Fiji Ministers

Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
The Republic of Fiji/Matanitu Ko Viti (The Fiji Islands) (The Sovereign Democratic Republic of the Fiji Islands )
(Female suffrage ((1929) 1962)) British Colony 1874-1970, Independent 1970 and a Republic in 1987 

See also Fiji Heads and Fiji Parliament

Adi is the female form of Chief, Ratu the male equivalent

1970-87 Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Fiji and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of The Commonwealth (10.10-10.10)
She was deposed after a military coup at 10th of October 1987. She resigned five days later. She had been Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1952. (b.1926-)

1976 Assistant Minister of Urban Development, Housing, Labour, Social Welfare and Local Development Adi Losalini Dovi
Former Government Whip in the Parliament and National Secretary of   Fijian Association Political Party. She was the first female member of the Legislative Assembly 1966-70.

1987-88 Minister of Culture Adi Litai Cakobau
Deputy Chairperson of Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga)
1999-2003 and Senator 2001-06. Sister of Adi Samanunu Cakobau Talakuli (See below), they are members of the Chiefly House in Bau, and in 2000 she presided over the Bose ni Turagua, Council of Chiefs. From 2006 Chief Executive Officer of the Fijian Affairs Department.

1987-92 Minister of Indian Affairs Irene Jai Narrayen                  
In 1976-79 President of the National Federation Party, 1977-79 Opposition Whip, 1979-85 Deputy Opposition Leader, 1985 she narrowly lost bid for NFP leadership, resigned from the party and sat as an independent M.P until she joined the multiracial coalition The Alliance Party, where she has remained a leading figure. Senator 1994-99 and in 1995 Co-founder and Co-leader of Fiji Indian Congress. (b. 1932-)

1987-94 Minister of Social Welfare, Women and Culture Adi Tamari Finau Tabukaucaro
1994-96 Minister of Women and Culture
2000-06 Assistant Minister of Fijian and Rotuman Affairs
In 1987 Member Great Council for Chiefs.
In 2003 candidate for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the GCC. (b. 1943- )

1993-95 Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Women and Culture Taufa Vakatale
1997 Minister of Education, Women and Culture
1997-99 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Technology
In 1980-92 Deputy Ambassador to United Kingdom, 1987-92 Permanent Secretary in various ministries.
She acted as Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in April to May 1994. In 2000 she resigned as President of the Sogosogoni Vakavulewa ni Tauki Party in protest with the coup d’etat.

1994-95 Minister of Fijian Affairs and Regional Development, Chairperson of Great Council of Chiefs
2006-07 Minister without Portfolio Adi Samanunu Cakobau Talakuli, High Chiefess of Tailevu
High Chiefess of Tailevu from around 1989. In 1997
and 2004 considered as Vice-President of the Republic, Ambassador to Malaysia, Thailand and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 1999-2006 and in 2000 Chairperson of the Bose ni Turagua (Council of Chiefs). She is the eldest child of Ratu Sir George Cakobau, Vunivalu of Bau (High Chief/King). The Bose ni Turagua was the Council of Chief (200 junior chiefs, Heads of Yaunsa) which meet in times of crises. During the coups d’etat in 1987 and 2000. The council nominated her for the post of Minister of Culture and Ethnic affairs, but she was not appointed to the post. Later in the turbulent events the leader of the coup, Georges Speight, wanted her to become Prime Minister. She was daughter of Ratu Sir George Kadavulevu Cakobau, the Vunivalu of Bau, Governor General of Fiji 1973-83. He lived (1912-89). She lived (1940-2012).

1994-97 Minister of Health and Social Welfare Seruwaia Hong Tiy
1995-97 Minister of Housing, Urban Development and Environment
1997 Minister of Information
1997-99 Minister of Women and Culture

1999-2000 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fijian Affairs Adi Kuini Teimumu Vuikaba Speed, Tui Noikoro of Navosa
Leader of Fiji Labour Party 1989-91, 1995 Leader of Fiji Labour National Federation, 1995-98 Vice-President of Fijian Association Party, 1998
-2001 Party Leader. In 2000 she and the rest of the government was deposed in a coup d’etat. She lived (1949-2004).

