Cabinet (Fiji)
Encyclopedia
Fiji
has the Westminster system
- executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet
of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: the President must appoint as Prime Minister someone who can control a majority of votes in the House of Representatives
. In practice, this is normally the leader of the largest political party or coalition in the house. If there is no clear majority in the House of Representatives, however, the President's role becomes more important: he or she must assume the role of arbitrator and open negotiations with the leaders of the various political parties, in the hope of finding someone whom a majority will accept as Prime Minister. In the event of that failing to take place, the President must dissolve the House of Representatives and call an early election.
is its provision for a compulsory coalition cabinet - even if one party has a parliamentary majority in its own right. Every political party with more than 8 seats in the 71-member parliament must be offered a proportionate number of cabinet posts. If the Prime Minister wishes to give cabinet posts to members of a party with fewer than 8 representatives, he must do so at the expense of his own party, not of other parties in the coalition. This provision was written into the 1997 Constitution with a view to forcing Fiji's political parties, which represented ethnic communities for the most part, to cooperate rather than compete for absolute power. In adopting this novel feature, Fijians noted that a similar system has been operating successfully in Switzerland
for decades. More recently, it has been tried (with far less success) in Northern Ireland
.
government refused to include the Fijian Political Party in the 1999-2000 cabinet, despite the party's holding the required 8 parliamentary seats. Then following the election of 2001
, Mahendra Chaudhry
, the leader of the Fiji Labour Party
, was involved in litigation against the Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase
, on the grounds that Qarase had unconstitutionally refused to include the Labour Party in the Cabinet. On 18 July 2003, Fiji's Supreme Court
ruled that the exclusion of the Labour Party was in breach of the Constitution
, and demanded that the situation be rectified. Amid appeals, counter-appeals, and negotiations, the situation had still not been resolved as of June 2004, when the Supreme Court handed down a further ruling that the Labour Party was entitled to 14 out of 30 posts in the Cabinet. Qarase announced that he would abide by the ruling and would appoint enlarge the Cabinet to include the requisite number of Labour Party ministers, but not Chaudhry himself. This continued to stall negotiations, until late November 2004, when Chaudhry announced that the Labour Party had decided to remain in opposition for the remainder of the present parliamentary term.
Following the parliamentary election
held on 6-13 May 2006, Prime Minister Qarase named a multi-party cabinet consisting of 24 Ministers (11 SDL plus 3 SDL-affiliated Senators
, 9 FLP, and one independent) and 12 Ministers of State (11 SDL and one independent). There was some controversy over Qarase's claim that requirement for proportional representation did not extend to the Ministers of State, and that the three Senators named to the Cabinet, though members of the SDL, should not be counted as such for the purpose of allocating Cabinet numbers. Further controversy continued since, with FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry (who declined a Cabinet post) insisting that FLP members of the Cabinet owed their first loyalty to party. Prime Minister Qarase, on the other hand, maintained that all Ministers were bound by collective Cabinet decision-making.
.
Qarase reiterated his calls for a change to the constitution on 5 October 2005, and indicated that he would contest the 2006 election
on such a platform. Speaking on VitiFm Radio, Qarase said that the multi-party Cabinet provisions of the constitution were unworkable and contrary to democratic principles. "Fiji should change to true democratic rule whereby whoever wins the elections governs, instead of being forced to work in a Cabinet with others of different views, beliefs and ideas on how to run the Government. The result will be an unworkable Cabinet," Qarase said. The provision had been hastily added to the Constitution as an afterthought, he said, and had not been given due consideration. Only three other countries had ever tried the model, none of them successfully, he claimed. "We want a stable government that can govern well and is not shaky," he concluded.
