Jonah Senilagakali

Jona Baravilala Senilagakali (born November 8, 1929 in Waciwaci , Lakeba ; † October 26, 2011 ) was a Fijian doctor , politician and diplomat .

Life

Senilagakali attended Lau Provincial School and later moved to Viti Levu to attend school there. After attending the Queen Victoria School in Tailevu from 1945 to 1950 , he began studying medicine at the Fiji School of Medicine . Four years later he graduated as a doctor of medicine and a surgeon .

Senilagakali worked in various hospitals from 1954 to 1963. In 1964 he left Fiji to study orthopedic surgery in Melbourne and at the Vellore Christian Medical College Hospital in India . In 1968 he returned to Fiji and worked at the Labasa Hospital . Two years later he moved to the Fiji School of Medicine to work as a lecturer .

In the second half of the 1970s, Senilagakali began to get involved politically, especially in health issues. In 1981 he became Counselor at the Fiji Embassy in Tokyo . In 1983 he became Consul General in Los Angeles . He then represented Fiji in the Pacific Islands Forum . In 1986 he became permanent secretary in the Prime Minister's Office . In 1988 Senilagakali retired.

After the coup the military on 5 December 2006 Senilagakali was temporarily used as a prime minister. He remained in office until January 5, 2007. He was succeeded by Frank Bainimarama .

In addition, Senilagakali served as President of the Fiji Medical Association from 2005 to 2007 . He already held this office from 1970 to 1974.

He was also an active member of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma . He worked as a lay preacher and was chief steward of the Yarawa Methodist Church . In 1990 he translated the constitution of his church from the English in Fiji .

Senilagakali was married and had five children.

Web links

• Dr Jona: a profile of Fiji's military-appointed PM , December 11, 2006, The Fidji Times

Individual evidence

1. ↑ QEB to hold funeral service for Dr Senilagakali , November 2, 2011, FijiVillage.com