Joji Kotobalavu
Encyclopedia
Jioji Kotobalavu was Fiji
civil servant. He was the Chief Executive Officer in the Prime Minister's office, (CEO PMO) but was dismissed on 7 December 2006 by the military junta
which had seized power
on 5 December. He received his formal notice of dismissal on 13 December.
Kotobalavu was a career civil servant who once served as Fiji's ambassador
to Japan
in the late 1970s. He left the Civil Service briefly to head SOPAC South Pacific Geoscience Commission.
As part of his duties in managing the operations of the Prime Minister's office, he was required to make statements on policy matters. Since public policy is often put under the spot light of public scrutiny, the CEO PMO was regularly required to make statements to defend or clarify government's stand on certain policies. As in most governments of the world, some of these decisions proved to be controversial.
Kotobalavu's outspokenness occasionally caused trouble for him. On 23 September 2005, he was made to apologise to the High Court
for making statements defending the Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
, against allegations of involvement in a Ministry of Agriculture scandal, in which more than F$30 million
was allegedly misappropriated. Justice Nazhat Shameem
ruled Kotobalavu's comments to be in contempt of court
and ordered him to apologise and to refrain from making any further statements until after the trial. The Police investigations eventually cleared PM Qarase of any involvement in the Agricultural scam. It seemed that Kotobalavu's defence of the Prime of the day was fully justified.
That Justice Nazhat Shameem had then accepted the call to serve under the military government of Frank Bainimarama, who overthrew the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Qarase in December 2006. It would then appear that Kotobalavu, at least for the period in which Shameem served under the military regime of Bainimarama, held the higher moral ground.
Jioji Kotobalavu currently works as a consultant for the Prime Minister of Samoa's office.
Several senior civil servants from the Ministry of Agriculture, including the former Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Peniasi Kunatuba were investigated, prosecuted and imprisoned when they were found guilty of committing fraud over the Agriculture Scam.
It would appear that Jioji Kotobalavu, with the benefit of hindsight, was the most experienced, most capable and most influential chief executive officer in the history of Fiji's public service.
On 22 October 2006, Fiji Live
quoted Kotobalavu as denying that he had applied for the position of Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum
http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/10/22/fijilive2.html. The Melanesian Spearhead Group
had reportedly nominated him for the post, but he denied this.
Reacting to his dismissal, Kotobalavu told Fiji Live
on 13 December that it would give him more time to study theology
.
Kotobalavu was educated at Lelean Memorial
and Queen Victoria School
s. He graduated with an MA from the University of Auckland
and a Diploma of Diplomacy from Oxford University.
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...
civil servant. He was the Chief Executive Officer in the Prime Minister's office, (CEO PMO) but was dismissed on 7 December 2006 by the military junta
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...
which had seized power
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....
on 5 December. He received his formal notice of dismissal on 13 December.
Kotobalavu was a career civil servant who once served as 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 Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in the late 1970s. He left the Civil Service briefly to head SOPAC South Pacific Geoscience Commission.
As part of his duties in managing the operations of the Prime Minister's office, he was required to make statements on policy matters. Since public policy is often put under the spot light of public scrutiny, the CEO PMO was regularly required to make statements to defend or clarify government's stand on certain policies. As in most governments of the world, some of these decisions proved to be controversial.
Kotobalavu's outspokenness occasionally caused trouble for him. On 23 September 2005, he was made to apologise to the High Court
High Court (Fiji)
The High Court of Fiji is one of three courts established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution of Fiji—the others being the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The Constitution empowers Parliament to create other courts; these are subordinate to the High Court, which is authorized to oversee all...
for making statements defending 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...
, against allegations of involvement in a Ministry of Agriculture scandal, in which more than F$30 million
Fijian dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Fiji since 1969 and was also the currency between 1867 and 1873. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively FJ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
was allegedly misappropriated. Justice Nazhat Shameem
Nazhat Shameem
Nazhat Shameem is a former Fiji Indian judge.She was appointed to the bench in 1999 as Fiji's first, and 2007 so far only, Indo-Fijian female High Court judge...
ruled Kotobalavu's comments to be in contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
and ordered him to apologise and to refrain from making any further statements until after the trial. The Police investigations eventually cleared PM Qarase of any involvement in the Agricultural scam. It seemed that Kotobalavu's defence of the Prime of the day was fully justified.
That Justice Nazhat Shameem had then accepted the call to serve under the military government of Frank Bainimarama, who overthrew the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Qarase in December 2006. It would then appear that Kotobalavu, at least for the period in which Shameem served under the military regime of Bainimarama, held the higher moral ground.
Jioji Kotobalavu currently works as a consultant for the Prime Minister of Samoa's office.
Several senior civil servants from the Ministry of Agriculture, including the former Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Peniasi Kunatuba were investigated, prosecuted and imprisoned when they were found guilty of committing fraud over the Agriculture Scam.
It would appear that Jioji Kotobalavu, with the benefit of hindsight, was the most experienced, most capable and most influential chief executive officer in the history of Fiji's public service.
On 22 October 2006, Fiji Live
Fiji Live
Fijilive is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder....
quoted Kotobalavu as denying that he had applied for the position of Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum
Pacific Islands Forum
The Pacific Islands Forum is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean. It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum...
http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/10/22/fijilive2.html. The Melanesian Spearhead Group
Melanesian Spearhead Group
The Melanesian Spearhead Group is an intergovernmental organization, composed of the four Melanesian states of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as well as the FLNKS of New Caledonia. It was founded as a political gathering in 1983...
had reportedly nominated him for the post, but he denied this.
Reacting to his dismissal, Kotobalavu told Fiji Live
Fiji Live
Fijilive is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder....
on 13 December that it would give him more time to study theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
Kotobalavu was educated at Lelean Memorial
Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School is one of the largest co-ed schools in Fiji today. It was established in 1943 and is run by the Methodist Church of Fiji. It is co-located at the Davuilevu Methodist Compound with the and the Young People's Department, which runs training for Methodist catechists...
and Queen Victoria School
Queen Victoria School (Fiji)
Queen Victoria School is a school in Fiji, established in 1906.The school was originally established in Nasinu to provide education to the sons of Fijian Chiefs...
s. He graduated with an MA from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
and a Diploma of Diplomacy from Oxford University.