Jonati Mavoa
Jonati Mavoa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation and Tourism | |
| In office 1983–1985 | |
| Preceded by | Mosese Qionibaravi |
| Succeeded by | Semesa Sikivou |
| Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | |
| In office 1979–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Walker |
| Minister of Urban Development and Housing | |
| In office 1977–1979 | |
| Minister of Communications, Works and Tourism | |
| In office 1977 | |
| Minister for Labour | |
| In office 1972–1977 | |
| Minister of Social Services | |
| In office 1969–1972 | |
| Preceded by | Vijay R. Singh |
| Succeeded by | Vijay R. Singh |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 1966–1985 | |
| Succeeded by | Filipe Bole |
| Constituency | Lau–Rotuma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 April 1920 Kabara, Fiji |
| Died | 16 June 1985 (aged 65) Auckland, New Zealand |
Jonati Malamala Mavoa CMG (12 April 1920 – 16 June 1985) was a Fijian civil servant and politician. He served as an MP from 1966 until his death, and held several ministerial positions from 1969 onwards.
Biography
Born in Kabara in April 1920,[1] Mavoa was a civil servant and in 1955 became the first Fijian to be appointed a clerk to the Legislative Council.[2] He resigned from the civil service in 1966 to join the Alliance Party and stand in the elections to the Legislative Council in the Lau–Rotuma Fijian communal constituency. He was elected unopposed, and was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resources.[3] In 1969 he was appointed Minister of Social Services.[4]
After being re-elected in 1972 (by which time the legislature had been renamed the House of Representatives), he was appointed Minister for Labour, later becoming Minister of Communications, Works and Tourism. Following the March 1977 elections he became House Leader.[5] He was appointed Minister of Urban Development and Housing following the September 1977 elections, before becoming Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1979.[6] In 1983 he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation and Tourism. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1984 New Year Honours.
He died in Auckland in June 1985, having been taken to New Zealand for medical treatment following a fall at his home.[7]
References
- ^ International Directory of Foreign Ministers, 1589-1989: Supplement, 1945-1995, Volume 2, p172
- ^ First Fijian Secretary of Legislative Council Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1955, p157
- ^ Fiji's new government Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1966, p11
- ^ Fiji: new portfolios Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1969, p30
- ^ With an election in the offing, Fiji's cliff-hanger continues Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1977, p11
- ^ Fiji: Sugar politics again Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1979, p28
- ^ Jonati Mavoa Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1985, p65