Fiji minister resigns due to ill health

SUVA – Fiji’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and the leader of the Government in the Parliament, Pio Tikoduadua, has resigned due to illness.

The former Lieutenant-Colonel says he has an advanced form of cancer and has chosen to spend time with his family in Tailevu.

While with the military, Tikoduadua commanded Fiji’s contribution to the regional assistance mission to Solomon Islands and also served in the United Nations transitional administration in East Timor.

He also served as Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office before running for Parliament in last year’s election.

He won 3611 votes in the election.

According to Fiji’s electoral rules, the most popular but unelected Fiji First candidate will take his place.

That is Jilila Nalibu Kumar, a former school vice principal.

She was sworn in as an MP yesterday morning, along with Mikaele Leawere, who replaces the late Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua, who died in March.

Leawere, an MP for the opposition Sodelpa party, has been the Acting General Secretary of the Fijian Teachers Association.

The Environment Minister, Praveen Kumar, will be the new Leader of Government in the House.