A FORMER Minister in the People's Coalition Government of 1999-2000 has been elected president of the Fiji Labour Party.
Lavenia Padarath, who held the post of Minister for Women and Social Welfare in the Chaudhry government, was voted into the position at the party's annual delegates conference which was held at Fun World in Nadi on Saturday.
"She has been with the FLP since its inception in 1985 and enjoys the absolute confidence of all the delegates. Mrs Padarath replaces the late Jokapeci Koroi," said party leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
The late Mrs Koroi was hailed as a founding member of the FLP and took over the reins from Adi Kuini Bavadra in 1991, becoming the longest serving party president during her term until her passing in July last year.
Mr Chaudhry continues in his position as the secretary general while Kini Maraiwai was elected deputy secretary general.
"Mr Maraiwai has been with the party since 2007 and was the FLP's nominee into the Local Government enquiry that was conducted in 2007," said Mr Chaudhry.
The delegates also elected three vice-presidents in David Eyre, Sachida Sharma and Monica Raghwan.