Taito Waqavakatoga
Encyclopedia
Taito Waqavakatoga is a Fiji
an politician and former civil servant who served as President of the Senate
from 2001 to 2006, when he retired from that body. He was chosen to represent Rewa Province
as one of 14 nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs
, and the Senate subsequently elected him to preside over the upper chamber of the nation's legislature.
On 7 December 2005, Waqavakatoga confirmed that he was the coordinator of a local group affiliated to the Inter Religious Federation For World Peace International, which has ties to the controversial Unification Church
. He joined Opposition Leader
Mahendra Chaudhry
in criticizing a government decision to ban Moon, who had been scheduled to address a conference in Nadi
on 6 December, from visiting Fiji. He would have contributed positively to the country, Waqavakatoga said.
As a former civil servant, Waqavakatoga served all over Fiji. He is better known for his proactive role in organising the harvest of sugar cane in the Labasa
and Seaqaqa districts, during a harvest boycott by farmers protesting the 1987 1987 military takeover
by Sitiveni Rabuka
.
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 and former civil servant who served as President of the Senate
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
from 2001 to 2006, when he retired from that body. He was chosen to represent Rewa Province
Local government of Fiji
Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces; the self-governing island of Rotuma and its dependencies lie outside any of the four divisions. Each division is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Fijian government...
as one of 14 nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
, and the Senate subsequently elected him to preside over the upper chamber of the nation's legislature.
On 7 December 2005, Waqavakatoga confirmed that he was the coordinator of a local group affiliated to the Inter Religious Federation For World Peace International, which has ties to the controversial Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
. He joined Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)
The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. It did not originate in Fiji but has a long tradition; in British constitutional theory, the Leader of the Opposition must pose a formal alternative to the government, ready...
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
in criticizing a government decision to ban Moon, who had been scheduled to address a conference in Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
on 6 December, from visiting Fiji. He would have contributed positively to the country, Waqavakatoga said.
As a former civil servant, Waqavakatoga served all over Fiji. He is better known for his proactive role in organising the harvest of sugar cane in the 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...
and Seaqaqa districts, during a harvest boycott by farmers protesting the 1987 1987 military takeover
Fiji coups of 1987
The Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II as Queen of Fiji, and in the declaration of a republic...
by Sitiveni Rabuka
Sitiveni Rabuka
Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected the third Prime Minister, serving from 1992 to 1999...
.