fbpx
Wikipedia

Frank Bainimarama

Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama CF (MIL) OStJ MSD (Fijian: [tʃoˈsɛia βoˈreŋɡe mbɛiniˈmarama]; born 27 April 1954) is a Fijian politician and former naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst party, which he founded in 2014, he began his career as an officer in the Fijian navy and commander of the Fijian military. He served as the opposition leader from 24 December 2022[2] despite being suspended from Parliament until 8 March 2023, when he resigned and was replaced by Inia Seruiratu.[3]

Frank Bainimarama
Bainimarama in 2014
Prime Minister of Fiji
In office
5 January 2007 – 24 December 2022[a]
President
Preceded byJona Senilagakali
Succeeded bySitiveni Rabuka
Leader of the Opposition
In office
24 December 2022 – 8 March 2023
Prime MinisterSitiveni Rabuka
Preceded byNaiqama Lalabalavu
Succeeded byInia Seruiratu
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
16 April 2020 – 24 December 2022
Preceded byInia Seruiratu
Succeeded bySitiveni Rabuka
Leader of FijiFirst
Assumed office
31 March 2014
Secretary-GeneralAiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Preceded byParty established
President of Fiji
In office
5 December 2006 – 4 January 2007
Prime MinisterJona Senilagakali
Preceded byJosefa Iloilo
Succeeded byJosefa Iloilo
In office
29 May 2000 – 13 July 2000
Prime MinisterLaisenia Qarase
Preceded byKamisese Mara
Succeeded byJosefa Iloilo
Personal details
Born
Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama

(1954-04-27) 27 April 1954 (age 69)
Kiuva, Fiji
Political partyFijiFirst
SpouseMaria Makitalena
Children5
RelativesMeli Bainimarama (brother)
Alma materDalhousie University
Websitebainimarama.org
Military service
Allegiance Dominion of Fiji (until 1987)
 Fiji (since 1987)
Branch/service Republic of Fiji Navy
Years of service1975–2014
Rank Rear admiral
^ a: Acting: 5 January 2007 – 22 September 2014

Bainimarama attended Marist Brothers High School, the Asian Institute of Technology and Dalhousie University. He joined the Fijian Navy in 1975 and rose through the ranks, becoming an Able Seaman and a Midshipman in 1976, an Ensign in 1977 and later promoted to a sub-lieutenant at the end of that year. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1986 and became a commander in 1988. He later became captain in 1991. In 1997, Bainimarama was appointed Chief of Staff of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. In 1998, he was promoted to a Commodore and later became the commander of the Armed Forces in 1999. He relinquished command in 2014, and in recognition of his military service, he was promoted to Rear Admiral.

Bainimarama instigated the 2006 coup, removing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power. He later restored Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president and himself as prime minister in 2007. Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014, and formed a party named FijiFirst. In the 2014 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a majority and Bainimarama was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. In the 2018 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won an outright majority, and Bainimarama became prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018. In the 2022 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a plurality but was unable to form a government, meaning Bainimarama ceased to be Prime Minister after 16 years of rule, making him the second-longest serving Prime Minister of Fiji after Kamisese Mara. He was succeeded by Sitiveni Rabuka.

In January 2022, Bainimarama underwent heart surgery in Melbourne, Australia. During his recovery, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was named Acting Prime Minister. Bainimarama returned to Fiji in March 2022.

Military career edit

Bainimarama's naval career spans three decades. He has received a number of honours for his service. He has been made an Officer Brother in the Order of St John of Jerusalem, and has received the Meritorious Service Decoration, the Peacekeeping Medal for United Nations peacekeepers, the General Service Medal, the Fiji Republic Medal, and the 25 Anniversary Medal.[4]

Naval career edit

Following his education at Marist Brothers High School, Bainimarama enlisted with the Fijian Navy on 26 July 1975 and rose smoothly through the ranks, becoming an Able Seaman in August 1976, a Midshipman in December the same year, and an Ensign on 1 November 1977.[4]

After completing the Midshipmen's Supplementary Course in Australia, he was appointed Navigation officer of HMFS Kiro in August 1978. At the end of that year, he was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant. In January 1979, Bainimarama embarked on the Chilean naval training ship, the Buque Escuela Esmeralda, which spent six months circumnavigating South America. On his return to Fiji in August, Bainimarama was appointed executive officer of HMFS Kiro.[5]

After a brief Navigation Course in HMAS Watson in March 1982, Bainimarama underwent Search and Rescue training at the United States Coast Guard Centre in New York City.[5] On his return to Fiji, he was appointed commander of HMFS Kikau, his first command post. He went on to command HMFS Kula, and spent four months in 1984 in the markings of the Exclusive Economic Zones of Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati. After being promoted to Lieutenant Commander in February 1986, he departed for Sinai where he served for eighteen months with the Multinational Force and Observers.[5]

Bainimarama returned to Fiji in September 1987.[5] He took charge of the delivery of two naval ships, the Levuka and Lautoka, from Louisiana in the United States. He became Commanding Officer of the Fijian Navy in April 1988, and was promoted to the rank of Commander on 4 October that year. He held this post for the next nine years.[5]

Bainimarama underwent further training at the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College in 1991 and at the Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre at RAAF Williamtown, Newcastle, New South Wales, where he studied Maritime Surveillance Training. This was followed by Disaster Management training at the Asian Institute of Technology in 1993, and Exclusive Economic Zone Management training at Dalhousie University, Canada, in 1994. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in October of that year, and went on to attend the Australian Joint Services Staff College (JSSC).[6] He attended the Integrated Logistics Support Overview course of the Australian Defence Co-operation Program on 23 September 1996, and the Chief of Army Conferences in Singapore in 1998 and 1999, as well as the Chief of Defence Conference in Hawaii.

Bainimarama was appointed as the Acting Chief of Staff on 10 November 1997, and was confirmed in this post on 18 April 1998. On 1 March 1999, he was promoted to the rank of Commodore and was named commander of the Armed Forces, to replace Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, who resigned to pursue a political career. It was in his capacity as commander of the Armed Forces that Bainimarama assumed command on 29 May 2000. He relinquished command on 5 March 2014, to Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga.[7] Bainimarama was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on his retirement in recognition of his military service.[8]

Fiji coup of 2000 edit

A group led by George Speight, a businessman who had been declared bankrupt following the cancellation of several contracts by the government, entered Parliament buildings on 19 May 2000 and disaffected elements of the Fijian population rallied to his side. For 56 days Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and most of his cabinet, along with many parliamentarians and their staff, were held as hostages while Speight attempted to negotiate with the president, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who denounced the coup and declared a state of emergency.