Qarase repeated his calls for amendments on 23 December 2003. Changing the constitutional provision for a multi-party Cabinet to a multi-ethnic one, he told the Fiji Village
news service on 23 December, would guarantee equitable representation to all ethnic communities without requiring the government to compromise with ideologically opposite parties.
deposed the Qarase government on 5 December 2006. The coup leader, Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
reached an agreement with deposed President
Ratu
Josefa Iloilo
whereby Iloilo would be reinstated as President and Bainimarama sworn in as interim Prime Minister
. Bainimarama was duly sworn in on 5 January 2007. Eight Cabinet Ministers appointed on 8 January and another six on 9 January; a fifteenth, Ratu
Epeli Ganilau
, is due to be sworn in as Minister for Fijian Affairs
on 15 January.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
has the Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
- executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: the President must appoint as Prime Minister someone who can control a majority of votes in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
. In practice, this is normally the leader of the largest political party or coalition in the house. If there is no clear majority in the House of Representatives, however, the President's role becomes more important: he or she must assume the role of arbitrator and open negotiations with the leaders of the various political parties, in the hope of finding someone whom a majority will accept as Prime Minister. In the event of that failing to take place, the President must dissolve the House of Representatives and call an early election.
The multi-party Cabinet provision
Cabinet Ministers are formally appointed by the President, but he is constitutionally required to do so only on the advice of the Prime Minister. An unusual feature of the Fijian constitutionConstitution of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
is its provision for a compulsory coalition cabinet - even if one party has a parliamentary majority in its own right. Every political party with more than 8 seats in the 71-member parliament must be offered a proportionate number of cabinet posts. If the Prime Minister wishes to give cabinet posts to members of a party with fewer than 8 representatives, he must do so at the expense of his own party, not of other parties in the coalition. This provision was written into the 1997 Constitution with a view to forcing Fiji's political parties, which represented ethnic communities for the most part, to cooperate rather than compete for absolute power. In adopting this novel feature, Fijians noted that a similar system has been operating successfully in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
for decades. More recently, it has been tried (with far less success) in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Problems with the model
Until May 2006, the multi-party cabinet model was never successfully maintained in Fiji, however. The ChaudhryMahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
government refused to include the Fijian Political Party in the 1999-2000 cabinet, despite the party's holding the required 8 parliamentary seats. Then following the election of 2001
Fiji election of 2001
The Constitution of Fiji was restored by a High Court decision on 15 November 2000, following the failure of the political upheaval in which the government had been deposed and the constitution suspended in May that year. On 1 March 2001, the Appeal Court upheld the decision. An election to...
, Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
, the leader of the Fiji Labour Party
Fiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
, was involved in litigation against the Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
, on the grounds that Qarase had unconstitutionally refused to include the Labour Party in the Cabinet. On 18 July 2003, Fiji's Supreme Court
Supreme Court (Fiji)
The Supreme Court of Fiji is one of three courts established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution, the others being the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court is declared to be "the final appellate court of the State" - in other words, there is no judicial authority higher than the...
ruled that the exclusion of the Labour Party was in breach of the Constitution
Constitution of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
, and demanded that the situation be rectified. Amid appeals, counter-appeals, and negotiations, the situation had still not been resolved as of June 2004, when the Supreme Court handed down a further ruling that the Labour Party was entitled to 14 out of 30 posts in the Cabinet. Qarase announced that he would abide by the ruling and would appoint enlarge the Cabinet to include the requisite number of Labour Party ministers, but not Chaudhry himself. This continued to stall negotiations, until late November 2004, when Chaudhry announced that the Labour Party had decided to remain in opposition for the remainder of the present parliamentary term.
Following the parliamentary election
Fiji election of 2006
The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years. The latest election was held on 6-13 May 2006. Acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi issued a proclamation on 2 March, effective from 27 March, dissolving Parliament...
held on 6-13 May 2006, Prime Minister Qarase named a multi-party cabinet consisting of 24 Ministers (11 SDL plus 3 SDL-affiliated Senators
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
, 9 FLP, and one independent) and 12 Ministers of State (11 SDL and one independent). There was some controversy over Qarase's claim that requirement for proportional representation did not extend to the Ministers of State, and that the three Senators named to the Cabinet, though members of the SDL, should not be counted as such for the purpose of allocating Cabinet numbers. Further controversy continued since, with FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry (who declined a Cabinet post) insisting that FLP members of the Cabinet owed their first loyalty to party. Prime Minister Qarase, on the other hand, maintained that all Ministers were bound by collective Cabinet decision-making.
