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Cabinet of Fiji

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Cabinet of Fiji is a Government body of Ministers appointed by the Prime Minister of Fiji and responsible to the Parliament of Fiji. The Cabinet's constitutional basis is sections 90 to 96 of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji.[1]

Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister as chair and a number of Ministers.[2] With the exception of the Attorney-General, they must be members of Parliament. Ministers hold office at the pleasure of the Prime Minister, or until they resign or cease to be MPs.[3]

The cabinet is responsible to Parliament. Ministers must provide regular reports to Parliament on their areas of responsibility and must appear before Parliament or any committee on a request to answer questions about their areas of responsibility.[4]

Prior to the 2006 Fijian coup d'état and the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis, Fiji's Cabinet was governed by the 1997 Constitution. An unusual feature of the constitution was to require a compulsory coalition cabinet, with every political party with more than 8 seats in the 71-member parliament required to be offered a proportionate number of cabinet posts. The model was not successfully implemented for nearly a decade, with the governments of both Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase refusing to offer Cabinet seats to their political opponents. It was only after the 2006 election that a full multi-party Cabinet was appointed. The multi-party model was not continued in the 2013 constitution.

Current cabinet

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After the 2022 Fijian general elections:[5]

Portfolio Portrait Minister Party
Sitiveni Rabuka PA
  • Minister for Finance
  • Commerce and Business Development
Esrom Immanuel PA
Viliame Gavoka SODELPA
Siromi Turaga PA
  • Defence and Veteran Affairs
Pio Tikoduadua NFP
  • Employment
  • Productivity and Industrial Relations
Agni Deo Singh NFP
Ifereimi Vasu SODELPA
  • Education
Aseri Radrodro SODELPA
  • Health and Medical Services
Atonio Lalabalavu PA
  • Information
Lynda Tabuya PA
  • Women, Children and Social Protectcion
Sashi Kiran NFP
  • Fisheries & Forests
Alitia Bainivalu PA
  • Lands and Mineral Resource
Filimoni Vosarogo PA
  • Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management
Sakiasi Ditoka PA
  • Multi-Ethnic Affairs
  • Sugar
Charan Jeath Singh PA
  • Housing
  • Local Government
Maciu Katamotu PA
  • Public Works
  • Transport
Filipe Tuisawau PA
  • Youth and Sports
Jese Saukuru PA
  • Agriculture and Waterways
Tomasi Tunabuna PA
  • Minister for Environment and Climate Change
Mosese Bulitavu Independent
  • Communication
  • Minister for Policing
Ioane Naivalurua Independent
  • Minister for Immigration
Viliame Naupoto Independent

List of Former Cabinets

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4th Cabinet (Bavadra 1987-1987)

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Position Minister
Prime Minister

Minister for Public Service Minister for Fijian Affairs Minister for Home Affairs

Timoci Bavadra
Deputy Prime Minister

Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Minister for Information

Harish Sharma
Attorney General

Minister for Justice

Jai Ram Reddy
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Joeli Nacola
Minister for Communications, Transport and Works Ahmed Bhamji
Minister for Education, Youth and Sport Tupeni Baba
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Mahendra Chaudhry
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation Krishna Datt
Minister for Health and Social Welfare Satendra Nandan
Minister for Labour and Immigration Joeli Kalou
Minister for Lands, Energy and Mineral Resources Mosese Volavola
Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism Navin Maharaj
Minister of State for Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Chris Herbert
Minister of State for Rural Development, Rehabilitation and Relief Temo Sukanaivalu

3rd Cabinet (Mara 1982-1987)

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Position Minister
Prime Minister Kamisese Mara
Deputy Prime Minister

Minister of Fijian Affairs and Rural Development

Penaia Ganilau
Attorney General Manikam Pillai
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Jonati Mavoa
Minister of Communications and Works Semesa Sikivou
Minister of Economic Planning and Development David Toganivalu
Minister of Education and Youth Ahmed Ali
Minister of Energy and Minerals Peter Stinson
Minister of Employment and Industrial Relations Mohammed Ramzan
Minister of Finance Charles Walker
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Tourism

Mosese Qionibaravi
Minister of Health and Social Welfare Apenisa Kurisaqila
Minister of Home Affairs William Toganivalu
Minister of Lands, Local Government and Housing Militoni Leweniqila
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Ted Beddoes
Minister of State for Co-operatives Livai Nasilivata
Minister of State for Forests Josaia Tavaiqia
Minister without Portfolio Apisai Tora
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

2nd Cabinet (Mara 1977-1982)

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Position Minister
Prime Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Kamisese Mara
Deputy Prime Minister

Minister of Fijian Affairs and Rural Development

Penaia Ganilau
Attorney General Vijay R. Singh
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Charles Walker
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Co-operatives Mohammed Ramzan
Minister of Education and Sport Semesa Sikivou
Minister of Finance Charles Stinson
Minister of Health Ted Beddoes
Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Immigration David Toganivalu
Minister of Tourism, Transport and Civil Aviation Tomasi Vakatora
Minister of Urban Development and Housing Jonati Mavoa
Minister of Works and Communications James Shankar Singh
Minister of State for Co-operatives Livai Nasilivata
Minister of State for Forests Josaia Tavaiqia
Minister of State for Information William Toganivalu
Minister of State for Lands and Mineral Resources Militoni Leweniqila
Minister of State for Home Affairs Solomone Momoivalu
Minister of State for Youth and Sport Vivekanand Sharma

1st Cabinet (Mara 1972-1977)

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Position Minister
Prime Minister Kamisese Mara
Deputy Prime Minister Edward Cakobau
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests Douglas Walkden-Brown
Attorney General John Falvey
Minister for Commerce, Industries and Co-operatives M. T. Khan
Minister for Communications, Works and Tourism Penaia Ganilau
Minister for Education, Youth and Sport Jone Naisara
Minister for Fijian Affairs William Toganivalu
Minister for Finance Charles Stinson
Minister for Health James Shankar Singh
Minister for Labour Jonati Mavoa
Minister for Lands, Mines and Mineral Resources Josua Toganivalu
Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Social Welfare Vijay R. Singh
Minister without Portfolio George Cakobau
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

References

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  1. Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, chapter 4, part B.
  2. Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, section 91.
  3. Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, section 95.
  4. Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, section 95.
  5. Fijivillage. "Gavoka, Kamikamica and Pro Prasad are the deputy Prime Ministers". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 30 December 2022.