Premila Kumar

Premila Kumar is a Fijian consumer advocate, politician and former Cabinet Minister. She served as chief executive of the Consumer Council of Fiji from 2006 to 2018, and then as a Cabinet Minister in the government of Frank Bainimarama from 2018 to 2022. She is a member of the FijiFirst party.

The Honourable
Premila Kumar
MP
Kumar in 2020
Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts
In office
24 August 2021 – 24 December 2022
Prime MinisterFrank Bainimarama
Preceded byRosy Akbar
Succeeded byAseri Radrodro
Minister for Local Government
In office
22 November 2018 – 24 December 2022
Prime MinisterFrank Bainimarama
Preceded byParveen Bala
Succeeded byMaciu Katamotu
Minister for Housing and Community Development
In office
22 November 2018 – 24 August 2021
Succeeded byAiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Minister for Commerce, Trade and Tourism
In office
22 November 2018 – 21 April 2020
Preceded byFaiyaz Koya
Succeeded byFaiyaz Koya
Member of the Fijian Parliament
for FijiFirst List
Assumed office
14 November 2018
Personal details
BornSuva, Fiji
Political partyFijiFirst
Childrenthree

Early life

Kumar was born in Suva and educated at Suva Methodist Primary School, Dudley Intermediate, and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School.[1] She then studied for a bachelor of science at Sophia College for Women in India, before working as a teacher.[1] She later completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of the South Pacific, and a Master of Science in trade and the environment in the Netherlands.[2] She later worked as a Government environmental advocate and as an investment manager at Fiji Islands Trade & Investment Bureau.[3]

In 2006 she was appointed chief executive of the Consumer Council of Fiji.[2] As chief executive she led campaigns on drug prices,[4] bank fees,[5] and fuel prices,[6] among other issues. She also served as a council member of Consumers International.[2] She resigned as chief executive in July 2018[7] in order to pursue a career in politics.

In 2010 the Fiji Times named her the most influential woman of the year.[2] In 2015 she was awarded the Executive Woman of the Year Award in 2015 by Women in Business.[8]

Political career

Kumar was selected as a candidate for the FijiFirst party for the 2018 Fijian general election.[9] She was elected, and appointed Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Local Government, and Housing.[10][11] As a Minister, she opposed the restoration of elected local councils, which had been abolished by the military regime in 2009.[12] A cabinet reshuffle in April 2020 saw her surrender the Commerce, Trade and Tourism portfolio to former Minister Faiyaz Koya, while continuing as Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development.[13] A further reshuffle in August 2021 saw her appointed Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, and surrender the Housing and Community Development portfolios to Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.[14]

She was re-elected in the 2022 election,[15] winning 1025 votes,[16] but lost her Cabinet position when the Bainimarama regime lost power to the coalition government.[17]

References
  1. "MEET PREMILA KUMAR". FijiTuwawa News. 15 July 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. "From An Influential Consumer Advocate To Member Of Parliament". Fiji Sun. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  3. "KUMAR SPENDS FIRST 12 MONTHS STREAMLINING POLICIES, SYSTEMS". FijiSun. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via PressReader.
  4. "Drug prices in Fiji double says new survey". RNZ. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  5. "Fiji's Reserve Bank urged to review fees and charges". RNZ. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  6. "Fiji Consumer Council shocked at size of fuel price rise". RNZ. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  7. "Premila Kumar Resigns". Fiji Sun. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  8. "Premila Thanks Three Men Who Helped Shape Her Career". Fiji Sun. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  9. "FijiFirst announces candidates but no election date". RNZ. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  10. "Fiji Government ministers sworn in". RNZ. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  11. "Bainimarama and his ministers sworn in as Fiji's government gets down to business". Stuff. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  12. "No municipal elections for Fiji until "major reforms"". RNZ. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  13. "Fiji PM reshuffles cabinet, Faiyaz Koya gets commerce portfolio". RNZ. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  14. "Rosy Akbar is now Minister for Women, Children & Poverty Alleviation while Premila Kumar is new Education Minister". Fiji Village. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  15. "Fiji's general election: All the latest results". RNZ. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  16. "Premila Devi Kumar (331)". Fijian Elections Office. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  17. "Sitiveni Rabuka is Fiji's new prime minister". RNZ. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
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