21 Facts About Epeli Nailatikau

Epeli Nailatikau has had a long career in the Military, diplomatic service, and government.

Epeli Nailatikau was the chairman of the Parliamentary Appropriations Committee and of the House Committee.

Epeli Nailatikau proved to be a popular and highly respected officer.

Epeli Nailatikau retired from the Army and decided to pursue a new career in the diplomatic service.

Epeli Nailatikau was later appointed Fiji's roving ambassador and high commissioner to the member states of the South Pacific Forum, before taking up a post as Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade in 1999.

Epeli Nailatikau withdrew his nomination in favour of Laisenia Qarase, who was considered more of a consensus candidate, but became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Fijian Affairs in the interim Cabinet.

Epeli Nailatikau was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in August 2000.

Epeli Nailatikau was appointed again Deputy Prime Minister of Laisenia Qarase in 2001 and served until September 2001, when he was elected the Speaker.

Epeli Nailatikau was nominated to become the new vice-president by the Fiji president Ratu Josefa Iloilo on 10 April 2007, but was rejected by the GCC.

On 17 April 2009, after Fiji experienced a constitutional crisis, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was appointed vice president.

Epeli Nailatikau served as interim Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation under Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, beginning in January 2007.

On 23 September 2008, Bainimarama said that Epeli Nailatikau would be moved to the post of Minister for Provincial Development and Multi-Ethnic Affairs on 5 October 2008, while Bainimarama would take over his previous duties.

On 25 September 2007, Epeli Nailatikau was appointed acting prime minister while interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, was away in New York for the week.

Epeli Nailatikau was formally appointed to the office on 5 November 2009.

On 14 June 2005, Epeli Nailatikau was appointed the UNAIDS special representative for the Pacific.

Epeli Nailatikau's outspoken calls to tackle the AIDS crisis have attracted controversy.

Epeli Nailatikau called on churches to face the reality that promiscuity existed among their own congregations, and to meet the problem "head on" and play a part in promoting the use of condoms.

Epeli Nailatikau represented the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at the World AIDS Conference in Toronto in August 2006.

Epeli Nailatikau is the second son of Ratu Edward Cakobau, who commanded the Fijian Battalion in World War II.

Epeli Nailatikau is a great-great-grandson of Seru Epenisa Cakobau from his granddaughter Litia Cakobau, the first monarch to rule over a unified Fijian kingdom after conquering all the tribes of Fiji and uniting them under his leadership, and who ceded the Fiji Islands to the United Kingdom in 1874.

Epeli Nailatikau's father is the product of issue between King George Tupou II and Litia Cakobau who was sent to Tonga as a trial bride to the King but this was later repudiated as they could not marry under the normal Tongan constitution.