Jonati Mavoa

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.

Jonati Mavoa
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation and Tourism
In office
1983–1985
Preceded byMosese Qionibaravi
Succeeded bySemesa Sikivou
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
In office
1979–1983
Preceded byCharles 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 byVijay R. Singh
Succeeded byVijay R. Singh
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
1966–1985
Succeeded byFilipe Bole
ConstituencyLau–Rotuma
Personal details
Born12 April 1920
Kabara, Fiji
Died16 June 1985(1985-06-16) (aged 65)
Auckland, New Zealand

Biography

Born in Kabara in April 1920,[1] Mavoa was a civil servant and in 1955 became the first Fijian to be appointed as 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
  1. International Directory of Foreign Ministers, 1589-1989: Supplement, 1945-1995, Volume 2, p172
  2. First Fijian Secretary of Legislative Council Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1955, p157
  3. Fiji's new government Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1966, p11
  4. Fiji: new portfolios Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1969, p30
  5. With an election in the offing, Fiji's cliff-hanger continues Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1977, p11
  6. Fiji: Sugar politics again Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1979, p28
  7. Jonati Mavoa Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1985, p65
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