11 May 2015

Fiji Minister resigns due to ill health

10:32 am on 11 May 2015

Fiji's Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and the leader of the Government in the Parliament, Pio Tikoduadua, has resigned due to illness.

The former Lieutenant-Colonel says he has an advanced form of cancer and has chosen to spend time with his family in Tailevu.

While with the military, Mr Tikoduadua commanded Fiji's contribution to the regional assistance mission to Solomon Islands and also served in the United Nations transitional administration in East Timor.

Fiji's Members of Parliament

Fiji's Members of Parliament Photo: Fiji Department of Information

He also served as Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office before running for Parliament in last year's election.

He won 3,611 votes in the election.

According to Fiji's electoral rules, the most popular but unelected FijiFirst candidate will take his place.

That is Jilila Nalibu Kumar, a former school Vice Principal.

She has been sworn in as an MP this morning, along with Mikaele Leawere, who replaces the late Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua, who died in March.

Mr Leawere, an MP for the opposition SODELPA party, has been the Acting General Secretary of the Fijian Teachers Association.

The Environment Minister, Praveen Kumar, will be the new Leader of Government in the House.