People

The Speaker of the Fiji House of Representatives, Mr Vijay R. Singh, 42, became the first Fiji-Indian knight when he was awarded the KBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. He has combined a political and legal career since 1959, when he was elected to the Legislative Council, except for four years as Assistant Registrar-General. He first practised, after qualifying in London, at Labasa, in partnership with the late Mr H. B. Gibson.

He now practises at Nadi. He has served in Fiji as Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Social Welfare, and Minister for Commerce, Industry and Co operatives. He also acted as Attorney- General. He became Speaker a few months ago after the sudden resignation of Mr R. D. Patel. In this short time he has won the respect of all members of the House for the manner in which he has carried out his duties.

The Fiji Attorney-General, Mr John Falvey, 58, was also created a KBE, cap ping a political career which started in 1953. A New Zealander by birth. Sir John Falvey went to Fiji in 1940 to join the Colonial Service. He later went into private practice in the old-established Suva legal firm of Cromptons. Sir John served on many boards and committees and was the first chairman of the Fiji Housing Authority. He became Minister without Portfolio in 1967 and Attorney-General in 1970. In 1970, he was appointed a member of the Senate, where he is leader of Government business. As Attorney- General he sits in both Houses of Parlia ment. Sir John Falvey became a Queen’s Counsel in 1970.

Sir Tei Abal was the only knight created in the Papua New Guinea Queen's Birth day Honours List. Sir Tei, leader of the United Party Opposition in the National Parliament, was a medical orderly for 14 years before going into politics in 1964. He was Under-Secretary for Labour in the first House of Assembly and Ministerial Member for Agriculture in the second House.

The Prime Minister of Tonga, Prince Tuipelehake, has acquired an adviser Mr Bhagwan Singh, who was Indian High Commissioner to Fiji and Tonga and was based in Fiji. He will be responsible for research and advice which the Prime Minister may require on specific projects.

He may be called on to undertake other matters. Mr Singh was Indian High Com missioner for five years. He visited Tonga many times and helped to develop a closer relationship between Tonga and India.

Ratu Henry Qiodravu Kikau, 27, has been appointed to a senior executive posi tion in a well known Hawaiian hotel, the Ala Moana, in Honolulu. Ratu Qiodravu, who comes from Bau Island, Fiji, is an assistant manager in the 36-storey, 1,300room hotel, the tallest building in Honolulu. He started his career in the hotel industry in Suva, and followed this up with a two-year course on industrial travel management at the University of Hawaii and a six-month course on leadership administration in New York.

His father is Ratu Senator Joni Latianara Kikau.

Ratu Epeli Rayawa, 48, drum major in the Royal Fiji Military Forces band, retired in June after 31 years in the army.

He was on active service with the Fiji forces in Malaya in the 19505, and as a bandsman toured New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. He led the band in many colour ful parades and on State occasions. Fit tingly, his final parade was at a presenta tion of colours ceremony at Albert Park, Suva, on the Queen’s Birthday. Ratu Epeli was a fine rugby player and toured Australia in 1961 with the Fiji team.

Mr Wallace Caldwell, who retired recently as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Fiji, could not stay out of the law keeping business for very long. After 34 years in the force he has become western division manager for General Security Ser vices.

Mr Sione Tu’itavake Fusimalohi is the first Tongan to become manager of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission. After taking several courses covering broad casting with the New Zealand Broad casting Corporation he returned to Tonga to become an assistant announcer with the TBC on its formation in 1961.

Dr Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury, will visit the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in 1977. In PNG he will help to celebrate the independence of the Anglican Church there. In Honiara, where he is scheduled to arrive in the first week of March, he will attend a meeting of the South Pacific Anglican Council. In the Solomons, he will visit at least two other islands besides Guadalcanal.

Dr Alexis Sarei, 41, will become the first Premier of Bougainville. He and Mr Henry Moses, a senior industrial relations officer with Bougainville Copper Ltd, were elected unopposed in the Bougainville elec tions. Dr Sarei, a former Provincial Com missioner, was the only nomination for Premier. He comes from Gagan Village, Buka. He attended Gagan Mission School, Rigu High School, Chanel College in Rabaul and the University of Rome where he received his doctorate in canon law.

Mr Shri Ramesh Chander Arora has been appointed High Commissioner for India in Fiji, Tonga and Nauru, succeeding Mr Bhagwan Singh, who is now an adviser to the Prime Minister of Tonga, Prince Tuipelehake. Mr Arora, 42, is an ex perienced career diplomat, having served in his country’s foreign service in Damascus, Laos, New York, Bangkok and San Francisco, and of course, at New Delhi. Before his latest posting he was In dian Consul-General in San Francisco.

Sir John Falvey

Mr Bhagwan Singh, Tonga's new adviser

Sir Vijay Singh

Sir Tei Abal