Lenora Qereqeretabua

Lenora Salusalu Qereqeretabua (born March 1968) is a Fijian broadcaster and politician. In December 2022, she was elected deputy speaker of the Parliament of Fiji. She is a member of the National Federation Party (NFP).

Lenora Qereqeretabua
Qereqeretabua in 2020
Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji
Assumed office
24 December 2022
Prime MinisterSitiveni Rabuka
Member of the Fijian Parliament
for NFP List
Assumed office
14 November 2018
Personal details
BornMarch 1968
Dravuni, Fiji
Political partyNational Federation Party

Qereqeretabua was born in Dravuni, Kadavu Province,[1] and is the daughter of former Miss Fiji Eta Uluvula Qereqeretabua.[2] In 1988, following in the footsteps of her mother, Lenora was crowned Miss Fiji. Since 1995 she has anchored the Pacific Community's Pacific-wide news show, The Pacific Way.[3][4] She also worked as a public relations consultant and serves on the board of Save the Children Fiji.[5] In 2015 was appointed to the National Flag Committee.[6]

In February 2018 she was announced as a candidate for the National Federation Party in the 2018 elections.[7] During the election campaign she advocated for women's rights and more women in parliament.[8] She won 1811 votes, winning the NFP's third seat in parliament.[9] As an MP she advocated for a more professional media[10] and the restoration of democracy in local government,[11] as well as for the use of the Fijian language in parliament.[12] In July 2019 she cut off her buiniga-styled hair to raise money for children with cancer.[13] In September 2019 she was criticised for "cursing" members of the FijiFirst regime and their descendants[14] after parliamentary staff who videoed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama assaulting opposition MP Pio Tikoduadua were forced to resign.[15] In November 2019 she attended the Pacific Parliamentary Forum in New Zealand.[16]

She was re-elected in the 2022 Fijian general election[17] with 3741 votes.[18] On 24 December 2022 she was elected deputy speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, defeating Viliame Naupoto 28 votes to 27.[19]

Controversies

Use of profanity in Parliament

In 2019, Qereqeretabua became the first person to ever use profanity on the floor of the Fijian Parliament. She claimed that then-Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama uttered the following Fijian profanities to Pio Tikoduadua:[20]

… caiti tamamu, magai tinamu, sona levu and caiti iko.

Qereqeretabua gave literal translations of these terms.[20]

Fijian English
Literal translation Rough English equivalent
Caiti tamamu Have sexual relations with your father Fuck your father, fatherfucker
Magai tinamu Your mother's vagina Your mother's cunt, motherfucker
Sona levu An enlarged anus Asshole
Caiti iko Have sexual relations with yourself Go fuck yourself

Therefore, while it is clear that, for example, the Fijian translation of the English word "fuck" is caiti, Qereqeretabua gave the literal translations (i.e "have sexual relations" for caiti) to avoid using unparliamentary language.

The Fiji Sun heavily criticised her usage of profanity in Parliament.[21]

References
  1. Rosi Doviverata (28 March 2018). "#Vote2018 – Analysis: Qereqeretabua Seeks Traditional Blessings". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  2. Filipe Naigulevu (13 June 2016). "1962 Queen Shares Experience". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  3. "The Pacific Way". Pacific Community. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  4. "The Pacific Way TV show celebrates 20 years". Saipan Tribune. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. "Lenora Qereqeretabua". Save the Children Fiji. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  6. "FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES REMAINING MEMBERS OF NATIONAL FLAG COMMITTEE". Fiji Ministry of Communications. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  7. Arvind Kumar (8 February 2018). "Touch of star power as NFP names line-up for polls". Stuff. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  8. Losirene Lacanivalu (17 February 2018). "What's Driving Lenora to Parliament?". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  9. Talebula Kate (18 November 2018). "2018 General Election: NFP trio to join Opposition". Fiji Times. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  10. "Fiji MP calls on media to be more professional". RNZ. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  11. "Motion for local elections defeated in Fiji parliament". RNZ. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  12. "Fiji Speaker puts MPs on notice for not speaking English". RNZ. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  13. "Fiji MP puts iconic hairstyle on the line for charity". RNZ. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  14. Ilaijia Ravuwai (9 September 2019). "National Federation Party Leader, Party 'Do Not Condone Use Of Word Curse By Qereqeretabua'". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  15. "Fiji parliament staff made to resign over video of PM's shove". RNZ. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  16. "NZ-Pacific relations strengthened through parliamentary forum". RNZ. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  17. Singh, Indira (18 December 2022). "Top 55 confirmed". FBC. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  18. "Lenora Salusalu Qereqeretabua (433)". Fijian Elections Office. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  19. "Qereqeretabua elected Deputy Speaker". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  20. "Parliamentary Debates: Daily Hansard, Friday 6 September 2019 [Corrected Copy]" (PDF). Parliament of the Republic of Fiji. 6 September 2019.
  21. https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/09/08/analysis-qereqeretabua-first-fijian-to-utter-such-swear-words-inside-parliament/?amp=1
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