Filipe Bole
Encyclopedia
Filipe Nagera Bole is a Fiji
an 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. In October 2003, he endorsed calls for an end to racially segregated voting, saying that electing all members of the House of Representatives by universal suffrage would make voters and politicians think of the common national good, rather than communal interests.
, New Zealand
, and at Auckland Teachers College. He subsequently worked as a teacher in Fiji, before going into the civil service
where he served from 1972 to 1980 in a number of government departments. He was also a member of the Council of the University of the South Pacific
in Suva
from 1974 to 1980. He was Fiji's Ambassador
to the United States
and the United Nations
from 1980 to 1983, when he became a project administrator of the Pacific Islands Development Program in Honolulu, Hawaii
, where he remained till 1986.
and served as Minister for Education in 1986 and 1987. Following two coups d'état
in 1987, he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, holding office till 1988, then served as Minister for Youth and Sport from 1989 to 1992.
Bole was elected to the House of Representatives
in the election
held to restore democracy in 1992, and was subsequently appointed Foreign Minister again. Apart from a brief interruption in 1994, he remained in this post until 1997. Bole was also Deputy Prime Minister for a short time in 1993. He transferred from the House of Representatives to the Senate
in 1994 but remained in the Cabinet
. While remaining Minister for Foreign Affairs, he concurrently held portfolios as Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism from 1995 to 1996, and as Minister for National Development in 1997. That year, he became Minister for Information, a post he held till 1999 when his Fijian Political Party was defeated in the parliamentary election
that May, an election in which Bole himself failed to win the Suva City Fijian
Communal Constituency
.
In the 2001 election
, Bole led the campaign of the Fijian Political Party, but it failed to win any seats. In June 2002, Bole founded the Fiji Democratic Party
(FDP) as a merger of some members of the Fijian Political Party, the Christian Democratic Alliance
, the Fijian Association Party
, and the New Labour Unity Party
, but in early 2005, the FDP decided to officially disband and merge into the National Alliance Party
, a new party founded by Ratu Epeli Ganilau
, as a claimed successor to the defunct Fijian Alliance
which ruled the country from 1967 to 1987. Bole went on to assume a leading role as a spokesman for the new party, and unsuccessfully contested the Samabula Tamavua
Open Constituency
for the party in the 2006 election
.
On 1 August 2005, Bole called for a review of Fiji's electoral system to represent all races proportionally in the House of Representatives. This would, he said, get rid of the antagonistic racial politics that have characterized Fiji for many years. The common voters' role was "just toilet paper where everybody is just listed," and that in contests for open electorates, citizens were apt to vote on racial lines. "This fear of racial politics is still endemic among many in Fiji today and we cannot change it but perhaps to have proportionate voting system can bring our people together," Bole said.
On 21 May 2007, Mr. Bole was nominated to the position of Chairman at the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority. He was appointed to the three-year position by interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudry.
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...
an politician who hails from the village of Mualevu on the island of Vanuabalavu in the Lau Group
Lau Islands
The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...
. He has long had a reputation as one of Fiji's few politicians untainted by scandal, and is noted for his moderate views. In October 2003, he endorsed calls for an end to racially segregated voting, saying that electing all members of the House of Representatives by universal suffrage would make voters and politicians think of the common national good, rather than communal interests.
Education and early career
He was educated at Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and at Auckland Teachers College. He subsequently worked as a teacher in Fiji, before going into the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
where he served from 1972 to 1980 in a number of government departments. He was also a member of the Council of the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
from 1974 to 1980. He was Fiji's Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1980 to 1983, when he became a project administrator of the Pacific Islands Development Program in Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, where he remained till 1986.
Political career
Returning to Fiji, he entered politicsPolitics of Fiji
Politics of Fiji takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Fiji has a multi-party system with the Prime Minister of Fiji as head of government. The executive power is exercised by the government...
and served as Minister for Education in 1986 and 1987. Following two coups d'état
Fiji coups of 1987
The Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II as Queen of Fiji, and in the declaration of a republic...
in 1987, he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, holding office till 1988, then served as Minister for Youth and Sport from 1989 to 1992.
Bole was elected to 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 the election
Fiji election of 1992
General elections were held in Fiji between 23 and 30 May 1992. It was the first election held since two military coups in 1987 had severed Fiji's 113-year old constitutional links with the British Monarchy, and later Fijian Monarchy, and ushered in a republic.The 1992 elections were the first to...
held to restore democracy in 1992, and was subsequently appointed Foreign Minister again. Apart from a brief interruption in 1994, he remained in this post until 1997. Bole was also Deputy Prime Minister for a short time in 1993. He transferred from the House of Representatives to the Senate
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...
in 1994 but remained in the Cabinet
Cabinet (Fiji)
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...