Believing that President Kamisese Mara was not dealing effectively with the situation, Bainimarama forced Mara to resign on 29 May 2000, in what some politicians have since called "a coup within a coup," and formed an interim military government, which negotiated an accord under which the rebels would release all hostages, including the deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, and would surrender without penalty. The government later reneged on the last part of the agreement and arrested Speight on 27 July 2000,[9][10] with Bainimarama saying that he had signed that part of the accord "under duress."[11]

Post-2000 coup edit

Bainimarama attended a Leadership and Change Management course with the Public Service Training and Development program in February 2002, and a Policy Planning Analysis and Management course at the University of the South Pacific in Suva the following month. He went on to attend the Defence and Strategic Studies Annual Conference at the Australian Defence College in Canberra on 2 August, and the Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at Harvard University in the United States from 18 to 30 August. In November that year, he was promoted to Rear Admiral, but this promotion was reverted to Commodore on 1 February 2003. In 2014, he was made rear admiral again.[8]

On 4 September 2003, Bainimarama attended the Pacific Armies Management Seminar XXVII in Seoul, South Korea, and went on to attend the PKO Capacity Building Seminar in the Philippine capital of Manila.

Despite his deteriorating relationship with the government, Bainimarama was reappointed commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces on 5 February 2004. That month, he attended the Pacific Area Special Operations Conference. This was followed by the Seminar Executive Course at the Asia Pacific Centre for Strategic Studies in Hawaii in April. In May and June, he attended the South East Asia Security Symposium. In September, he attended both the PAMS XXVII in the Indian capital of New Delhi, and the 7th Chief of Defence Conference in Tokyo, Japan.

On 14 December 2005, Bainimarama began an official visit to China, at the invitation of the People's Liberation Army.[12]

Political career edit

Fijian coup d'état, 2006 edit

On 31 October 2006, while Bainimarama was in Egypt visiting Fijian forces on peacekeeping duties in the Middle East, President Iloilo moved to terminate the appointment of Bainimarama, appointing instead Lieutenant Colonel Meli Saubulinayau who declined to take the position. Senior Fijian military officers backed Bainimarama, who quickly called on the Government to resign. The governments of Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and others called for calm, and asked for assurances that the Fijian military not rise against the government.[13][14]

In late November 2006, Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase, one of which was the withdrawal of three controversial bills, including the Qoliqoli Bill (which would have transferred ownership of maritime resources to the Fijian people) and the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which would have offered conditional pardons to persons convicted of involvement in the 2000 coup. Despite further talks in Suva and in Wellington, New Zealand, Bainimarama gave the Prime Minister Qarase an ultimatum of 4 December to accede to his demands or to resign. In a televised address, Qarase agreed to put the three race-based bills on hold, review the appointment of Andrew Hughes as police commissioner (Bainimarama had demanded his dismissal), and give the police the option of discontinuing investigations into the commander's alleged acts of sedition. He refused further concessions, saying that he had conceded all that was possible within the law.

Military manoeuvres followed, including the seizure of government vehicles and the house arrest of Prime Minister Qarase. On 5 December President Ratu Josefa Iloilo was said to have signed a legal order dissolving Parliament after meeting with Bainimarama. The president later issued a statement categorically denying having signed any such decree, however, and the exiled Commissioner of Police, Andrew Hughes, implicated Iloilo's secretary in the fabrication of the decree at the direction of Commander Bainimarama.

As of 9 December, there were reported arrests of members of the media and open dissenters,[15] as well as incidents of intimidation and violence committed against political figures.[15] Stuart Huggett, chairman of the Public Service Commission, was reported to have been assaulted.

Bainimarama told a press conference on 15 December that he would agree to attend a forthcoming meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs, the feudal body empowered to choose the country's president, vice-president, and fourteen of the thirty two Senators, only in his capacity as president of the Republic, the Fiji Sun reported.[16][17] Told that the Great Council still recognised Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president, he said that in that case he would boycott the meeting. He also condemned the Great Council's invitation to deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, saying that Qarase would not be allowed to return to Suva to attend the meeting.

On 6 September 2007, Bainimarama imposed a renewed state of emergency for one month, alleging that Qarase and his spokesman were spreading lies and attempting to cause destabilisation, following Qarase's return to Suva after having been confined to the island of Vanua Balavu since his ouster. Bainimarama said that Qarase and his spokesman should return to Vanuabalavu and that they could "talk from there".[18]

Bainimarama became acting Minister of Finance on 18 August 2008 after Chaudhry and the other Labour Party ministers withdrew from the interim government.[19]

Explaining the coup edit

The immediate cause of the military coup was Prime Minister Qarase's refusal to withdraw the Qoliqoli Bill. Bainimarama stated that his main reasons for overthrowing the Qarase government were that it was corrupt, and that it was conducting racially discriminatory policies against the country's Indo-Fijian minority. In a speech publicly announcing the coup, he stated that Qarase's policies had "divided the nation now and will have very serious consequences to our future generations". He added that "the passing of the Reconciliation, Qoliqoli and Land Claims [Bills] will undermine the Constitution, will deprive many citizens of their rights as guaranteed under the Constitution and compromise and undermine the integrity of the Constitutional Offices including the Judiciary". He explained that he would amend the race-based electoral rolls, so as to "lead us into peace and prosperity and mend the ever widening racial divide that currently besets our multicultural nation".[20]

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007, he stated:

"[I]n 1970, Fiji started its journey as a young nation on a rather shaky foundation, with a race-based Constitution, one which rigidly compartmentalised our communities. The 'democracy' which came to be practised in Fiji was marked by divisive, adversarial, inward-looking, race-based politics. The legacy of leadership, at both community and national levels, was a fractured nation. Fiji's people were not allowed to share a common national identity.

Of the two major communities, indigenous Fijians were instilled with fear of dominance and dispossession by Indo-Fijians, and they desired protection of their status as the indigenous people. Indo-Fijians, on the other hand, felt alienated and marginalised, as second-class citizens in their own country, the country of their birth, Fiji. [...]

Fiji's overall situation by 2006 had deteriorated sharply, heightened by massive corruption and lawlessness [...].

