Ratoki was travelling in a wooden punt from Makogai Island to Natovi when he went missing.

Kotobalavu said she will use the money to expand her poultry farm business at Mataikadawa, Serua.