Bernadette Ganilau

Career

In previous political roles, she served in 2000 and 2001 in the Interim Government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase as Assistant Minister for Social Welfare, and from June to December 2006, she was Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives, until the military coup of 5 December. On 13 July 2005, she described the bill as one that would encourage hatred and violence rather than tolerance and accommodation. Ganilau is married to, and has an adopted daughter with, Ratu Rabici Ganilau, a son of Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, Fiji"s first President (1987-1993).

She was one of two UPP candidates returned in the election.

In January 2008, Ganilau was "dropped" from the government during a Cabinet reshuffle. In November 2008 she established the Green Party of Fiji.

Achievements

• Ganilau contested and won the Suva City General Communal Constituency for the United Peoples Party (UPP) in the general election scheduled for 6–13 May, defeating Cabinet Minister Kenneth Zinck.

Politics

Long a political activist, Ganilau"s causes included women"s rights and human rights in general, and has served as President of Women Entrepreneurs Fiji. Upon accepting office in the interim government in January 2007, however, UPP leader Mick Beddoes, an opponent of the military coup and of the government formed by its leader, asked her to resign from the party.