[P]olicies which promote racial supremacy [...] must be removed once and for all. [...] Fiji will look at making the necessary legal changes in the area of electoral reform, to ensure true equality at the polls. [...] [E]very person will be given the right to vote for only one candidate, irrespective of race or religion."[21]

This was to be achieved, he declared, through a People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, the stated aim of which was to "rebuild Fiji into a non-racial, culturally-vibrant and united, well-governed, truly democratic nation that seeks progress, and prosperity through merit-based equality of opportunity, and peace".[22]

In April 2009, he told The Australian's Graham Davis:

"My vision for Fiji is one that's free of racism. That's the biggest problem we've had in the last 20 years and it needs to be taken out. It's the lies that are being fed to indigenous Fijians that are causing this, especially from our chiefs who are the dominating factor in our lives. And the politicians take advantage of that. We need to change direction in a dramatic way. We need to get rid of Qarase and everything associated with the 2000 coup and begin entirely on a new path."[23]

Davis noted that Bainimarama had introduced greater ethnic diversity into senior positions, and suggested that "maybe that's what drives Bainimarama most of all; the notion, however quixotic, of a multiracial meritocracy belatedly fulfilling the great promise Fiji had in its early post-independence years, when a visiting pope John Paul II famously described it as a model for the developing world. Before the greed, the racism and the gun."[23]

2009 constitutional crisis edit

In April 2009, the Court of Appeal ruled the removal of the democratic government during his 2006 military coup was illegal. Bainimarama stepped down on 10 April 2009 as interim prime minister.[24]

President Ratu Josefa Iloilo then announced that he had abolished the constitution, assumed all governing power and revoked all judicial appointments.

After abolishing the constitution and sacking the judiciary, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo reappointed Commodore Frank Bainimarama as prime minister only 24 hours later.[25] On 24 April, the president made him Companion of the Order of Fiji in recognition of his "eminent achievement and merit of highest degree and service to Fiji and to humanity at large".[26]

On 3 November 2009, Bainimarama banished the envoys of Australia and New Zealand giving them 24 hours to leave the country.

Essential National Industries Decree edit

In September 2011, the Bainimarama government introduced a decree severely curtailing labour rights, so as to "ensure the present and continued viability and sustainability of essential national industries". In particular, the decree banned strikes in all but exceptional circumstances, subjecting them in addition to government authorisation on a case-by-case basis. It also curtailed the right for workers to take their grievances to courts of law.[27] The Fiji Trades Union Congress said the decree "offers major weapons to the employers to utilise against unions [...] It outlaws professional trade unionists, eliminates existing collective agreements, promotes a biased system of non-professional bargaining agents to represent workers, severely restricts industrial action, strengthens sanctions against legally striking workers and bans overtime payments and other allowances for workers in 24-hour operations". Attar Singh, general secretary for the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions, said: "We have never seen anything worse than this decree. It is without doubt designed to decimate unions [...] by giving [employers] an unfair advantage over workers and unions".[28] Amnesty International said the decree threatened "fundamental human rights [...], including the right to freedom of association and assembly, and the right to organise".[29]

Electoral victories edit

Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014, and formed a party named FijiFirst.[30] In the 2014 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a majority and Bainimarama was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. In the 2018 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won an outright majority, and Bainimarama became prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018. In the 2022 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a plurality but was unable to form a government, meaning Bainimarama would cease to be prime-minister after 16 years of rule.[31] He was succeeded by Sitiveni Rabuka on 24 December 2022. The same day, Bainimarama was elected leader of the opposition.[32]

He has been described by some as a dictator[33][34][35] or an authoritarian,[36][37][38] although he denies these claims.[39]

Suspension from Parliament edit

On 17 February 2023, Bainimarama was suspended from parliament for three years after making disparaging references to President Wiliame Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, as well as making treasonous comments in breach of standing orders.[40] However, he remained Opposition Leader.[41]

On 8 March 2023 Bainimarama resigned from Parliament and as leader of the opposition.[42][43]

On 9 March 2023 Bainimarama was charged with abuse of office over allegations he and police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho interfered with an investigation into financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific.[44][45] The two were released on bail the next day after pleading not guilty.[46][47] Bainimarama and Qiliho were acquitted on 12 October 2023.[48]

Cabinet edit

Office Incumbent
Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications[49] Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management and  Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing[49] Inia Seruiratu
Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports[49] Parveen Bala
Minister for  Infrastructure and Meteorological Services and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources[49] Jone Usamate
Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts[49] Premila Kumar
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment[49] Mahendra Reddy
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation[49] Mereseini Vuniwaqa
Minister for Forestry[49] Osea Naiqamu
Minister for Fisheries[49] Semi Koroilavesau
Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development[49] Premila Kumar
Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism & Transport[49] Faiyaz Koya
Minister for Health and Medical Services[49] Ifereimi Waqainabete

Personal life edit

Bainimarama hails from the village of Kiuva in the Kaba Peninsula, Tailevu Province. He is the brother of Ratu Meli Bainimarama and Ratu Timoci Bainimarama, both senior civil servants. He was Roman Catholic-educated[50] and graduated from Marist Brothers High School in Suva. He is married to Maria Makitalena; they have six children and several grandchildren. He is a sports enthusiast, with a particular passion for rugby union and athletics; he became president of the Fiji Rugby Union on 31 May 2014.[51] In January 2022, Bainimarama underwent heart surgery in Melbourne, Australia. During his recovery, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was named Acting Prime Minister.[52][53] Bainimarama returned to Fiji in March 2022.[54]

