Krishna Datt
Encyclopedia
Krishna Datt, last name sometimes spelt as Dutt, is a Fiji
an politician of India
n descent. Born in Labasa
, Vanua Levu
in 1944, Datt served as Principal of Suva Grammar School
, where he participated in the national teachers' strikes in 1985, which launched his political career with the Fiji Labour Party
.
Datt was first elected into the House of Representatives in 1987 and was the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation in the Bavadra
Government before being deposed by the coup of 1987. He also contested and won the Ba Rural Indian Constituency in the 1994 election.
After the present constitutional arrangements
came into force in 1999, he represented the Macuata East
Open Constituency
, one of 25 elected by universal suffrage
. He became a member of the Chaudhry
government, which was deposed in the 2000 coup. He was re-elected in the 2001 election with an increased majority and held the positions of the Vice-President of the Fiji Labour Party, and its parliamentary whip
.
In 2003, Datt was offered the portfolio of Minister for Special Education, the Disabled and National Library Services, together with 13 other FLP parliamentarians who were offered cabinet positions by the Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase but the FLP refused to accept this offer.
On 12 December 2005, Datt announced that he would retire from politics at the parliamentary election
scheduled for 2006, but on 14 March 2006, said that he had changed his mind at the request of his party. In the election duly held on 6-13 May, he won the Nasinu Indian Communal Constituency
with an overwhelming majority, and was subsequently appointed to the Cabinet
as Minister for Labour and Employment Opportunities, one of nine Ministers from the FLP in Laisenia Qarase
's multi-party cabinet. According to Vijay Naidu, he "quickly gain[ed] the image of a national statesman".
The FLP members of the Cabinet were advised by its leader, Mahendra Chaudhry
, to vote against the 2007 budget but Datt was absent during voting. Chaudhry threatened those not voting against the budget with disciplinary action, and there was a public feud between him and his party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry but the 2006 coup
took place before any action could be taken. As Vijay Naidu notes, Datt was in the unusual position of having been removed from government by a coup on three separate occasions.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an politician of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n descent. Born in Labasa
Labasa
Labasa is a town in Fiji with a population of 27,949 at the most recent census held in 2007.Labasa is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu, and is the largest town on the island. The town itself is located on a delta formed by three rivers - the...
, Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
in 1944, Datt served as Principal of Suva Grammar School
Suva Grammar School
Suva Grammar School, is a secondary school in Suva, Fiji.The school caters for forms 3 to 7 and has a school population of about 1000 students...
, where he participated in the national teachers' strikes in 1985, which launched his political career with the Fiji Labour Party
Fiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
.
Datt was first elected into the House of Representatives in 1987 and was the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation in the Bavadra
Timoci Bavadra
Timoci Uluivuda Bavadra was a medical doctor who served for one month as the second Prime Minister of Fiji in 1987 and who founded the Fiji Labour Party....
Government before being deposed by the coup of 1987. He also contested and won the Ba Rural Indian Constituency in the 1994 election.
After the present constitutional arrangements
Constitution of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
came into force in 1999, he represented the Macuata East
Macuata East (Open Constituency, Fiji)
Macuata Open is an electoral division of Fiji, one of 25 open constituencies elected by universal suffrage . Like the other open electorates, it came into being in 1999 and was used for the parliamentary elections of 1999, 2001, and 2006...
Open Constituency
Open constituencies (Fiji)
Open constituencies represent one of several electoral models employed in the past and present in the Fijian electoral system. They derive their name from the fact that they are "open": unlike the communal constituencies, the 25 members of the House of Representatives who represent open...
, one of 25 elected by universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
. He became a member of the Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
government, which was deposed in the 2000 coup. He was re-elected in the 2001 election with an increased majority and held the positions of the Vice-President of the Fiji Labour Party, and its parliamentary whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
.
In 2003, Datt was offered the portfolio of Minister for Special Education, the Disabled and National Library Services, together with 13 other FLP parliamentarians who were offered cabinet positions by the Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase but the FLP refused to accept this offer.
On 12 December 2005, Datt announced that he would retire from politics at the parliamentary election
Fiji election of 2006
The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years. The latest election was held on 6-13 May 2006. Acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi issued a proclamation on 2 March, effective from 27 March, dissolving Parliament...
scheduled for 2006, but on 14 March 2006, said that he had changed his mind at the request of his party. In the election duly held on 6-13 May, he won the Nasinu Indian Communal Constituency
Nasinu (Indian Communal Constituency, Fiji)
Nasinu Indian Communal is an electoral division of Fiji, one of 19 communal constituencies reserved for Indo-Fijians....
with an overwhelming majority, and was subsequently appointed to the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
as Minister for Labour and Employment Opportunities, one of nine Ministers from the FLP in Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
's multi-party cabinet. According to Vijay Naidu, he "quickly gain[ed] the image of a national statesman".
The FLP members of the Cabinet were advised by its leader, Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
, to vote against the 2007 budget but Datt was absent during voting. Chaudhry threatened those not voting against the budget with disciplinary action, and there was a public feud between him and his party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry but the 2006 coup
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
took place before any action could be taken. As Vijay Naidu notes, Datt was in the unusual position of having been removed from government by a coup on three separate occasions.