Calls for amendments
On 16 December 2004, Prime Minister Qarase announced that he would try to get Mahendra Chaudhry's agreement to amend the constitution to abolish the multi-party cabinet rule, which he called "ridiculous," and replace it with a requirement for the cabinet to be "multi-ethnic." This would require a change to Qarase's own cabinet, which at present contains only one Indo-Fijian and only two non-indigenous FijiansFijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
.
Qarase reiterated his calls for a change to the constitution on 5 October 2005, and indicated that he would contest the 2006 election
Fiji election of 2006
The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years. The latest election was held on 6-13 May 2006. Acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi issued a proclamation on 2 March, effective from 27 March, dissolving Parliament...
on such a platform. Speaking on VitiFm Radio, Qarase said that the multi-party Cabinet provisions of the constitution were unworkable and contrary to democratic principles. "Fiji should change to true democratic rule whereby whoever wins the elections governs, instead of being forced to work in a Cabinet with others of different views, beliefs and ideas on how to run the Government. The result will be an unworkable Cabinet," Qarase said. The provision had been hastily added to the Constitution as an afterthought, he said, and had not been given due consideration. Only three other countries had ever tried the model, none of them successfully, he claimed. "We want a stable government that can govern well and is not shaky," he concluded.
Qarase repeated his calls for amendments on 23 December 2003. Changing the constitutional provision for a multi-party Cabinet to a multi-ethnic one, he told the Fiji Village
Fiji Village
The Fiji Village is an online news service in Fiji. Published daily, it covers political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items, and also includes the Yellow Bucket commentary, an editorial which does not necessarily reflect the views of the Fiji Village owners or staff, according to...
news service on 23 December, would guarantee equitable representation to all ethnic communities without requiring the government to compromise with ideologically opposite parties.
The interim cabinet
A military coup2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
deposed the Qarase government on 5 December 2006. The coup leader, Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Frank Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister...
reached an agreement with deposed President
President of Fiji
The President of the Republic of Fiji is the head of state of Fiji. The President was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution. The Great Council of Chiefs is constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but...
Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Josefa Iloilo
Josefa Iloilo
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ was the President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009, excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 until 4 January 2007 . He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda, the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast...
whereby Iloilo would be reinstated as President and Bainimarama sworn in as interim Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
. Bainimarama was duly sworn in on 5 January 2007. Eight Cabinet Ministers appointed on 8 January and another six on 9 January; a fifteenth, Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Epeli Ganilau
Epeli Ganilau
Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji. His career has previously encompassed such roles as Commander of the Fiji Military Forces and Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga...
, is due to be sworn in as Minister for Fijian Affairs
Minister for Fijian Affairs
The Minister for Fijian Affairs is the Cabinet Minister responsible for the preservation of Fijian culture and for the economic and social development of indigenous Fijians. Prior to 1999, the Minister for Fijian Affairs also presided over the Great Council of Chiefs, but since then the Great...
on 15 January.