Bainimarama displays above his office desk portraits of Elizabeth II, former Queen of Fiji, and of her consort, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He has said of himself: "I'm still loyal to the Queen. Many people are in Fiji. One of the things I'd like to do is see her restored as our monarch, to be Queen of Fiji again."[23] However, in 2012 Bainimarama's government abolished the Queen's Official Birthday holiday in Fiji[55] and replaced the Queen's image on Fiji's banknotes and coins with the Fijian coat of arms .[56]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Fiji Parliament directory". Parliament of Fiji. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Bainimarama elected as Opposition Leader".
  3. ^ Fonua Talei (9 March 2023). "Inia Seruiratu To Lead Opposition To 'Keep Government In Check'". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "THE HON REAR ADMIRAL JOSAIA VOREQE BAINIMARAMA: PRIME MINISTER". Pacific Islands Forum. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Strong military; legacy of Bainimarama". Fiji Sun. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. ^ Fiji coup leader Frank Bainimarama quits military post for poll run 6 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, The Australian, 5 March 2014, retrieved 6 March 2014
  8. ^ a b "Bainimarama promoted to Rear Admiral". The Fiji Times. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  9. ^ . Fiji Crisis. 27 July 2000. Archived from the original on 24 February 2003.
  10. ^ "Fiji: Speight reported arrested". The Guardian. 26 July 2000. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Is this the best advertised coup in history?". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Fiji military commander holding talks with Chinese defence officials". RNZ. 16 December 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  13. ^ Sid Marris, "Fiji coup a 'real danger', says Downer" 23 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Australian, 2 November 2006.
  14. ^ Patrick Walters, "Howard warns against Fiji coup" 8 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Australian, 2 November 2006.
  15. ^ a b . Fijitimes.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  16. ^ [1] 14 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Archived copy 22 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Martial law declared in Fiji – again". The New Zealand Herald. 6 September 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  19. ^ "Fiji's military leader takes over country's finances" 30 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, 18 August 2008.
  20. ^ "Commander RFMF – Public Declaration of Military Takeover" 15 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji government, 5 December 2006
  21. ^ "Statement by Bainimarama to the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly" (PDF). Un.org. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Building a Better Fiji for All through a People's Charter for Change and Progress" 14 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji government website, April 2007
  23. ^ a b c "Despot for diversity" 14 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Graham Davis, The Australian, 1 May 2009
  24. ^ Auckland correspondent Kerri Ritchie (10 April 2009). "Fiji's Bainimarama steps down as PM". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  25. ^ "Fiji's President Reappoints Bainimarama as Prime Minister". VOA News. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  26. ^ "Frank Bainimarama receives Companion of the Order of Fiji from President", Agence France Presse, 24 April 2009
  27. ^ Decree No.35 2011 – Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree 2011 31 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji government
  28. ^ "Union/govt face off: Decree deepens division" 15 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Islands Business
  29. ^ "Warning on Fiji government plan to severely restrict workers' rights" 8 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine , Amnesty International, 8 August 2011
  30. ^ The People Have Spoken: The 2014 Elections in Fiji. ANU Press. 2016. ISBN 978-1-76046-001-3. JSTOR j.ctt1bw1hc6.
  31. ^ Needham, Kirsty (20 December 2022). "Fiji has new government after three parties form coalition". Reuters. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Sitiveni Rabuka is Fiji's new prime minister". RNZ. 24 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  33. ^ "How Fijian dictator Bainimarama finally earned his mandate".
  34. ^ "Won by a Dictator? The 2014 General Elections in the Republic of Fiji". 14 January 2015.
  35. ^ "Fiji's Dictator. Frank Bainimarama's Truth Revealed" (PDF). Truth for Fiji. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  36. ^ "Fiji election renews semi-authoritarian rule". Emerald Expert Briefings. oxan–es (oxan–es). 1 January 2018. doi:10.1108/OXAN-ES239981. Retrieved 6 February 2023 – via Emerald Insight.
  37. ^ "Is Fijian-style authoritarianism spreading?". ABC Pacific. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  38. ^ "'Writing on the wall' for authoritarian FijiFirst government, says Ratuva". Asia Pacific Report. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  39. ^ "Fiji's Prime Minister Insists That He is Not a Dictator". YouTube. Asia Pacific Report.
  40. ^ "Bainimarama suspended from parliament for 3 years". Fiji Village. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  41. ^ "'Bainimarama remains as Leader of the Opposition'". Fiji Times. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  42. ^ "Bainimarama resigns from Parliament". Fiji Village. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  43. ^ "Suspended Bainimarama resigns from Parliament". Fiji Times. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  44. ^ "Fiji police charge former prime minister Frank Bainimarama with abuse of office". ABC News. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  45. ^ "Former Fiji PM Bainimarama and suspended top cop charged". RNZ. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  46. ^ Ashna Kumar (10 March 2023). "Bainimarama And Qiliho Released On Bail". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  47. ^ Ashna Kumar (10 March 2023). "Qiliho And Bainimarama Pleads Not Guilty". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  48. ^ Vucukula, Elena (12 October 2023). "Court frees Bainimarama, Qiliho of all charges". The Fiji Times.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ministers | Office of the Prime Minister Fiji". Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  50. ^ . Fijitimes.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  51. ^ Singh, Zanzeer (1 June 2014). "Bainimarama elected FRU president". The Fiji Times Online. Fiji Times Limited. Retrieved 10 February 2023. PRIME Minister Rear Admiral (Ret) Voreqe Bainimarama is the new president of the Fiji Rugby Union. [...] He was elected unopposed at the Fiji Rugby Union annual general meeting in Nadi yesterday.
  52. ^ Noble, Phil (12 February 2022). "Fiji Leader Bainimarama A No-show For Visit By Top US Diplomat". Barrons. AFP-Agence France Presse. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  53. ^ Anthony, Kelvin (7 February 2022). "Fiji's PM needs 'time to recuperate' says govt". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  54. ^ Anthony, Kelvin. "Bainimarama returns to Fiji after heart surgery". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  55. ^ "Fiji Scraps Queen's birthday holiday". NewstalkZB. 31 July 2012.
  56. ^ "Anger over plan to remove Queen from Fiji money". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 December 2012.

External links edit

  • Republic of Fiji Military Forces website
  • Commodore Bainimarama's address to the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, 28 September 2007 ()
  • Commodore Bainimarama's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, 26 September 2008
  • Frank, Uncensored, ABC documentary by Philippa McDonald, 3 August 2010.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
1999–2014
Succeeded by
Mosese Tikoitoga
Political offices
Preceded by President of Fiji
Acting

2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Fiji
Acting

2006–2007
Preceded by Prime Minister of Fiji
2007–2022
Acting: 2007–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Foreign Affairs
2008–2009
Vacant
Vacant Minister for Foreign Affairs
2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Immigration, National Security and Defence
2016
Preceded by Minister for Foreign Affairs
2016–2019
Preceded by Minister for Foreign Affairs
2020–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Party political offices
New political party Leader of FijiFirst
2014–present
Incumbent

