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.
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
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