Initial cabinet
| Portfolio | Minister | Profile |
| Prime Minister Prime Minister of Fiji The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution.... , Minister for Information, Minister for Home Affairs |
Commodore Commodore (rank) Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always... Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama Frank Bainimarama Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister... |
Commander, Republic of Fiji Military Forces Military of Fiji The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all... . |
| Minister for Finance, Minister for Sugar Reform, Minister for National Planning |
Mahendra Chaudhry Mahendra Chaudhry Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party... |
Fiji Labour Party Fiji Labour Party The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is... (FLP) leader; Prime Minister 1999-2000 (deposed). |
| Minister for Youth and Sports | Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi, is a Fijian politician of Indian descent. He was one of the youngest members to be elected into Parliament in 1992. He has represented the Nadroga Indian Communal Constituency, which he won for the Fiji Labour Party in the parliamentary elections of 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001, and... |
FLP politician since 1992; former Cabinet Minister. |
| Minister for Local Government, Minister for Urban Development |
Ratu Ratu Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"... Jone Navakamocea Jone Navakamocea Ratu Jone Navakamocea is a Fijian chief and politician. A member of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party, he won the Serua Navosa Open Constituency in the 2006 Parliamentary election and was subsequently appointed State Minister for National Planning in the government of Laisenia Qarase... |
State Minister for National Planning in the deposed SDL Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua is a political party in Fiji... -led government. |
| Minister for Labour, Minister for Tourism |
Bernadette Rounds Ganilau Bernadette Ganilau Bernadette Lavenia Rounds Ganilau, born July 5, 1951 as Bernadette Lavenia Rounds, is a Fijian writer, broadcaster, and politician, who recently served as Minister for Labour, Minister for Tourism, Industrial Relations, Productivity and Environment in the interim Cabinet of Commodore Frank... |
Served as one of two United People's Party parliamentarians House of Representatives (Fiji) The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation... in 2006. Former Tourism Minister (2000-2001). |
| Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources | Tevita Vuibau Tevita Vuibau Tevita Komaidruka Vuibau was born on the 24 January 1956. He is a marine geology specialist and former principal scientific officer in the Mineral Resource Department. In January 2007 he was appointed to the interim cabinet as Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources.-References:... |
Marine geologist with a background as Principal Scientific Officer with the Mineral Resources Department. |
| Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forests | Jainend Kumar | Retired Director of Research with the Agriculture, Sugar, and Land Resettlement Ministry. |
| Attorney-General Attorney-General (Fiji) Fiji's chief governmental legal officer is the Attorney General. According to the Constitution of Fiji, the Attorney-General is required to be a qualified lawyer and sits in the Cabinet. The office of the Attorney-General is the oldest surviving executive office in Fiji, having been established... , Minister for Justice |
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Fiji's Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Anti-Corruption, Public Enterprises, Industry, Investment, Tourism and Communications... |
Former president of Fiji Young Lawyers Association. |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for External Trade |
Ratu Ratu Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"... Epeli Nailatikau Epeli Nailatikau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, CF, LVO, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is a Fijian chief and the current President of Fiji. He has had a long career in the Military, diplomatic service, and government... |
Former Military Commander, diplomat, Cabinet Minister, and Parliamentary Speaker (2001-2006). Son of high chief and prominent politician, Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau Edward Cakobau Ratu Sir Edward Tuivanuavou Tugi Cakobau, KBE, MC was a Fijian chief and statesman.-Life:He was born on 21 December 1908 as the son of King George Tupou II of Tonga and his Fijian "trial wife", Adi Litia Cakobau, who was a granddaughter of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the King who forged the first... ; son-in-law of first Prime Minister and former President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Kamisese Mara Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992... . |
| Minister for Public Service, Minister for Public Service Reform |
Poseci Bune Poseci Bune Poseci Waqalevu Bune is a Fijian politician, who has served as Deputy Leader of the Fiji Labour Party . From June to December 2006, he served as Minister for the Environment, one of nine FLP ministers, in the multiparty Cabinet of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase... |
Veteran civil servant and diplomat; FLP Environment Minister in the deposed government. Estranged from party leader Mahendra Chaudhry. |
