Netani Sukanaivalu | |
---|---|
Minister for Education | |
In office 2006–2009 | |
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources | |
In office 2009–2011 | |
Personal details | |
Died | 2021 |
Political party | National Alliance Party |
Education | Fiji Institute of Technology |
Occupation | Academic,naval officer,politician |
Known for | Founding role in establishing the Fiji National University |
Military service | |
Branch/service | Fijian Navy |
Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
Netani Sukanaivalu (died 2021) [1] was a Fijian academic,naval officer,and Cabinet Minister.
Sukanaivalu was educated at the Fiji Institute of Technology,and later worked there as a lecturer and head of the School for Maritime Studies. In 1988 he was appointed vice-principal of FIT,and in 1990 he was appointed principal. [2] He served as a reserve officer in the Fijian Navy,holding the rank of lieutenant commander. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the National Alliance Party in the 2006 parliamentary election. [3]
He was appointed to dictator Frank Bainimarama's interim Cabinet as Minister for Education following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état. [4] As education Minister he was instrumental in establishing the Fiji National University. [2] He was appointed Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources following the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis. [5] He resigned from the government in February 2011 to return to running his business. [6] [7] [8] He later served as head of the Fiji National University alumni association. [9]