. While remaining Minister for Foreign Affairs, he concurrently held portfolios as Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism from 1995 to 1996, and as Minister for National Development in 1997. That year, he became Minister for Information, a post he held till 1999 when his Fijian Political Party was defeated in the parliamentary election
Fiji election of 1999
General elections were held in Fiji between 8 and 15 May 1999. They were the first election held under the revised Constitution of 1997, which instituted a new electoral system and resulted in Mahendra Chaudhry taking office as Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.-Electoral system:Previously,...
that May, an election in which Bole himself failed to win the Suva City Fijian
Fijian 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...
Communal Constituency
Communal constituencies (Fiji)
Communal constituencies have been the most durable feature of the Fijian electoral system. In communal constituencies, electors enrolled as ethnic Fijians, Indo-Fijians, Rotuman Islanders, or General Electors vote for a candidate of their own respective ethnic groups, in constituencies that have...
.
In the 2001 election
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...
, Bole led the campaign of the Fijian Political Party, but it failed to win any seats. In June 2002, Bole founded the Fiji Democratic Party
Fiji Democratic Party
The Fiji Democratic Party is a former political party in Fiji, which operated between June 2002 and April 2005.It was founded by Filipe Bole, a former Cabinet Minister, as a merger of the Fijian Political Party , the Fijian Association Party, the Christian Democratic Alliance, and the New Labour...
(FDP) as a merger of some members of the Fijian Political Party, the Christian Democratic Alliance
Christian Democratic Alliance (Fiji)
The Christian Democratic Alliance, better known locally by its Fijian name, Veitokani ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito , was a Fijian political party that operated in the late 1990s and early 2000s....
, the Fijian Association Party
Fijian Association Party
The Fijian Association Party is a former political party in Fiji. It played a significant role in Fijian politics throughout the 1990s, but lost all of its seats in the House of Representatives in the parliamentary election of 2001....
, and the New Labour Unity Party
New Labour Unity Party (Fiji)
The New Labour Unity Party was a Fijian political party, which broke away from the Fiji Labour Party in May 2001. It was founded by Tupeni Baba, a former Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Party stalwart, who had become dissatisfied with Mahendra Chaudhry's leadership and expressed fears that if...
, but in early 2005, the FDP decided to officially disband and merge into the 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...
, a new party founded by 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...
, as a claimed successor to the defunct Fijian Alliance
Fijian Alliance
The Alliance Party, was the ruling political party in Fiji from 1966 to 1987. Founded in the early 1960s, its leader was Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the founding father of the modern Fijian nation...
which ruled the country from 1967 to 1987. Bole went on to assume a leading role as a spokesman for the new party, and unsuccessfully contested the Samabula Tamavua
Samabula Tamavua (Open Constituency, Fiji)
Samabula Tamavua Open is an electoral division of Fiji, one of 25 open constituencies elected by universal suffrage . Like the other open electorates, it came into being in 1999 and was used for the parliamentary elections of 1999, 2001, and 2006...
Open Constituency
Open constituencies (Fiji)
Open constituencies represent one of several electoral models employed in the past and present in the Fijian electoral system. They derive their name from the fact that they are "open": unlike the communal constituencies, the 25 members of the House of Representatives who represent open...
for the party in 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...
.
Policies
On 27 April 2005, he called for an overhaul of Fiji's education system. He advocated full government funding, saying that the present user-pays system puts a heavy financial burden on many parents. He also said that instruction in English only was creating difficulties for students not fluent in it.On 1 August 2005, Bole called for a review of Fiji's electoral system to represent all races proportionally in the House of Representatives. This would, he said, get rid of the antagonistic racial politics that have characterized Fiji for many years. The common voters' role was "just toilet paper where everybody is just listed," and that in contests for open electorates, citizens were apt to vote on racial lines. "This fear of racial politics is still endemic among many in Fiji today and we cannot change it but perhaps to have proportionate voting system can bring our people together," Bole said.
On 21 May 2007, Mr. Bole was nominated to the position of Chairman at the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority. He was appointed to the three-year position by interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudry.
Academic appointment
It was reported on 5 September 2006 that Bole had been appointed a Senior Fellow with the Centre for International and Regional Affairs at the University of FijiUniversity of Fiji
The University of Fiji is a university based in Saweni, Lautoka, Fiji. It was established in December 2004 under academic leadership of the Fiji Institute of Applied Studies and financial sponsorship of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, a Hindu religious organization dedicated to education...
External Links
- Counter-Inflation Act, December 2009, Figi Islands Government Gazette Supplement