Finau Tabakaucoro

Adi Finau Tamari Tabakaucoro is a Fijian politician, who served as Assistant Minister for Women, Culture, and Social Welfare in the interim Cabinet formed by Laisenia Qarase in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000. She held office till an elected government took power in September 2001. She stood as an independent candidate in the Tailevu South Lomaiviti Open Constituency in the 2001 election, but was not successful.

Tabakaucoro is a member of the Tui Kaba clan, the royal family of Tailevu and of the Kubuna Confederacy. She has been outspoken in her calls for the next Vunivalu of Bau (generally recognized as Fiji's highest chiefly title) to be elected by the whole of the Tui Kaba clan, rather than appointed by a few elders.

2006 coup d'état

As the tension between the Fijian government and the Military escalated towards the end of 2006, Tabakaucoro called on the embattled government of Laisenia Qarase to resign. Fiji Live quoted her on 3 December as calling for the appointment of an interim government that would implement the demands of the Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama. The government refused to resign, and after the Military seized power on 5 December, she blamed the government for failing to give way. The Fiji Times quotes her as saying that the coup was going to happen anyway, as the government and the Military had been trying to communicate along parallel lines that would never meet. She excused the ousting of her close relative, Vice-President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi and his eviction from his official residence by the Military, saying that he had been resisting the demands of the Military and advocating a literal interpretation of the law.

Personal life

Tabakaucoro was born in Savusavu, Cakaudrove and raised in the village of Nagigi. She was the second of four children. Her father, Ratu Josefa Tabakaucoro (died 1993 aged 93), was from Ra. During Tabakaucoro's childhood he would sell copra to assist the family finances. Her mother, Eka (died 1992 aged 73), was a housewife. Finau Tabakaucoro has five children.^[1]

Education

Tabakaucoro attended Navatu district School in Nasinu, Draiba Fijian School, Adi Cakobau School and Suva Grammar School. She studied history at the Victoria University of Wellington from 1964-1967. To supplement her government scholarship she had several part-time jobs. She worked as a babysitter and a waitress. She was also employed in a candle shop and in a factory sewing headscarfs and pillowcases. After graduating, she undertook teacher training at Epsom Secondary Teachers College.^[1]

References