frank, bainimarama, this, fijian, name, josaia, given, name, voreqe, middle, name, bainimarama, surname, however, many, fijians, their, middle, name, either, their, given, name, their, surname, josaia, voreqe, frank, bainimarama, ostj, fijian, tʃoˈsɛia, βoˈreŋ. In this Fijian name Josaia is the given name Voreqe is the middle name and Bainimarama is the surname However many Fijians use their middle name as either their given name or their surname Josaia Voreqe Frank Bainimarama CF MIL OStJ MSD Fijian tʃoˈsɛia boˈreŋɡe mbɛiniˈmarama born 27 April 1954 is a Fijian politician and former naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022 A member of the FijiFirst party which he founded in 2014 he began his career as an officer in the Fijian navy and commander of the Fijian military He served as the opposition leader from 24 December 2022 2 despite being suspended from Parliament until 8 March 2023 when he resigned and was replaced by Inia Seruiratu 3 Rear Admiral the Honourable 1 Frank BainimaramaCF MIL OStJ MSDBainimarama in 2014Prime Minister of FijiIn office 5 January 2007 24 December 2022 a PresidentJosefa IloiloEpeli NailatikauJioji KonroteWiliame KatoniverePreceded byJona SenilagakaliSucceeded bySitiveni RabukaLeader of the OppositionIn office 24 December 2022 8 March 2023Prime MinisterSitiveni RabukaPreceded byNaiqama LalabalavuSucceeded byInia SeruiratuMinister for Foreign AffairsIn office 16 April 2020 24 December 2022Preceded byInia SeruiratuSucceeded bySitiveni RabukaLeader of FijiFirstIncumbentAssumed office 31 March 2014Secretary GeneralAiyaz Sayed KhaiyumPreceded byParty establishedPresident of FijiActingIn office 5 December 2006 4 January 2007Prime MinisterJona SenilagakaliPreceded byJosefa IloiloSucceeded byJosefa IloiloIn office 29 May 2000 13 July 2000Prime MinisterLaisenia QarasePreceded byKamisese MaraSucceeded byJosefa IloiloPersonal detailsBornJosaia Voreqe Bainimarama 1954 04 27 27 April 1954 age 69 Kiuva FijiPolitical partyFijiFirstSpouseMaria MakitalenaChildren5RelativesMeli Bainimarama brother Alma materDalhousie UniversityWebsitebainimarama orgMilitary serviceAllegiance Dominion of Fiji until 1987 Fiji since 1987 Branch service Republic of Fiji NavyYears of service1975 2014RankRear admiral a Acting 5 January 2007 22 September 2014Bainimarama attended Marist Brothers High School the Asian Institute of Technology and Dalhousie University He joined the Fijian Navy in 1975 and rose through the ranks becoming an Able Seaman and a Midshipman in 1976 an Ensign in 1977 and later promoted to a sub lieutenant at the end of that year He was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1986 and became a commander in 1988 He later became captain in 1991 In 1997 Bainimarama was appointed Chief of Staff of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces In 1998 he was promoted to a Commodore and later became the commander of the Armed Forces in 1999 He relinquished command in 2014 and in recognition of his military service he was promoted to Rear Admiral Bainimarama instigated the 2006 coup removing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power He later restored Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president and himself as prime minister in 2007 Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014 and formed a party named FijiFirst In the 2014 Fijian general election FijiFirst won a majority and Bainimarama was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau In the 2018 Fijian general election FijiFirst won an outright majority and Bainimarama became prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018 In the 2022 Fijian general election FijiFirst won a plurality but was unable to form a government meaning Bainimarama ceased to be Prime Minister after 16 years of rule making him the second longest serving Prime Minister of Fiji after Kamisese Mara He was succeeded by Sitiveni Rabuka In January 2022 Bainimarama underwent heart surgery in Melbourne Australia During his recovery Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum was named Acting Prime Minister Bainimarama returned to Fiji in March 2022 Contents 1 Military career 1 1 Naval career 1 2 Fiji coup of 2000 1 3 Post 2000 coup 2 Political career 2 1 Fijian coup d etat 2006 2 1 1 Explaining the coup 2 2 2009 constitutional crisis 2 3 Essential National Industries Decree 2 4 Electoral victories 2 5 Suspension from Parliament 3 Cabinet 4 Personal life 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksMilitary career editBainimarama s naval career spans three decades He has received a number of honours for his service He has been made an Officer Brother in the Order of St John of Jerusalem and has received the Meritorious Service Decoration the Peacekeeping Medal for United Nations peacekeepers the General Service Medal the Fiji Republic Medal and the 25 Anniversary Medal 4 Naval career edit Following his education at Marist Brothers High School Bainimarama enlisted with the Fijian Navy on 26 July 1975 and rose smoothly through the ranks becoming an Able Seaman in August 1976 a Midshipman in December the same year and an Ensign on 1 November 1977 4 After completing the Midshipmen s Supplementary Course in Australia he was appointed Navigation officer of HMFS Kiro in August 1978 At the end of that year he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant In January 1979 Bainimarama embarked on the Chilean naval training ship the Buque Escuela Esmeralda which spent six months circumnavigating South America On his return to Fiji in August Bainimarama was appointed executive officer of HMFS Kiro 5 After a brief Navigation Course in HMAS Watson in March 1982 Bainimarama underwent Search and Rescue training at the United States Coast Guard Centre in New York City 5 On his return to Fiji he was appointed commander of HMFS Kikau his first command post He went on to command HMFS Kula and spent four months in 1984 in the markings of the Exclusive Economic Zones of Tonga Tuvalu and Kiribati After being promoted to Lieutenant Commander in February 1986 he departed for Sinai where he served for eighteen months with the Multinational Force and Observers 5 Bainimarama returned to Fiji in September 1987 5 He took charge of the delivery of two naval ships the Levuka and Lautoka from Louisiana in the United States He became Commanding Officer of the Fijian Navy in April 1988 and was promoted to the rank of Commander on 4 October that year He held this post for the next nine years 5 Bainimarama underwent further training at the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College in 1991 and at the Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre at RAAF Williamtown Newcastle New South Wales where he studied Maritime Surveillance Training This was followed by Disaster Management training at the Asian Institute of Technology in 1993 and Exclusive Economic Zone Management training at Dalhousie University Canada in 1994 He was promoted to the rank of Captain in October of that year and went on to attend the Australian Joint Services Staff College JSSC 6 He attended the Integrated Logistics Support Overview course of the Australian Defence Co operation Program on 23 September 1996 and the Chief of Army Conferences in Singapore in 1998 and 1999 as well as the Chief of Defence Conference in Hawaii Bainimarama was appointed as the Acting Chief of Staff on 10 November 1997 and was confirmed in this post on 18 April 1998 On 1 March 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Commodore and was named commander of the Armed Forces to replace Brigadier General Ratu Epeli Ganilau who resigned to pursue a political career It was in his capacity as commander of the Armed Forces that Bainimarama assumed command on 29 May 2000 He relinquished command on 5 March 2014 to Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga 7 Bainimarama was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on his retirement in recognition of his military service 8 Fiji coup of 2000 edit Main article 2000 Fijian coup d etat A group led by George Speight a businessman who had been declared bankrupt following