Viliame_Gavoka

Viliame Gavoka

Viliame Gavoka

Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji and Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism of Fiji

Viliame "Bill" Rogoibulu Gavoka (pronounced [βiliame roŋoimbulu ŋaβoka]; born 8 July 1950) is a Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister. From 28 November 2020 to 2022 he was leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party, after ousting Sitiveni Rabuka in the SODELPA leadership contest.

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Early life

Gavoka studied at Ratu Kadavulevu School when he was younger. He studied at the University of the South Pacific for his tertiary education. He was the Chairman of the Fiji Visitors Bureau but was removed from the post in 2009 by the Frank Bainimarama-led government.[3] In May 2009, he was appointed the chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union.[4] In June 2010, he made media headlines when he "prophesied" a natural disaster would hit Fiji on June 23 at 2.30 pm. He was charged for spreading rumours.[5] His involvement in the 1 million dollar lottery scandal at FRU eventually led to him being sacked for the 2nd time as a chairman after Fiji's Commerce Commission found that the lottery had been improperly run. He joined the Fiji Holding Limited board as a director soon after.

In July 2014, he resigned from the Fiji Holding board to enter politics.[3]

Political career

Gavoka joined the SODELPA and ran in the 2014 general elections.[6] He was elected an MP with 3,690 votes.[7] He contested the party leadership in 2016 following the resignation of Teimumu Kepa,[8] losing to Sitiveni Rabuka.

He was re-elected at the 2018 election,[9] winning 3536 votes.

SODELPA leader

In 2020 a dispute in SODELPA over the election of the party president led to different factions holding rival AGMs[10] and to the suspension of the party by the Registrar of Political Parties.[11][12] Following the lifting of the suspension, the party held a leadership contest,[13] which was won by Gavoka.[14][15] Following Gavoka's win, former leader Sitiveni Rabuka resigned from Parliament.[16] On 9 December 2020, SODELPA MP's voted to install Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu as leader of the opposition rather than Gavoka, causing further tension in the party.[17][18]

2022 election

Main article: 2022 Fijian general election

During the 2022 election, SODELPA won three seats but became the kingmaker as neither FijiFirst nor the National Federation Party-People's Alliance coalition obtained a majority. Once the final results were released, on 19 December,[19] Gavoka's tenure as leader ended in accordance with SODELPA's constitution, which requires the party to choose a new leader if it fails to gain a parliamentary majority.[20] SODELPA's General Secretary, Lenaitasi Duru, announced the party would not elect a successor until its annual general meeting in 2024.[21]

On 24 December 2022 he was appointed a Deputy Prime Minister (one of three) and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.[22]

On 22 January 2024 he was appointed Minister of Education following the dismissal of Aseri Radrodro.[23][24]

In April 2024 he was replaced as SODELPA leader by Aseri Radrodro.[25][26]

Personal life

Gavoka's daughter, Ela married Fiji's attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, a wedding which he did not attend.[27]

References

  1. [1]
    Jale Daucakacaka (15 December 2022). "It has been a struggle: Gavoka". FBC News. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  2. [2]
    https://fijisun.com.fj/tag/bill-gavoka/
  3. [3]
    "Fiji's Social Democratic Liberal Party leader Viliame Gavoka's focus ahead of 2022 election". RNZ. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. [4]
    Raj, Amit (1 May 2009). "Gavoka in control". Fiji Times. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  5. [5]
    Field, Michael (23 June 2010). "Fiji quake prophesiers seized". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  6. [6]
    "Gavoka resigns as FHL director". Fijilive. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  7. [7]
    "2014 Election Results". Fiji Elections Office. Archived from the original on 2014-09-21. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
  8. [8]
    "Ro Teimumu to quit Fiji party leadership". RNZ. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  9. [9]
    Talebula Kate (18 November 2018). "2018 General Election: SODELPA secures 21 seats". Fiji Times. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  10. [10]
    "Fiji's SODELPA factions hold their own board meetings". RNZ. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  11. [11]
    Koroi Tadulala (26 May 2020). "SODELPA suspended for 60 days for breach". FBC News. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  12. [12]
    "SODELPA's Rabuka hopeful party can come back united". RNZ. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  13. [13]
    "Five-way contest for Fiji's SODELPA leadership". RNZ. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  14. [14]
    "Fiji's main opposition party chooses a new leader". RNZ. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  15. [15]
    Narayan, Vijay (27 November 2020). "Gavoka will be next SODELPA Leader Vosarogo is Deputy Leader". Fiji Village. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  16. [16]
    "Fiji's opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka resigns as member of Parliament". RNZ. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  17. [17]
    "High chief elected Fiji's new Opposition Leader". RNZ. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  18. [18]
    "Fiji's SODELPA caucus defies party president's call for unity: Gavoka". RNZ. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  19. [19]
    "The results are in - Fiji to get a coalition government". RNZ. 19 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  20. [20]
    Narayan, Vijay (20 December 2022). "Gavoka does not hold the SODELPA Leader's post after the official election results". FijiVillge. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  21. [21]
    Daucakacaka, Jale (20 December 2022). "Gavoka no longer SODELPA leader". FBC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  22. [22]
    Apenisa Waqairadovu (24 December 2022). "Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG". FBC News. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  23. [23]
    "Prime Minister Dismisses Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro for insubordination". Fiji Sun. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  24. [24]
    Praneeta Prakash (21 January 2024). "Rabuka stands by his decision on Radrodro". FBC News. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  25. [25]
    "Radrodro is SODELPA leader". Fiji Times. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  26. [26]
    "Radrodro is new SODELPA Leader and Gavoka remains as Minister for Education". Fiji Village. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  27. [27]
    Nasiko, Repeka (19 March 2011). "AG ties the knot with Adi Ela". Fijilive. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
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