Head of State

HIS EXCELLENCY RATU NAIQAMA TAWAKECOLATI LALABALAVU

His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu is the 7th President of the Republic of Fiji.

Na Gone Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau is, foremost, the Paramount Chief of the Province of Cakaudrove and the Tovata Confederacy.

Following his election as the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji on 24th of December 2022, His Excellency took a pledge to strengthen Parliament's effectiveness as an active arm of democracy. During his term, he improved collaboration with the Secretary-General to Parliament and her team to ensure that the legislature discharges its constitutional mandate for representative, oversight and scrutiny functions.

He was a senior Cabinet Minister in the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SDL) - Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua (CAMV) Coalition Government from 2001-2006.

Prior to joining politics, His Excellency had a long and distinguished career in native land management. His career as a land valuer spans 26 years. He began as a cadet land agent in the then Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB) in 1973. He rose to the position of Divisional Estate Manager Western, Northern and acted as Acting Deputy General Manager and Chief Estate Officer in the NLT before joining politics in 1999.

His Excellency served five times as a Member of the Parliament of Fiji after the General Elections of 1999, 2001, 2006, 2014 and 2018.

He was elected as Parliamentary Speaker in December 2022. As Speaker he served on numerous executive committees and working groups. These included the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and the Working Group of the Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group.

In 1999, His Excellency was the Opposition Member of Parliament for the Cakaudrove East Fijian Communal Taveuni/Lau/Rotuma Open Constituency.

He is an ardent advocate for Small Island Developing States Parliaments at the Inter-Parliamentary Union and at the Parliamentary segments of the Conference of the Parties. His Excellency's interests include world news and current affairs.

He obtained a Masters Degree in International Development, majoring in Rural/Regional Development Planning, from the Development Study Centre, Israel/Cameroon. His Excellency is married to Madam Emily Lalabalavu.

You may contact the following at the Office of the President for additional information:

Official Secretary: officialsecretary.statehouse@gmail.com

Press Secretary: Vukidonu Qionibaravi (Ms) qv.qionibaravi@gmail.com

Executive Assistant to His Excellency the President: rosalini.cavu@otp.gov.fj