the cancellation of several contracts by the government entered Parliament buildings on 19 May 2000 and disaffected elements of the Fijian population rallied to his side For 56 days Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and most of his cabinet along with many parliamentarians and their staff were held as hostages while Speight attempted to negotiate with the president Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara who denounced the coup and declared a state of emergency Believing that President Kamisese Mara was not dealing effectively with the situation Bainimarama forced Mara to resign on 29 May 2000 in what some politicians have since called a coup within a coup and formed an interim military government which negotiated an accord under which the rebels would release all hostages including the deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and would surrender without penalty The government later reneged on the last part of the agreement and arrested Speight on 27 July 2000 9 10 with Bainimarama saying that he had signed that part of the accord under duress 11 Post 2000 coup edit Bainimarama attended a Leadership and Change Management course with the Public Service Training and Development program in February 2002 and a Policy Planning Analysis and Management course at the University of the South Pacific in Suva the following month He went on to attend the Defence and Strategic Studies Annual Conference at the Australian Defence College in Canberra on 2 August and the Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at Harvard University in the United States from 18 to 30 August In November that year he was promoted to Rear Admiral but this promotion was reverted to Commodore on 1 February 2003 In 2014 he was made rear admiral again 8 On 4 September 2003 Bainimarama attended the Pacific Armies Management Seminar XXVII in Seoul South Korea and went on to attend the PKO Capacity Building Seminar in the Philippine capital of Manila Despite his deteriorating relationship with the government Bainimarama was reappointed commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces on 5 February 2004 That month he attended the Pacific Area Special Operations Conference This was followed by the Seminar Executive Course at the Asia Pacific Centre for Strategic Studies in Hawaii in April In May and June he attended the South East Asia Security Symposium In September he attended both the PAMS XXVII in the Indian capital of New Delhi and the 7th Chief of Defence Conference in Tokyo Japan On 14 December 2005 Bainimarama began an official visit to China at the invitation of the People s Liberation Army 12 Political career editFijian coup d etat 2006 edit Main article 2006 Fijian coup d etat On 31 October 2006 while Bainimarama was in Egypt visiting Fijian forces on peacekeeping duties in the Middle East President Iloilo moved to terminate the appointment of Bainimarama appointing instead Lieutenant Colonel Meli Saubulinayau who declined to take the position Senior Fijian military officers backed Bainimarama who quickly called on the Government to resign The governments of Australia New Zealand the U S and others called for calm and asked for assurances that the Fijian military not rise against the government 13 14 In late November 2006 Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase one of which was the withdrawal of three controversial bills including the Qoliqoli Bill which would have transferred ownership of maritime resources to the Fijian people and the Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill which would have offered conditional pardons to persons convicted of involvement in the 2000 coup Despite further talks in Suva and in Wellington New Zealand Bainimarama gave the Prime Minister Qarase an ultimatum of 4 December to accede to his demands or to resign In a televised address Qarase agreed to put the three race based bills on hold review the appointment of Andrew Hughes as police commissioner Bainimarama had demanded his dismissal and give the police the option of discontinuing investigations into the commander s alleged acts of sedition He refused further concessions saying that he had conceded all that was possible within the law Military manoeuvres followed including the seizure of government vehicles and the house arrest of Prime Minister Qarase On 5 December President Ratu Josefa Iloilo was said to have signed a legal order dissolving Parliament after meeting with Bainimarama The president later issued a statement categorically denying having signed any such decree however and the exiled Commissioner of Police Andrew Hughes implicated Iloilo s secretary in the fabrication of the decree at the direction of Commander Bainimarama As of 9 December there were reported arrests of members of the media and open dissenters 15 as well as incidents of intimidation and violence committed against political figures 15 Stuart Huggett chairman of the Public Service Commission was reported to have been assaulted Bainimarama told a press conference on 15 December that he would agree to attend a forthcoming meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs the feudal body empowered to choose the country s president vice president and fourteen of the thirty two Senators only in his capacity as president of the Republic the Fiji Sun reported 16 17 Told that the Great Council still recognised Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president he said that in that case he would boycott the meeting He also condemned the Great Council s invitation to deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase saying that Qarase would not be allowed to return to Suva to attend the meeting On 6 September 2007 Bainimarama imposed a renewed state of emergency for one month alleging that Qarase and his spokesman were spreading lies and attempting to cause destabilisation following Qarase s return to Suva after having been confined to the island of Vanua Balavu since his ouster Bainimarama said that Qarase and his spokesman should return to Vanuabalavu and that they could talk from there 18 Bainimarama became acting Minister of Finance on 18 August 2008 after Chaudhry and the other Labour Party ministers withdrew from the interim government 19 Explaining the coup edit The immediate cause of the military coup was Prime Minister Qarase s refusal to withdraw the Qoliqoli Bill Bainimarama stated that his main reasons for overthrowing the Qarase government were that it was corrupt and that it was conducting racially discriminatory policies against the country s Indo Fijian minority In a speech publicly announcing the coup he stated that Qarase s policies had divided the nation now and will have very serious consequences to our future generations He added that the passing of the Reconciliation Qoliqoli and Land Claims Bills will undermine the Constitution will deprive many citizens of their rights as guaranteed under the Constitution and compromise and undermine the integrity of the Constitutional Offices including the Judiciary He explained that he would amend the race based electoral rolls so as to lead us into peace and prosperity and mend the ever widening racial divide that currently besets our multicultural nation 20 Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007 he stated I n 1970 Fiji started its journey as a young nation on a rather shaky foundation with a race based Constitution one which rigidly compartmentalised our communities The democracy which came to be practised in Fiji was marked by divisive adversarial inward looking race based politics The legacy of leadership at both community and national levels was a fractured nation Fiji s people were not allowed to share a common national identity Of the two major communities indigenous Fijians were instilled with fear of dominance and dispossession by Indo Fijians and they desired protection of their status as the indigenous people Indo Fijians on the other hand felt alienated and marginalised as second class citizens in their own country the country of their birth Fiji Fiji s overall situation by 2006 had