Mere Samisoni

Adi Mere Tuisalalo Samisoni (born 28 July 1938) is a Fijian businesswoman and politician,[1] from Lomaloma village[2] on the island of Vanua Balavu in Fiji's Lau archipelago. Samisoni served as a Member of Parliament for the Opposition Party SODELPA but lost her seat in the 2018 General Elections. She holds a Doctorate and master's degree in Business Administration and owns Hot Bread Kitchen and resides in Suva Fiji's Capital. She has served as Mayor of Lami and as a member of the now-defunct House of Representatives.

Ms Samisoni at the 'Women in Politics" seminar, July 2014

Politics

In March 2018, Samisoni was sworn-in as the newest Opposition Member of Parliament under the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) succeeding the late Ratu Sela Nanovo MP who died due to an illness. During the 2014 Elections, Samisoni polled 1855 votes. Samisoni won the Lami Open Constituency for the ruling Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party (SDL) at the parliamentary election held on 6–13 May 2006.[3] It was her third attempt to win the seat:[3] her previous campaigns in 1999 and 2001 (for the SVT Party) had been unsuccessful.

Background

Samisoni is the second youngest daughter of Ratu Keni Naulumatua, who held the title of Turaga na Rasau, and his first wife, Mere Tuisalalo Fonolahi .[4] She is well known for establishing a successful chain of bakeries throughout Fiji,[5] and was married to the late Jimione Isimeli Samisoni of Rotuma, a doctor, lecturer and former Dean of the Fiji School of Medicine[6] who had a great influence in the medical fraternity in Fiji and the Pacific.[6] Together they had four children; John, Selina, Vanessa and Phillip.

Recent history

In the wake of the military coup which overthrew the government on 5 December 2006, Samisoni was detained by soldiers for questioning at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Fiji Village reported, along with Daily Post General Manager Mesake Koroi.(source) No reason was given for the questioning, but Samisoni had written a letter unsympathetic to the Military to the Fiji Times earlier in the week. In a letter to the Fiji Sun published on 15 December, Samisoni claimed that soldiers had told her that if she did not discontinue writing letters critical of the military regime to newspapers, she would be imprisoned on Nukulau Island.

In April 2009, Samisoni was awarded the Doctorate of Business Administration by the University of the Sunshine Coast.[7](source)

In 2013, Samisoni's case was in the news again, when the Fiji government hired criminal attorney Clive Grossman to argue a jurisdictional matter related to the charges against Samisoni.[8]

Footnotes

  1. 20th Century Fiji
  2. Ai Vola Ni Kawa Bula, Tokatoka No.7
  3. Website Fiji Live Archived 17 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine 2006 Elections Results
  4. Fiji Times; Fiji Born Actor dies, 2004,Fiji Times Saturday 12 June
  5. Fiji Times, Price of flour, sharps go up, AQELA LALAKATO, Monday, 10 December 2007, article notes her as owner of the Hot Bread Kitchen Franchise
  6. Fiji Times, 26 April 2007, Title: "Dedicated to science, health" by Dr Joji Malani and Others
  7. "Enterprising Fijian graduates with doctorate"
  8. "Cash-strapped Fiji Government pays for 'gold-and-diamond-encrusted sledgehammer' Hong Kong barrister to try to crack jurisdiction issue in Dr Mere Samisoni case". fijileaks.com. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2017.

References

  • 20th Century Fiji, edited by Stewart Firth & Daryl Tarte - 2001 - ISBN 982-01-0421-1, (Reference article on Mere Samisoni)
  • Ai Vola Ni Kawa Bula, Reference to her connection to Chiefly family, The names and birth and death Register of Native Landowners details are as follows: Yavusa Buca, Tokatoka No.7 – Valelevu, Koro: Lomaloma, Tikina: Lomaloma, Yasana: Lau, from the Native Lands and Fisheries Commission – records as of July 19, 2005
  • A web link reference regarding details of the Native Lands and Fisheries Commission and the Ai Vola Ni Kawa Bula.
  • Lau Islands, Fiji By A.M Hocart, Published by the Bishop Museum, Hawaii (1929), this book has detailed references to her fathers Rank and Title and her Father Ratu Keni Naulumatua.
  • Newspaper Article; Title: Fiji Born Actor dies, Content: Talks in reference to Manu Tupou the Hollywood actor, of his ties with Lomaloma with reference to Ratu Mara and Adi Mere(Mere Samisoni's Mother) and Ratu Dreunimisimisi, 2004,Fiji Times Saturday June 12, Fiji Times Archives
  • Weblink reference to recent events.
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