1999-2000 Minister for Women, Culture and Social Welfare Lavenia K. Wainiqolo Padareath
Vice-President of VLV, the Christian Party.

1999-2000 Minister for Tourism and Transport Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau
During the coup d’etat in may 2000 she was held hostage with a number of other ministers for more than two weeks. She is daughter of the former Fijian President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, The Tui Lau, Tui Nayan and Tevita Uluilakeba, the Traditional Head of the Confederation of Touata Tribes and Adi Ro Lalabalavu Litia Kaloagutoga Lady  Mara, The Roko Tui Dreketi, Paramount Chiefess of Rewa and Traditional Head of Burebasaga Confederacy (Covering much of the west of Fiji’s main Island Viti Levu), who was co-leader of Fijian Political Party around 1993. Married to Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Deputy Premier in the interim government in 2000. He is son of Edward Tuiuanuauou Tugi Cakobau (1908-73), the “natural” son of King Georg Tupou II of Tonga and Adi Litia Cakobau (1875-1952). Adi Koila is (b. 1953-)

1999-2000 Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests Marieta Rigamoto
2000-01 Interim Assistant Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Forests, assisting with Agriculture and Fisheries and Assisting the Prime Minister with the responsibility for the Rotuma Agreement
2001-06 Assistant Minister in the
Prime Minister's Office (to assist with the Blueprint for Fijian and Rotuman Development and the Village Improvement Scheme)

1999-2000 Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Adi Ema Tagicakibau
She is a leading member of Fijian Association Party

2000 Minister-Candidate for Women, Culture and Social Welfare Paula Sototu

2000-01 Interim Minister of Women, Culture and Social Welfare Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa
2001-06 Minister of Education, Youth and Sport (Third in the Cabinet 2001-03)
She was a member of the Great Council of Chiefs and succeeded her sister, Ro Adi Lady Lala Mara, to the title of
Roko Tui Dreketi in 2004 and the following year she was appointed Chairperson of the Rewa Regional Council also in succession to her sister. From 2002 she was fourth in the Cabinet. Leader of Social Democratic Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition 2014-16. (b. 1945-)

2000-01 Interim Assistant Minister for Women and Culture Adi Senimili Dyer

2000-01 Interim Assistant Minister of Women and Social Welfare Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau
2007-08 Interim
Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Productivity, Tourism and Environment
Deputy Opposition Leader (United People's Party) 2005-06.

2001-06 Minister of Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation Asenaca Caucau-Filipe
2006 Minister of State for Housing
Former Assistant Director of the Pacific Concerns Resources Center

2001-06 Assistant Minister of Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation
2006 Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Losena Tubanavau Salabula

2004-06 Assistant Minister for Culture and Heritage, Ministry of Fijian Affairs, Culture and Heritage Nanise Nagusuca

2006 Minister for Commerce and Industry Adi Sivia Tora Qoro
Appointed by the Labour Party.

2006-07 In Charge of the Ministry of Fijian Affairs Adi  Litia Qionibaravi
Chief Executive of the Ministry and Secretary of the Grand Council of Chiefs from 2005.

2006-07 In Charge of the Ministry of Education Alumita Taganesia
As Chief Executive she became Acting Minister after the Military Coup in December.

2006-07 In Charge of the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests Alefina Vuki
She was Acting Chief Executive Officer

2006-07 In Charge of the Ministry of Information and Communications Emi Rabukawaqa

2006-07 In Charge of the Ministry of Women, Social Welfare and Housing Emele Duituturaga

2007-08 Interim Minister of Women, Social Welfare and Housing Laufitu Malani

2008-14 Interim Minister of Health, Women, Social Welfare Dr. Jiko Luveni
President of the Fiji First Party from 2014 and Speaker of Parliament since 2014. (b. 1946-)

2014- Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Mereseini Vuniwaqa
Acting Permanent Secretary for Justice and Acting Supervisor of Elections 2012-13.

2014- Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Sofia Akbar


2014-16 Asssistant Minister for Finance, Public Enterprises, Public Service, Trade and Tourism Lorna Eden
2016- Assistant Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment

2014-16 Assistant Minister for Health Veena Kumar Bhatnagar
2016- Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation

 

 

Last updates 24.09.14