deteriorated sharply heightened by massive corruption and lawlessness P olicies which promote racial supremacy must be removed once and for all Fiji will look at making the necessary legal changes in the area of electoral reform to ensure true equality at the polls E very person will be given the right to vote for only one candidate irrespective of race or religion 21 This was to be achieved he declared through a People s Charter for Change Peace and Progress the stated aim of which was to rebuild Fiji into a non racial culturally vibrant and united well governed truly democratic nation that seeks progress and prosperity through merit based equality of opportunity and peace 22 In April 2009 he told The Australian s Graham Davis My vision for Fiji is one that s free of racism That s the biggest problem we ve had in the last 20 years and it needs to be taken out It s the lies that are being fed to indigenous Fijians that are causing this especially from our chiefs who are the dominating factor in our lives And the politicians take advantage of that We need to change direction in a dramatic way We need to get rid of Qarase and everything associated with the 2000 coup and begin entirely on a new path 23 Davis noted that Bainimarama had introduced greater ethnic diversity into senior positions and suggested that maybe that s what drives Bainimarama most of all the notion however quixotic of a multiracial meritocracy belatedly fulfilling the great promise Fiji had in its early post independence years when a visiting pope John Paul II famously described it as a model for the developing world Before the greed the racism and the gun 23 2009 constitutional crisis edit Main article 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis In April 2009 the Court of Appeal ruled the removal of the democratic government during his 2006 military coup was illegal Bainimarama stepped down on 10 April 2009 as interim prime minister 24 President Ratu Josefa Iloilo then announced that he had abolished the constitution assumed all governing power and revoked all judicial appointments After abolishing the constitution and sacking the judiciary President Ratu Josefa Iloilo reappointed Commodore Frank Bainimarama as prime minister only 24 hours later 25 On 24 April the president made him Companion of the Order of Fiji in recognition of his eminent achievement and merit of highest degree and service to Fiji and to humanity at large 26 On 3 November 2009 Bainimarama banished the envoys of Australia and New Zealand giving them 24 hours to leave the country Essential National Industries Decree edit Main article Essential National Industries Employment Decree 2011 In September 2011 the Bainimarama government introduced a decree severely curtailing labour rights so as to ensure the present and continued viability and sustainability of essential national industries In particular the decree banned strikes in all but exceptional circumstances subjecting them in addition to government authorisation on a case by case basis It also curtailed the right for workers to take their grievances to courts of law 27 The Fiji Trades Union Congress said the decree offers major weapons to the employers to utilise against unions It outlaws professional trade unionists eliminates existing collective agreements promotes a biased system of non professional bargaining agents to represent workers severely restricts industrial action strengthens sanctions against legally striking workers and bans overtime payments and other allowances for workers in 24 hour operations Attar Singh general secretary for the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions said We have never seen anything worse than this decree It is without doubt designed to decimate unions by giving employers an unfair advantage over workers and unions 28 Amnesty International said the decree threatened fundamental human rights including the right to freedom of association and assembly and the right to organise 29 Electoral victories edit Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014 and formed a party named FijiFirst 30 In the 2014 Fijian general election FijiFirst won a majority and Bainimarama was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau In the 2018 Fijian general election FijiFirst won an outright majority and Bainimarama became prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018 In the 2022 Fijian general election FijiFirst won a plurality but was unable to form a government meaning Bainimarama would cease to be prime minister after 16 years of rule 31 He was succeeded by Sitiveni Rabuka on 24 December 2022 The same day Bainimarama was elected leader of the opposition 32 He has been described by some as a dictator 33 34 35 or an authoritarian 36 37 38 although he denies these claims 39 Suspension from Parliament edit On 17 February 2023 Bainimarama was suspended from parliament for three years after making disparaging references to President Wiliame Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka as well as making treasonous comments in breach of standing orders 40 However he remained Opposition Leader 41 On 8 March 2023 Bainimarama resigned from Parliament and as leader of the opposition 42 43 On 9 March 2023 Bainimarama was charged with abuse of office over allegations he and police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho interfered with an investigation into financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific 44 45 The two were released on bail the next day after pleading not guilty 46 47 Bainimarama and Qiliho were acquitted on 12 October 2023 48 Cabinet editOffice IncumbentAttorney General and Minister for Economy Civil Service and Communications 49 Aiyaz Sayed KhaiyumMinister for Rural Maritime Development and Disaster Management and Minister for Defence National Security and Policing 49 Inia SeruiratuMinister for Employment Productivity Industrial Relations Youth and Sports 49 Parveen BalaMinister for Infrastructure and Meteorological Services and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources 49 Jone UsamateMinister for Education Heritage and Arts 49 Premila KumarMinister for Agriculture Waterways and Environment 49 Mahendra ReddyMinister for Women Children and Poverty Alleviation 49 Mereseini VuniwaqaMinister for Forestry 49 Osea NaiqamuMinister for Fisheries 49 Semi KoroilavesauMinister for Local Government Housing and Community Development 49 Premila KumarMinister for Commerce Trade Tourism amp Transport 49 Faiyaz KoyaMinister for Health and Medical Services 49 Ifereimi WaqainabetePersonal life editBainimarama hails from the village of Kiuva in the Kaba Peninsula Tailevu Province He is the brother of Ratu Meli Bainimarama and Ratu Timoci Bainimarama both senior civil servants He was Roman Catholic educated 50 and graduated from Marist Brothers High School in Suva He is married to Maria Makitalena they have six children and several grandchildren He is a sports enthusiast with a particular passion for rugby union and athletics he became president of the Fiji Rugby Union on 31 May 2014 51 In January 2022 Bainimarama underwent heart surgery in Melbourne Australia During his recovery Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum was named Acting Prime Minister 52 53 Bainimarama returned to Fiji in March 2022 54 Bainimarama displays above his office desk portraits of Elizabeth II former Queen of Fiji and of her consort Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh He has said of himself I m still loyal to the Queen Many people are in Fiji One of the things I d like to do is see her restored as our monarch to be Queen of Fiji again 23 However in 2012 Bainimarama s government abolished the Queen s Official Birthday holiday in Fiji 55 and replaced the Queen s image on Fiji s banknotes and coins with the Fijian coat of arms 56 See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp Politics portalQoliqoli Bill People s Charter for Change and Progress List of foreign ministers in 2017 List of current foreign ministers Office of the Prime MinisterReferences edit Fiji Parliament directory Parliament of