Savenaca Siwatibau
Encyclopedia
Savenaca Siwatibau was a Fiji
an academic leader and civil service
administrator.
The son of Isaac Driver and Adi Asenaca Mairara, Siwatibau was born on 4 November 1940 in Tukavesi Village in Taveuni
, Cakaudrove
Province
, but grew up in Buca, the village of his mother, who was of chiefly
rank. He was educated at Queen Victoria School
and Suva Grammar School
, graduating as the Dux
in 1958. In 1963, he graduated from New Zealand
's the University of Auckland
with a Master's degree
in Science
, with a major in mathematics
and physics
. While at Auckland University, he had met his future wife, Suliana Kaloumaira
, a native of Moturiki Island
. They were married in 1966. They had three sons (Simione Ramacake, Ropate Rakula, and Atunaisa Taleasiga), and one daughter (Asenaca Tania Tuivanuavou). Two sons became IT
engineers and one a lawyer. His daughter became a banker.
After working as a meteorologist in Nadi
, Siwatibau was posted to the Meteorology Office in Wellington
, New Zealand, where he decided to study economics
at Victoria University
. His study was interrupted by a transfer to the Economic Planning office in Suva
, but he was able to continue his studies at Sussex University in the United Kingdom
, graduating in 1968 with a Master of Arts
degree in Economics. When Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom
in 1970, Siwatibau was appointed the first native-born Director of Economic Planning.
In 1972, he became Permanent Secretary of Finance, and also joined the University of the South Pacific
as a government representative on the institution's ruling body, the University Council. From 1978 to 1980, he served as an Alternate Director of the International Monetary Fund
in Washington, D.C.
, and on his return to Fiji, he was appointed Local General Manager of the Central Monetary Authority. In 1982 he became the first Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji
. In 1988, he left Fiji for six months to pursue a fellowship
at the Australian National University
, and on his return, he was appointed Head of EPOC (the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Pacific Operations Centre in Vanuatu
, a position he held until 2000.
While still at EPOC, he was appointed Pro-Chancellor
of the University of the South Pacific in 1998, and was promoted to Vice-Chancellor in 2001. The appointment generated some controversy, with some university staff having supported Rajesh Chandra
for the post.
In 2000, George Speight
, who led a civilian insurrection against the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
, proposed Siwatibau for the post of Prime Minister. Siwatibau was not a party to the plot and had no apparent sympathy with it, but Speight may have wanted a respected name to lend legitimacy to his rebel government.
Savenaca Siwatibau died of lung cancer
at Christchurch
Hospital in New Zealand
on 3 October 2003. He was 62.
His family and friends remembered him as a committed Christian who had a strong sense of fairness and justice. Several times he was offered the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) decoration, but declined it, saying that he wanted God's approval, not man's.
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 academic leader and 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....
administrator.
The son of Isaac Driver and Adi Asenaca Mairara, Siwatibau was born on 4 November 1940 in Tukavesi Village in Taveuni
Taveuni
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers . The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated 6.5 kilometers to the east of Vanua Levu, across the...
, Cakaudrove
Cakaudrove
Cakaudrove is one of fourteen provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, and numerous other islands in the Vanua Levu Group...
Province
Local government of Fiji
Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces; the self-governing island of Rotuma and its dependencies lie outside any of the four divisions. Each division is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Fijian government...
, but grew up in Buca, the village of his mother, who was of chiefly
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"...
rank. He was educated at 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...
and Suva Grammar School
Suva Grammar School
Suva Grammar School, is a secondary school in Suva, Fiji.The school caters for forms 3 to 7 and has a school population of about 1000 students...
, graduating as the Dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
in 1958. In 1963, he graduated from 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...
's 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...
with a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, with a major in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. While at Auckland University, he had met his future wife, Suliana Kaloumaira
Suliana Siwatibau
Suliana Siwatibau is a Fijian political activist, who serves as the Chairperson of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity as of January 2007...
, a native of Moturiki Island
Moturiki
Moturiki is an island belonging to Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Covering an area of 10.4 square kilometers, it is situated at 17.45° South and 178.44° East....
. They were married in 1966. They had three sons (Simione Ramacake, Ropate Rakula, and Atunaisa Taleasiga), and one daughter (Asenaca Tania Tuivanuavou). Two sons became IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
engineers and one a lawyer. His daughter became a banker.
After working as a meteorologist in Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
, Siwatibau was posted to the Meteorology Office in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand, where he decided to study economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at Victoria University
Victoria 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...
. His study was interrupted by a transfer to the Economic Planning office 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,...
, but he was able to continue his studies at Sussex University in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, graduating in 1968 with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Economics. When Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1970, Siwatibau was appointed the first native-born Director of Economic Planning.
In 1972, he became Permanent Secretary of Finance, and also joined 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...
as a government representative on the institution's ruling body, the University Council. From 1978 to 1980, he served as an Alternate Director of the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and on his return to Fiji, he was appointed Local General Manager of the Central Monetary Authority. In 1982 he became the first Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji
Reserve Bank of Fiji
The Reserve Bank of Fiji is the central bank of the Pacific island country of Fiji. The responsibilities of the RBF include issue of currency, control of money supply, currency exchange, monetary stability, promotion of sound finances, and fostering economic development.- Reserve Bank's Statutory...
. In 1988, he left Fiji for six months to pursue a fellowship
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, and on his return, he was appointed Head of EPOC (the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Pacific Operations Centre in Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
, a position he held until 2000.
While still at EPOC, he was appointed Pro-Chancellor
Pro-Chancellor
A Pro-Chancellor is an officer of some universities in Commonwealth countries. The Pro-Chancellor acts as a deputy to the Chancellor and as practical chairman of the University Council...
of the University of the South Pacific in 1998, and was promoted to Vice-Chancellor in 2001. The appointment generated some controversy, with some university staff having supported Rajesh Chandra
Rajesh Chandra
Rajesh Chandra is a Fijian academic of Indian descent. In February 2005 he was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of the newly founded University of Fiji. He is at present Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific....
for the post.
In 2000, George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
, who led a civilian insurrection against the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
, proposed Siwatibau for the post of Prime Minister. Siwatibau was not a party to the plot and had no apparent sympathy with it, but Speight may have wanted a respected name to lend legitimacy to his rebel government.
Savenaca Siwatibau died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
at Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
Hospital in 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...
on 3 October 2003. He was 62.
His family and friends remembered him as a committed Christian who had a strong sense of fairness and justice. Several times he was offered the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) decoration, but declined it, saying that he wanted God's approval, not man's.