ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Fiji’s stability suffered a major blow on Tuesday as the Defence, National Security and Immigration Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau resigned, citing personal reasons.
Ratu Epeli, who was then acting Prime Minister, said he would use the break to spend time with his family.
"I have stated the reasons in my resignation letter and my family supports the decision I have taken," he told the Fiji Times newspaper.
But, Radio New Zealand, quoting Fijilive, said the reason for him to quit related to the Fiji Water director of external affairs, David Roth, but he declined to elaborate.
Reports say he objected to support plans to have him deported.
Fiji Water is a key export business in Fiji but it has been in dispute with the interim regime over tax and royalty issues.
Ratu Epeli said he would leave for his home island of Somosomo, Taveuni, for Christmas.
"I need to spend time with my people, so I will just take a good break away from work," he said.
Ratu Epeli said he had not spoken to Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama who was away in China.
"I am at home right now," he said yesterday afternoon after clearing his desk on Tuesday night.
Yesterday, Information permanent secretary Sharon Smith-Johns said Primary Industries Minister Joketani Cokanasiga would act as Minister of Defence, Immigration and National Security. He will also be acting PM.
Commodore Bainimarama returns from his trade mission trip early next week, said Ms Johns.
When asked the reason for Ratu Epeli's resignation, Ms Smith-Johns said: "The Prime Minister may wish to elaborate on this when he returns."
She said there were also rumours that the permanent secretary in the Prime Minister's office, Colonel Pio Tikoduadua, had resigned.
A former land force commander said Ratu Epeli’s resignation was a signal of instability within the interim regime.
Jone Baledrokadroka, who is now an academic in Canberra, said the timing of the resignation while Commodore Frank Bainimarama was in China was ominous.
“It is quite disconcerting I suppose for the people of Fiji when you have an illegal prime minister out of the country and the acting prime minister was told to act on his behalf jumped ship.
“So, I mean it doesn’t show stability as far as the regime is concerned and it leaves the country without a leader and at the moment you have an acting, acting prime minister, which is Joketani Cokanasiga.”
- Fiji Times, Radio New Zealand
Fiji’s stability suffered a major blow on Tuesday as the Defence, National Security and Immigration Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau resigned, citing personal reasons.
Ratu Epeli, who was then acting Prime Minister, said he would use the break to spend time with his family.
"I have stated the reasons...
Fiji’s stability suffered a major blow on Tuesday as the Defence, National Security and Immigration Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau resigned, citing personal reasons.
Ratu Epeli, who was then acting Prime Minister, said he would use the break to spend time with his family.
"I have stated the reasons in my resignation letter and my family supports the decision I have taken," he told the Fiji Times newspaper.
But, Radio New Zealand, quoting Fijilive, said the reason for him to quit related to the Fiji Water director of external affairs, David Roth, but he declined to elaborate.
Reports say he objected to support plans to have him deported.
Fiji Water is a key export business in Fiji but it has been in dispute with the interim regime over tax and royalty issues.
Ratu Epeli said he would leave for his home island of Somosomo, Taveuni, for Christmas.
"I need to spend time with my people, so I will just take a good break away from work," he said.
Ratu Epeli said he had not spoken to Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama who was away in China.
"I am at home right now," he said yesterday afternoon after clearing his desk on Tuesday night.
Yesterday, Information permanent secretary Sharon Smith-Johns said Primary Industries Minister Joketani Cokanasiga would act as Minister of Defence, Immigration and National Security. He will also be acting PM.
Commodore Bainimarama returns from his trade mission trip early next week, said Ms Johns.
When asked the reason for Ratu Epeli's resignation, Ms Smith-Johns said: "The Prime Minister may wish to elaborate on this when he returns."
She said there were also rumours that the permanent secretary in the Prime Minister's office, Colonel Pio Tikoduadua, had resigned.
A former land force commander said Ratu Epeli’s resignation was a signal of instability within the interim regime.
Jone Baledrokadroka, who is now an academic in Canberra, said the timing of the resignation while Commodore Frank Bainimarama was in China was ominous.
“It is quite disconcerting I suppose for the people of Fiji when you have an illegal prime minister out of the country and the acting prime minister was told to act on his behalf jumped ship.
“So, I mean it doesn’t show stability as far as the regime is concerned and it leaves the country without a leader and at the moment you have an acting, acting prime minister, which is Joketani Cokanasiga.”
- Fiji Times, Radio New Zealand
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