Fiji’s younger and smaller cabinet

smaller cabinet

Fiji,s new Prime Minister Dr.

Timoci Bavadra stuck to his Labour/NFP Coalition’s elec tion promise when he announced a cut back in the number of cabinet Ministers, soon after being sworn in as the second Prime Minister in Fiji’s history.

He has reduced the number of cabinet positions from 17 to 11 and there are two ministers of State. It consists of young and talented people from all walks of life. Academics, trade unionists, lawyers, business men, an hotelier and a civil servant.

There are seven Indians, six Fijians and one General Elector in the Ministerial line up. The average age of the new Cabinet members is 45. There are only two Ministers above 50 years . . the Prime Minister Dr. Bavad ra himself who is 52 and the Deputy Prime Minister Mr Har ish Sharma who is 54.

Mr Jai Ram Reddy is 50 and the youngest is the Minister for communications, transport and works, Mr Ahmed Bhamji who is 37. Dr. Bavadra himself has taken over Public Service, Fi jian Affairs and Home Affairs among his portfolios Mr Harish Sharma, the leader of the Na tional Federation Party is the Deputy Prime Minister. He is

also the Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Informa tion. Mr Sharma is a qualified lawyer and ran a law practice.

He has been in Parliament since 1972 and became the leader of the opposition in 1985. Mr Mahendra Pal Chaudhary 45, is the Minister of Finance and Economic Plan ning. A former senior auditor in the Civil Service turned trade unionist, he has been the gen eral secretary of the Fiji Public Service Association since 1970 and assistant general secretary of the Fiji Trades Union Con gress since 1976. Dr Tupeni Baba, 43 is the Minister for Education, Youth and Sport.

He is a former registrar of the University of the South Pacific and a reader in education. He graduated with a Masters De gree in education from the University of Sydney and obtained his PhD from Mac quarie University in Australia.

Mr Krishna Datt, 42, is the Minister for Foreign Afffairs and Civil Aviation. An educationist and a trade unionist he is a former President of the Fiji Teachers Union and is the first general secretary of the Fiji Labour Party. He did his BA at Christchurch University and MA in the United Kingdom.

Mr Joeli Kalou, 47 is the

Minister for Labour and Im migration. He is a former teacher turned trade unionist.

He holds a BA Degree from Massey University in New Zea land. He is a former general secretary and president of the Fijian Teachers Association. He also served as principal of seve ral secondary schools. Mr Navin Maharaj, 48, is the Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism.

He is a former Lord Mayor of Suva. He is a former president of the Fiji Master Builders Association and runs his own company construction services limited. He was the first Indian to be elected Mayor of Suva in 1974.

Mr Jo Nacola, 46, is the Minister for Agriculture, Fisher ies and Forestry. He is a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific, He has a MA Degree from Waikato University in New Zealand. He is a former Senator and Councillor of the city of Suva. He was a member of the Fiji Team which negotiated the Law of the Sea protocols. Dr.

Satendra Nandan, 47, is the Minister for Health and Social Welfare. He is also a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific. He is a writer and a poet. He obtained his BA and BE from Delhi University and MA from Leeds University and his PhD from the Australian National University in Can berra. He has received numer ous awards for his writings. He was first elected to Parliament in 1982. Mr Mosese Volavola, 39 is the Minister for Lands,

Energy and Mineral Resources.

He is a former Civil Servant and had resigned from his position in the Lands Department to contest the election. He is a registered surveyor. Mr Jai Ram Reddy, 50, is the Minister for Justice and Attorney General.

He was the Leader of the Opposition from 1977 to 1984, when he resigned from Parlia ment. He is a lawyer and ran his law practice from Lautoka. He was first elected to Parliament in 1977.

He did not contest the last election but has been appointed a Senator by Dr.

Bavadra to allow him to be come a Cabinet Member. Mr Ahmed Bhamji, 37, is the Minister for Communications, Transport and Works. He is a former Mayor of the Town of BA, a businessmen who holds a BCom Degree with honours from Delhi University. He has also worked as an auditor for an international firm of account ants based in Fiji.

Mr Temo Sukanaivalu, 40, is the Minister of State for Rural Development, Rehablitation and Relief. He is a former hotel manager and has also worked as a policeman and a salesman.

He was first elected to Parlia ment in 1982. Mr Chris Herbert Work, 49 is the Minister of State for Co-operatives and Con sumer affairs. He was a super visor with the Fiji Electricity Authority. He is a social worker and is a member of the Rural Advisory Council and the Rural Development committee.