Jone Kubuabola

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ratu Jone Yavala Kubuabola is Fiji's Minister for Finance, a position he has held since 2000. He also represents the South West Urban Fijian Communal constituencies in the House of Representatives, to which he was elected as a candidate of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) in 2001.

It was revealed in late November 2005 that Kubuabola was forced to resign his position as Chairman of Fiji Pine Limited (FPL) in 1999. This was revealed by former Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Militoni Leweniqila, who accused Kubuabola of incompetence as Chairman. "During Ratu Jone's term, half of the area leased to FPL was not planted," Leweniqila charged. "Whatever was planted was not weeded, thinned and pruned hence the timber was not suitable for marketing." Konisi Yabaki, who is now Fiji's Forestry Minister, was also later dismissed from the board, as was Navitalai Naisoro, who is now the chairman of the FPL.

The allegations prompted National Alliance Party leader Ratu Epeli Ganilau to call for Kubuabola's resignation from the Cabinet, along with Yabaki's.