Fiji Times Online

Fiji Time: 12:58 PM on Sunday 1 August

/ Front page / News

Common thread binds team

Sunday, January 06, 2008

THE new Cabinet line-up is united by a wire of political and military inclinations.

The head of the new Cabinet remains the Commander of the Fiji Military Forces, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Two of his former commanders Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Ratu Epeli Ganilau continue to hold their senior portfolios.

Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has the added responsibilities of Civil Aviation and International Cooperation.

Ratu Epeli Ganilau has been moved from Fijian Affairs to the new Ministry of Defence, National Security and Immigration, an equally formidable ministry in the sense that he is minister for the army and all matters national security.

He was leader of the New Alliance Party.

The inclusion of Tom Ricketts means that the Fiji Labour Party has three members in Cabinet.

Mr Ricketts was nominated to a Senate seat by Labour after the 2006 General Election.

Mr Ricketts stood for Fiji Labour Party against Ratu Epeli Ganilau of the New Alliance Party in the Suva City Open seat in the 2006 election.

They both lost at the final count to the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party's Misaele Weleilakeba.

The other two FLP members are leader Mahendra Chaudhry, interim Minister for Finance and Sugar and Public Utilities, and Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi interim Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment, Local Government, Urban Development and Housing.

The new interim Health Minister, Doctor Jiko Luveni, is the wife of former military officer Colonel Inoke Luveni, who convincingly won the Nasinu Fijian Urban Communal seat on an SDL ticket in the 2006 elections.

Filipe Bole is a senior member of the New Alliance Party and contested the Samabula Tamavua Open seat but lost to Fiji Labour Party's Monica Rhagwan in the 2006 elections.

Joketani Cokanasiga was a former Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party Cabinet member but was not renominated to the SDL in their primary elections for the Serua Fijian Communal seat in 2006. The former career civil servant and hotelier was involved in an ongoing verbal dispute with his former leader Laisenia Qarase over the disciplining of Commodore Bainimarama.

He was approached last year to be a part of the interim Government.

Netani Sukanaivalu was another losing candidate for the New Alliance Party during the 2006 elections, contesting the Tamavua Laucala Fijian Urban Communal seat, losing to former high school principal Ratu Jone Waqairatu of the SDL party.

Sukanaivalu is a former naval officer and his inclusion takes the New Alliance Party numbers in Cabinet to three.

The Yarawa Road Methodist Church lay member takes on the responsibility of Lands Mineral Resources and Environment.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was legal adviser to the New Alliance Party. He is a former corporate lawyer with the Colonial National Bank before being approached to become interim Attorney-General.

He now maintains that position along with the responsibilities for Electoral Reform, Public Enterprises and Anti Corruption.

ANZ
Currency Inward TT Buying Rate Sell Rate
GBP3-week history 0.33560.3276
CAD3-week history 0.54660.5246
AUD3-week history 0.58680.5618
EUR3-week history 0.40190.3899
JPY3-week history 46.450043.4500
NZD3-week history 0.73060.6976
USD3-week history 0.52630.5093

from

$00.00

“This material is for information purposes only,provided as a complimentary service of ANZ. To the extent permitted by law, ANZ does not accept any responsibility/liability arising from the use of this information. For any assistance or enquiries call the ANZ Contact Centre, Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm on 132411 (within Fiji) or 679 3213000 (overseas) or email Electronic Business - Fiji.”

Today's Most Read Stories

  1. RT Navula spoils Grammar party
  2. Masi laid to rest
  3. Villa investors warn of lock-up
  4. Toothpaste crackdown
  5. RKS clinches semis spot
  6. Deadly women
  7. World Cup song for soccer town
  8. News in brief
  9. Vehicle boost in TB fight
  10. Media Watch maps plan

Top Stories this Week

  1. Hosanna wins Miss Congeniality Monday (26 Jul)
  2. Man found dead Wednesday (28 Jul)
  3. Jasperian beauty in shock Monday (26 Jul)
  4. 11-year hunt for woman ends Tuesday (27 Jul)
  5. Tax officers on charges Wednesday (28 Jul)
  6. Dad digs riches Wednesday (28 Jul)
  7. Sand theft Thursday (29 Jul)
  8. Hosanna wants Fiji job Wednesday (28 Jul)
  9. Drug charge for boxing champion Friday (30 Jul)
  10. Sons finally control Amos' estate Thursday (29 Jul)