Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Nine cabinet ministers dropped in Fiji cabinet reshuffle

Posted at 20:27 on 04 January, 2008 UTC

Fiji’s interim administration has announced details of a government reshuffle which drops nine cabinet ministers and appoints four new ministers.

Among the four new ministers are former cabinet minister, Filipe Bole and contingent commander in Iraq, Timoci Lesikivatukoula, who was brought back to take on the works and transport portfolio.

Mr Bole, who was foreign affairs minister in the Rabuka Government, is now minister for education, youth & sports.

Former Fijian Affairs minister, Ratu Epeli Ganilau has taken over defence, national security and immigration from the interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama.

Commodore Bainimarama retains a number of major ministries, including Minister for Public Service, Peoples’ Charter for Change, and Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs

Among the dropped ministers are tourism minister, Bernadette Rounds Ganilau, Public Service minister, Poseci Bune, and agriculture minister, Jainend Kumar