Lagamu Vuiyasawa
Encyclopedia
Adi
Lagamu Lewaturaga Vuiyasawa is a Fiji
an businesswoman and politician. On 4 November 2005, she was appointed to the Senate
to complete the unexpired term of her de facto husband
, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata
, who forfeited his seat owing to his imprisonment on charges related to his role in an army mutiny
that followed the Fiji coup of 2000
. Vuiyasawa became one of 9 nominees of Prime Minister in the 32-member Senate; another 8 are chosen by the Leader of the Opposition
, 1 by the Council of Rotuma
, and 14 by the Great Council of Chiefs
. Her appointment was made retrospective to 20 October.
, and Kay International College of Hairdressing in Auckland
, New Zealand
. She subsequently set up her own hairdressing business and served on the Naitasiri Provincial Council
. At the time of her appointment to the Senate, she was also President of the Naitasiri branch of the Soqosoqo Vakamarama, a women's organization.
Province
. She is the daughter of the late Ratu Alipate Baledrokadroka, himself a former Senator and Chief of northern Naitasiri
, who held the title of Turaga Taukei ni Waluvu
. Her mother is from the tokatoka Nacokula, Lasakau village , on Bau Island
. Vuiyasawa was previously married to the late Ratu Ilaitia Vuiyasawa, with whom she had five children and two grandchildren. Her brother, Jone Baledrokadroka, was a senior army
officer, who was dismissed on 13 January 2006 for alleged insubordination
.
Vuiyasawa's relationship to Takiveikata became known to the public only after her appointment to the Senate, and Opposition parliamentarian
Poseci Bune
declared her appointment in such circumstances to be unethical, a position rejected by Prime Minister Qarase. Vuiyasawa herself defended her appointment on 5 December, saying that it was based not on her relationship to Takiveikata, but on her own ties with Naitasiri Province as the President of the Naitasiri Soqosoqo Vaka Marama. Her relationship to Takiveikata was irrelevant, she considered. "We are individuals," she said. She also denied being Takiveikata's de facto wife, distinguishing that term from "partner," the term she used.Adi Lagamu and Ratu Inoke were legally married after Ratu Inoke was released from Prison in 2007.
Adi (title)
Adi is a title used by Fijian women of chiefly rank, namely female members of chiefly clans. It is the equivalent of the Ratu title used by male chiefs. It is in general use throughout most of Fiji, although on Kadavu Island, Bulou is used instead....
Lagamu Lewaturaga Vuiyasawa is a Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an businesswoman and politician. On 4 November 2005, she was appointed to the Senate
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
to complete the unexpired term of her de facto husband
Common-law marriage
Common-law marriage, sometimes called sui juris marriage, informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute, is a form of interpersonal status that is legally recognized in limited jurisdictions as a marriage even though no legally recognized marriage ceremony is performed or civil marriage...
, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata
Inoke Takiveikata
Ratu Inoke Takiveikata is a Fijian high chief and politician. Since 1997 he has held the title of Qaranivalu, a senior chiefly title in Naitasiri Province...
, who forfeited his seat owing to his imprisonment on charges related to his role in an army mutiny
Mutinies of Fiji coup of 2000
Two military mutinies took place in connection with the civilian coup d'état that rocked Fiji in 2000, the first while the rebellion instigated by George Speight was in progress, and the second four months after it had ended....
that followed the Fiji coup of 2000
Fiji coup of 2000
The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of a non-native Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and...
. Vuiyasawa became one of 9 nominees of Prime Minister in the 32-member Senate; another 8 are chosen by the Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)
The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. It did not originate in Fiji but has a long tradition; in British constitutional theory, the Leader of the Opposition must pose a formal alternative to the government, ready...
, 1 by the Council of Rotuma
Council of Rotuma
The Council of Rotuma is a municipal body on the island of Rotuma, a Fijian dependency. Owing to the unique character of Rotuma, the powers of this council are greater than those of other municipal bodies in Fiji and in some ways it approximates a legislative body, though it is in every way...
, and 14 by the Great Council of Chiefs
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
. Her appointment was made retrospective to 20 October.
Education and career
Vuiyasawa was educated at Saint Anne's Primary School and St Joseph's Secondary School in SuvaSuva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, and Kay International College of Hairdressing in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. She subsequently set up her own hairdressing business and served on the Naitasiri Provincial Council
Local government of Fiji
Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces; the self-governing island of Rotuma and its dependencies lie outside any of the four divisions. Each division is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Fijian government...
. At the time of her appointment to the Senate, she was also President of the Naitasiri branch of the Soqosoqo Vakamarama, a women's organization.
Personal life
Vuiyasawa hails from Nairukuruku Village in NaitasiriNaitasiri
Naitasiri is one of the 14 provinces of Fiji and one of eight based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island.-Geography and infrastructure:Naitasiri as a province covers 1,666 square kilometers , the Province occupies the area to the north and east of Suva, the capital...
Province
Local government of Fiji
Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces; the self-governing island of Rotuma and its dependencies lie outside any of the four divisions. Each division is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Fijian government...
. She is the daughter of the late Ratu Alipate Baledrokadroka, himself a former Senator and Chief of northern Naitasiri
Naitasiri
Naitasiri is one of the 14 provinces of Fiji and one of eight based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island.-Geography and infrastructure:Naitasiri as a province covers 1,666 square kilometers , the Province occupies the area to the north and east of Suva, the capital...
, who held the title of Turaga Taukei ni Waluvu
Taukei ni Waluvu
Taukei ni Waluvu is the Fijian picturesque phrase for "Native of the Flood." It is the traditional chiefly title of the warrior hill clan Siko-Natabutale of Nairukuruku village. The history of the clan from the mid- nineteenth century, represent the social structures of the chiefly...
. Her mother is from the tokatoka Nacokula, Lasakau village , on Bau Island
Bau Island
Bau is a small island in Fiji, off the east coast of the main island of Viti Levu.-History:With the aid of Charlie Savage, who brought firearms to Bau Island, the Bauan people quickly established themselves as an undefeatable military force...
. Vuiyasawa was previously married to the late Ratu Ilaitia Vuiyasawa, with whom she had five children and two grandchildren. Her brother, Jone Baledrokadroka, was a senior army
Military of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
officer, who was dismissed on 13 January 2006 for alleged insubordination
Insubordination
Insubordination is the act of willfully disobeying an authority. Refusing to perform an action that is unethical or illegal is not insubordination; neither is refusing to perform an action that is not within the scope of authority of the person issuing the order.Insubordination is typically a...
.
Vuiyasawa's relationship to Takiveikata became known to the public only after her appointment to the Senate, and Opposition parliamentarian
House of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
Poseci Bune
Poseci Bune
Poseci Waqalevu Bune is a Fijian politician, who has served as Deputy Leader of the Fiji Labour Party . From June to December 2006, he served as Minister for the Environment, one of nine FLP ministers, in the multiparty Cabinet of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase...
declared her appointment in such circumstances to be unethical, a position rejected by Prime Minister Qarase. Vuiyasawa herself defended her appointment on 5 December, saying that it was based not on her relationship to Takiveikata, but on her own ties with Naitasiri Province as the President of the Naitasiri Soqosoqo Vaka Marama. Her relationship to Takiveikata was irrelevant, she considered. "We are individuals," she said. She also denied being Takiveikata's de facto wife, distinguishing that term from "partner," the term she used.Adi Lagamu and Ratu Inoke were legally married after Ratu Inoke was released from Prison in 2007.