Tomasi Vakatora
Encyclopedia
Tomasi Vakatora was a Fiji
an statesman who held Cabinet
office and served as Speaker of the House of Representatives
.
Vakatora entered the House of Representatives
as a member of the ruling Alliance Party
in 1977 and served in a variety of ministerial positions in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1982, and served till the house was dissolved in 1987
.
In 1995, the Fijian government chose Vakatora as its representative on the Constitutional Review Commission, set up to rewrite the Constitution
that had been promulgated in 1990 which many Indo-Fijians alleged discriminated against them.
In 2005 and early 2006, Vakatora spearheaded moves to forge an electoral alliance among indigenous Fijian
-led political parties ahead of parliamentary elections
held on 6-13 May 2006. On 30 July 2005, Vakatora announced that five such parties, including the ruling Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
, had agreed to such a coalition
. The parties would exchange preferences and, if elected, form a coalition government. The coalition all but collapsed, however, when two parties pulled out, a third dissolved itself, and a fourth nominated only one candidate.
On 11 August 2005, Vakatora called for Indo-Fijian and minority
representation in the House of Representatives to take account of population changes. The three seats allocated to minorities (Europeans, Chinese, and others) were already more than their population numbers warranted, he said, reacting to calls from Labour Minister Kenneth Zinck
for their numbers to be increased. Since the 1996 census, the indigenous majority had increased, he claimed, but changes to parliamentary representation would be possible only through a constitutional
amendment, which he called for. Vakatora's calls were immediately rejected by Opposition Leader
Mahendra Chaudhry
, who said that Indo-Fijians were already underrepresented, claiming that they had given up two seats in the constitutional revision of 1997 in order to make way for the minority groups. They had been "short-changed," he said. United Peoples Party
leader Mick Beddoes
, whose party mostly represents minorities, also said that he would fight any moves to reduce their representation in the House of Representatives.
Vakatora was originally from Naivilaca village in Rewa. In his last years, when not addressing politics at the national level, Vakatora spent time advising Rewan villagers on the controversial Iqoliqoli Bill and how it will affect them. He was also involved in the establishment of the Noco Development Bus Company.
Vakatora's autobiography, From the Mangrove Swamps, tells of his life as a simple village boy who enjoyed catching mud crabs, to his rise to the corridors of power, as a senior civil servant, a government minister, and Speaker of Parliament. He attended Lelean Memorial School
.
Vakatora, 80, was survived by his wife Wainiqolo Vakatora, five children, seventeen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. At his funeral, held at Butt Street Wesley Church in Suva
, Rev. Akuila Yabaki
(a close personal friend, despite political differences) described Vakatora, the son of a Methodist
minister, as a committed Christian whose life was characterized by weekly prayer meeting
s in his home.
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 statesman who held 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...
office and served as Speaker of 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...
.
Vakatora entered 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...
as a member of the ruling Alliance Party
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...
in 1977 and served in a variety of ministerial positions in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1982, and served till the house was dissolved in 1987
Fiji election of 1987
General elections were held in Fiji between 4 and 11 April 1987. It was historic in that it marked the first electoral transition of power in Fijian history...
.
In 1995, the Fijian government chose Vakatora as its representative on the Constitutional Review Commission, set up to rewrite 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....
that had been promulgated in 1990 which many Indo-Fijians alleged discriminated against them.
In 2005 and early 2006, Vakatora spearheaded moves to forge an electoral alliance among indigenous 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...
-led political parties ahead of parliamentary elections
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. On 30 July 2005, Vakatora announced that five such parties, including the ruling Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua is a political party in Fiji...
, had agreed to such a coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
. The parties would exchange preferences and, if elected, form a coalition government. The coalition all but collapsed, however, when two parties pulled out, a third dissolved itself, and a fourth nominated only one candidate.
On 11 August 2005, Vakatora called for Indo-Fijian and minority
General Electors (Fiji)
"General Electors" is the term used in Fiji to identify citizens of voting age who belong, in most cases, to ethnic minorities. The Constitution defines General Electors as all Fiji citizens who are not registered as being of Fijian, Indian, or Rotuman descent. Also included are citizens who do...
representation in the House of Representatives to take account of population changes. The three seats allocated to minorities (Europeans, Chinese, and others) were already more than their population numbers warranted, he said, reacting to calls from Labour Minister Kenneth Zinck
Kenneth Zinck
Kenneth Vincent Zinck is a Fijian politician, who served in the Cabinet from 2001 to 2006 as Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations, and Productivity.- Elections of 1999 and 2001 :...
for their numbers to be increased. Since the 1996 census, the indigenous majority had increased, he claimed, but changes to parliamentary representation would be possible only through a constitutional
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....
amendment, which he called for. Vakatora's calls were immediately rejected by Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)
The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. It did not originate in Fiji but has a long tradition; in British constitutional theory, the Leader of the Opposition must pose a formal alternative to the government, ready...
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
, who said that Indo-Fijians were already underrepresented, claiming that they had given up two seats in the constitutional revision of 1997 in order to make way for the minority groups. They had been "short-changed," he said. United Peoples Party
United Peoples Party (Fiji)
The United Peoples Party is a political party in Fiji, whose support base lies chiefly among General Electors - Fiji Islanders who belong to ethnic minorities, such as Europeans, Chinese, Banaban Islanders, as well as multiracial people...
leader Mick Beddoes
Mick Beddoes
Mick Malcolm Millis Beddoes, widely known as Mick Beddoes, is a Fijian politician and businessman from Nadi, who has led the United Peoples Party since 2000, and was the Leader of the Opposition at the time of the military coup of 5 December 2006...
, whose party mostly represents minorities, also said that he would fight any moves to reduce their representation in the House of Representatives.
Vakatora was originally from Naivilaca village in Rewa. In his last years, when not addressing politics at the national level, Vakatora spent time advising Rewan villagers on the controversial Iqoliqoli Bill and how it will affect them. He was also involved in the establishment of the Noco Development Bus Company.
Vakatora's autobiography, From the Mangrove Swamps, tells of his life as a simple village boy who enjoyed catching mud crabs, to his rise to the corridors of power, as a senior civil servant, a government minister, and Speaker of Parliament. He attended Lelean Memorial School
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...
.
Vakatora, 80, was survived by his wife Wainiqolo Vakatora, five children, seventeen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. At his funeral, held at Butt Street Wesley Church 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,...
, Rev. Akuila Yabaki
Akuila Yabaki
Akuila Yabaki is a Fijian human rights activist and Methodist clergyman. He is currently the Executive Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, a pro-democracy organization....
(a close personal friend, despite political differences) described Vakatora, the son of a Methodist
Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36.2 percent of the total population at the 1996 census...
minister, as a committed Christian whose life was characterized by weekly prayer meeting
Prayer meeting
A prayer meeting is, as its name describes, a meeting of people for the purpose of prayer as a group. Prayer meetings are normally conducted by one or more members of the clergy....
s in his home.