Fiji 24 December 2022 Retrieved 25 April 2023 Bainimarama elected as Opposition Leader Fonua Talei 9 March 2023 Inia Seruiratu To Lead Opposition To Keep Government In Check Fiji Sun Retrieved 10 March 2023 a b THE HON REAR ADMIRAL JOSAIA VOREQE BAINIMARAMA PRIME MINISTER Pacific Islands Forum Retrieved 9 February 2023 a b c d e Strong military legacy of Bainimarama Fiji Sun 5 March 2014 Retrieved 9 February 2023 Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archived from the original on 26 September 2014 Retrieved 29 December 2018 Fiji coup leader Frank Bainimarama quits military post for poll run Archived 6 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine The Australian 5 March 2014 retrieved 6 March 2014 a b Bainimarama promoted to Rear Admiral The Fiji Times 15 March 2014 Retrieved 9 February 2023 REBEL LEADER GEORGE SPEIGHT ARRESTED Fiji Crisis 27 July 2000 Archived from the original on 24 February 2003 Fiji Speight reported arrested The Guardian 26 July 2000 Retrieved 7 March 2023 Is this the best advertised coup in history New Zealand Herald Retrieved 7 March 2023 Fiji military commander holding talks with Chinese defence officials RNZ 16 December 2005 Retrieved 9 February 2023 Sid Marris Fiji coup a real danger says Downer Archived 23 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine The Australian 2 November 2006 Patrick Walters Howard warns against Fiji coup Archived 8 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine The Australian 2 November 2006 a b Fiji Times contributors warned by army Fiji Times Online Fijitimes com Archived from the original on 22 December 2007 Retrieved 13 November 2008 1 Archived 14 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine Archived copy Archived 22 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine Martial law declared in Fiji again The New Zealand Herald 6 September 2007 Retrieved 30 September 2011 Fiji s military leader takes over country s finances Archived 30 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine AFP 18 August 2008 Commander RFMF Public Declaration of Military Takeover Archived 15 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Fiji government 5 December 2006 Statement by Bainimarama to the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly PDF Un org 28 September 2007 Retrieved 20 March 2017 Building a Better Fiji for All through a People s Charter for Change and Progress Archived 14 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Fiji government website April 2007 a b c Despot for diversity Archived 14 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Graham Davis The Australian 1 May 2009 Auckland correspondent Kerri Ritchie 10 April 2009 Fiji s Bainimarama steps down as PM ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 20 March 2017 Fiji s President Reappoints Bainimarama as Prime Minister VOA News 2 November 2009 Retrieved 9 February 2023 Frank Bainimarama receives Companion of the Order of Fiji from President Agence France Presse 24 April 2009 Decree No 35 2011 Essential National Industries Employment Decree 2011 Archived 31 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Fiji government Union govt face off Decree deepens division Archived 15 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine Islands Business Warning on Fiji government plan to severely restrict workers rights Archived 8 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine Amnesty International 8 August 2011 The People Have Spoken The 2014 Elections in Fiji ANU Press 2016 ISBN 978 1 76046 001 3 JSTOR j ctt1bw1hc6 Needham Kirsty 20 December 2022 Fiji has new government after three parties form coalition Reuters Retrieved 20 December 2022 Sitiveni Rabuka is Fiji s new prime minister RNZ 24 December 2022 Archived from the original on 24 December 2022 Retrieved 24 December 2022 How Fijian dictator Bainimarama finally earned his mandate Won by a Dictator The 2014 General Elections in the Republic of Fiji 14 January 2015 Fiji s Dictator Frank Bainimarama s Truth Revealed PDF Truth for Fiji Retrieved 6 February 2023 Fiji election renews semi authoritarian rule Emerald Expert Briefings oxan es oxan es 1 January 2018 doi 10 1108 OXAN ES239981 Retrieved 6 February 2023 via Emerald Insight Is Fijian style authoritarianism spreading ABC Pacific 30 July 2015 Retrieved 6 February 2023 Writing on the wall for authoritarian FijiFirst government says Ratuva Asia Pacific Report Retrieved 6 February 2023 Fiji s Prime Minister Insists That He is Not a Dictator YouTube Asia Pacific Report Bainimarama suspended from parliament for 3 years Fiji Village 17 February 2023 Retrieved 17 February 2023 Bainimarama remains as Leader of the Opposition Fiji Times 19 February 2023 Retrieved 26 February 2023 Bainimarama resigns from Parliament Fiji Village 8 March 2023 Retrieved 8 March 2023 Suspended Bainimarama resigns from Parliament Fiji Times 8 March 2023 Retrieved 8 March 2023 Fiji police charge former prime minister Frank Bainimarama with abuse of office ABC News 9 March 2023 Retrieved 9 March 2023 Former Fiji PM Bainimarama and suspended top cop charged RNZ 9 March 2023 Retrieved 9 March 2023 Ashna Kumar 10 March 2023 Bainimarama And Qiliho Released On Bail Fiji Sun Retrieved 10 March 2023 Ashna Kumar 10 March 2023 Qiliho And Bainimarama Pleads Not Guilty Fiji Sun Retrieved 10 March 2023 Vucukula Elena 12 October 2023 Court frees Bainimarama Qiliho of all charges The Fiji Times a b c d e f g h i j k l Ministers Office of the Prime Minister Fiji Retrieved 6 June 2020 Catholics support Methodists Fiji Times Online Fijitimes com Archived from the original on 14 September 2008 Retrieved 13 November 2008 Singh Zanzeer 1 June 2014 Bainimarama elected FRU president The Fiji Times Online Fiji Times Limited Retrieved 10 February 2023 PRIME Minister Rear Admiral Ret Voreqe Bainimarama is the new president of the Fiji Rugby Union He was elected unopposed at the Fiji Rugby Union annual general meeting in Nadi yesterday Noble Phil 12 February 2022 Fiji Leader Bainimarama A No show For Visit By Top US Diplomat Barrons AFP Agence France Presse Retrieved 14 February 2022 Anthony Kelvin 7 February 2022 Fiji s PM needs time to recuperate says govt Radio New Zealand Retrieved 14 February 2022 Anthony Kelvin Bainimarama returns to Fiji after heart surgery Radio New Zealand Retrieved 2 March 2022 Fiji Scraps Queen s birthday holiday NewstalkZB 31 July 2012 Anger over plan to remove Queen from Fiji money Australian Broadcasting Corporation 12 December 2012 External links editFrank Bainimarama at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Quotations from Wikiquote nbsp Data from Wikidata Republic of Fiji Military Forces website Bainimarama s speech 5 December 2006 the stated reasons for the coup Commodore Bainimarama s address to the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly 28 September 2007 video Commodore Bainimarama s address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly 26 September 2008 Frank Uncensored ABC documentary by Philippa McDonald 3 August 2010 Military officesPreceded byEpeli Ganilau Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces1999 2014 Succeeded byMosese TikoitogaPolitical officesPreceded byKamisese Mara President of FijiActing2000 Succeeded byJosefa IloiloPreceded byJosefa Iloilo President of FijiActing2006 2007Preceded byJona Senilagakali Prime Minister of Fiji2007 2022Acting 2007 2014 Succeeded bySitiveni RabukaPreceded byEpeli Nailatikau Minister for Foreign Affairs2008 2009 VacantVacant Minister for Foreign Affairs2009 Succeeded byInoke KubuabolaPreceded byTimoci Natuva Minister for Immigration National Security and Defence2016Preceded byInoke Kubuabola Minister for Foreign Affairs2016 2019Preceded byInia Seruiratu Minister for Foreign Affairs2020 2022 Succeeded bySitiveni RabukaPreceded byNaiqama Lalabalavu Leader of the Opposition2022 2023 Succeeded byInia SeruiratuParty political officesNew political party Leader of FijiFirst2014 present Incumbent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Bainimarama amp oldid 1187518532, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.