| Minister for Health | Jona Senilagakali Jona Senilagakali Dr Jona Baravilala Senilagakali was a medical doctor and diplomat who was seventh Prime Minister of Fiji. He resigned as Prime Minister on 5 January 2007, but on 8 January he was appointed interim Minister for Health... |
Military doctor and former diplomat; interim Prime Minister for one month after coup 2006 Fijian coup d'état The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis.... of 5 December 2006. |
| Minister for Education | Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander... Netani Sukanaivalu Netani Sukanaivalu Netani Sukanaivalu is a Fijian academic, former naval officer, and political leader, who was appointed to the interim Cabinet as Minister for Education on 9 January 2006.... |
Reserve naval officer, former Fiji Institute of Technology Fiji Institute of Technology The Fiji Institute of Technology is a university based in Fiji. Its has 4 campuses in Suva, Ba, Nadi and Labasa. It was established in 1963 to provide Technical and vocational education aimed at training students in technical disciplines to meet the engineering human resource needs of Fiji... lecturer, and businessman. National Alliance Party National Alliance Party of Fiji The National Alliance Party of Fiji is a Fijian political party. It was formally registered on 18 January 2005 by Ratu Epeli Ganilau, as the claimed successor to the defunct Alliance Party, which ruled Fiji from 1967 to 1987 under the leadership of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ganilau's... (NAPF) candidate in 2006 election Fiji election of 2006 The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years. The latest election was held on 6-13 May 2006. Acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi issued a proclamation on 2 March, effective from 27 March, dissolving Parliament... . |
| Minister for Transport | Manu Korovulavula Manu Korovulavula Manu Korovulavula, , is a Fijian political leader and civil servant. A former Senator, Korovulavula was appointed Minister for Transport in the interim Cabinet of Commodore Frank Bainimarama on 8 January 2007. He was also appointed in Ratu Mara's Interim Cabinet after the 1987 Rabuka coup... |
Longtime civil servant and former Senator Senate (Fiji) The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them... ; NAPF treasurer and candidate in 2006 election. |
| Minister for Commerce | Taito Waradi Taito Waradi Taito Waradi is a Fijian businessman who has served as President of the Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is known as a strong proponent of free enterprise. He has also been outspoken in his calls for moral values to be upheld in business, politics, and society... |
Businessman and president, Fiji Chamber of Commerce. |
| Minister for Women, Minister for Social Welfare |
Adi Adi (title) Adi is a title used by Fijian women of chiefly rank, namely female members of chiefly clans. It is the equivalent of the Ratu title used by male chiefs. It is in general use throughout most of Fiji, although on Kadavu Island, Bulou is used instead.... Laufitu Malani Laufitu Malani Adi Laufitu Malani is a Fijian and political leader. She served as a Senator from June to December 2006, when the Senate was dissolved in the wake of the military coup of 5 December... |
Scion of the chiefly Gonesau clan of Nakorotubu Nakorotubu Nakorotubu is a district in Fiji's Ra Province. It is made up seven sub-districts or Tikina makawa, namely,Kavula, Nakorotubu, Navitilevu, Bure-i-wai, Bure-i-vanua, Mataso, and Nakuailava.-Geography:... , Ra Province Ra Province Ra is one of the fourteen provinces of Fiji. Occupying the northern area of Viti Levu, the largest island, it is one of eight Viti Levu-based Provinces. With a land area of 1341 square kilometers, it had a population of 29,464 at the 2007 census, the last to date... ; former regional director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women. |
| Minister for Fijian Affairs Minister for Fijian Affairs The Minister for Fijian Affairs is the Cabinet Minister responsible for the preservation of Fijian culture and for the economic and social development of indigenous Fijians. Prior to 1999, the Minister for Fijian Affairs also presided over the Great Council of Chiefs, but since then the Great... |
Ratu Ratu Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"... Epeli Ganilau Epeli Ganilau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji. His career has previously encompassed such roles as Commander of the Fiji Military Forces and Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga... |
Scion of the chiefly Ai Sokula clan; son of first President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau Penaia Ganilau Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, DSO was the first President of Fiji, serving from 8 December 1987 until his death in 1993... and son-in-law of first Prime Minister and second President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Kamisese Mara Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992... . |
|
||
Current cabinet
As of June 2009:| Portfolio | Minister | Profile |
| Prime Minister Prime Minister of Fiji The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution.... , Minister for Public Service, Minister for the People's Charter for Change People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress The People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress is a proposed legal document which would complement the Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. It would establish compulsory guidelines for any government policy in Fiji over the coming years... , Minister for Information and Archives, Acting Minister for Finance and National Planning and Sugar, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation, Acting Minister for Provincial Development, Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs |
Commodore Commodore (rank) Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always... Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama Frank Bainimarama Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister... |
Commander, Republic of Fiji Military Forces Military of Fiji The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all... . |
| Attorney-General Attorney-General (Fiji) Fiji's chief governmental legal officer is the Attorney General. According to the Constitution of Fiji, the Attorney-General is required to be a qualified lawyer and sits in the Cabinet. The office of the Attorney-General is the oldest surviving executive office in Fiji, having been established... , Minister for Justice, Minister for Electoral Reform, Minister for Public Enterprises and Anti-Corruption, Acting Minister for Industry, Tourism, Trade and Communications |
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Fiji's Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Anti-Corruption, Public Enterprises, Industry, Investment, Tourism and Communications... |
Former president of Fiji Young Lawyers Association. |
| Minister for Defence, National Security and Immigration | Ratu Epeli Ganilau Epeli Ganilau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji. His career has previously encompassed such roles as Commander of the Fiji Military Forces and Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga... |
Scion of the chiefly Ai Sokula clan; son of first President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau Penaia Ganilau Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, DSO was the first President of Fiji, serving from 8 December 1987 until his death in 1993... and son-in-law of first Prime Minister and second President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Kamisese Mara Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992... . |
| Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources | Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander... Netani Sukanaivalu Netani Sukanaivalu Netani Sukanaivalu is a Fijian academic, former naval officer, and political leader, who was appointed to the interim Cabinet as Minister for Education on 9 January 2006.... |
Reserve naval officer, former Fiji Institute of Technology Fiji Institute of Technology The Fiji Institute of Technology is a university based in Fiji. Its has 4 campuses in Suva, Ba, Nadi and Labasa. It was established in 1963 to provide Technical and vocational education aimed at training students in technical disciplines to meet the engineering human resource needs of Fiji... lecturer, and businessman. National Alliance Party National Alliance Party of Fiji The National Alliance Party of Fiji is a Fijian political party. It was formally registered on 18 January 2005 by Ratu Epeli Ganilau, as the claimed successor to the defunct Alliance Party, which ruled Fiji from 1967 to 1987 under the leadership of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ganilau's... (NAPF) candidate in 2006 election Fiji election of 2006 The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years. The latest election was held on 6-13 May 2006. Acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi issued a proclamation on 2 March, effective from 27 March, dissolving Parliament... . |
| Minister for Primary Industries | Joketani Cokanasiga Joketani Cokanasiga Joketani Cokanasiga is a former Fijian politician, who served as Minister for Public Works and Energy in the interim Cabinet formed by Laisenia Qarase in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000... |
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| Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation | Dr. Jiko Luveni Jiko Luveni Jiko Luveni is a Fijian dentist who is better known for her work to combat AIDS.Luveni was educated at Lautoka Fijian School and then at Nabua Secondary School in Suva, before enrolling in Adi Cakobau School in Sawani. She graduated in dentistry from the Fiji School of Medicine in 1967, the first... |
Dentist and health worker, notable for her work to combat AIDS. |
| Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Minister for Youth and Sports, Acting Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment, Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment |
Filipe Bole Filipe Bole Filipe Nagera Bole is a Fijian politician who hails from the village of Mualevu on the island of Vanuabalavu in the Lau Group. He has long had a reputation as one of Fiji's few politicians untainted by scandal, and is noted for his moderate views... |
National Alliance Party National Alliance Party of Fiji The National Alliance Party of Fiji is a Fijian political party. It was formally registered on 18 January 2005 by Ratu Epeli Ganilau, as the claimed successor to the defunct Alliance Party, which ruled Fiji from 1967 to 1987 under the leadership of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ganilau's... member; held various Cabinet positions between 1986 and 1997. |
| Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities | Timoci Lesi Natuva | |
| Minister for Health | Neil Sharma | |
Sources
- Profile of Fiji's interim cabinet members (Fiji TimesFiji TimesThe Fiji Times is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating....
, 9 January 2006). - Fijian parliamentary website