Vice-Presidents of Fiji - Kamisese Mara, Joni Madraiwiwi, Josefa Iloilo, Epeli Nailatikau, Jope Seniloli, Josaia Tavaiqia (Paperback)

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Kamisese Mara, Joni Madraiwiwi, Josefa Iloilo, Epeli Nailatikau, Jope Seniloli, Josaia Tavaiqia, Inoke Takiveikata. Excerpt: Ratu Epeli Nailatikau LVO OBE MSD OStJ Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, LVO, OBE, MSD, OStJ, (born July 5, 1941) (often referred to as Na Turaga Mai Naisogolaca ) is a Fijian chief and the current President of Fiji . He has had a long career in the Military, diplomatic service, and government. From 2001 to 2006 he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives - the lower and more powerful chamber of the Fijian Parliament . He was also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Appropriations Committee and of the House Committee. On January 8, 2007, he was appointed the interim Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade; he was moved to the post of interim Minister for Provincial Development and Multi-Ethnic Affairs in September 2008. In October 2008, he became Indigenous Affairs Minister "and effectively Great Council of Chiefs chairman ." On 17 April 2009, he was appointed Vice-President by the Military government . On July 30, 2009, he became Acting President after the retirement of 88-year-old President Iloilo. . On November 5 2009, he was sworn in as the new President of Fiji . Education and military career Nailatikau's career spanned 20 years in the military and 17 years in the diplomatic service . Following his education at Bau District School, Draiba Fijian School, Levuka Public School and Queen Victoria School, Nailatikau trained as a soldier in New Zealand . In 1966, he served on secondment in the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and was posted to Sarawak, Malaysia, during Indonesia's "Konfrontasi " against Malaysia. He proved to be a popular and highly respected officer. When he returned to the Fiji Infantry Re...