Atonio Lalabalavu Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable Ratu
Atonio Lalabalavu
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Office8:Minister for Health and Medical Services
Primeminister8:Sitiveni Rabuka
Term Start8:24 December 2022
Predecessor8:Ifereimi Waqainabete
Constituency Mp10:PA List
Parliament10:Fijian
Term Start10:14 December 2022
Constituency Mp11:SODELPA List
Parliament11:Fijian
Term Start11:14 November 2018
Term End11:14 December 2022
Party:Social Democratic Liberal Party
People's Alliance

Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu (born 1978/1979) is a Fijian doctor, politician, and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the People's Alliance. He is the son of Speaker of Parliament and Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.[1]

Lalabalavu was a doctor before entering politics.[1] He was first elected to the Parliament of Fiji as a SODELPA candidate in the 2018 Fijian general election, winning 5016 votes and being elected alongside his father.[1] [2] He was appointed opposition health spokesperson,[3] and gave his initial speech as an MP on 29 November 2018.[4]

In November 2022 once parliament had been dissolved for the 2022 election he resigned from SODELPA and joined the People's Alliance.[5] He contested the election as a PA candidate[6] and was elected[7] with 2826 votes.[8] On 24 December 2022 he was appointed Minister for Health and Medical Services in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Father And Son Team For Parliament . Fiji Sun . Rosi Doviverata . 18 November 2018 . 29 December 2022.
  2. Web site: Lalabalavu legacy in parliament is not dynasty politics at work or about a traditional leadership - Atonio Lalabalavu . Fiji Village . Apenisa Waqairadovu . 28 November 2018 . 29 December 2022.
  3. Web site: Opposition Releases Spokesperson List: Prasad’s Left Out . Fiji Sun . Fonua Talei . 29 November 2018 . 29 December 2022.
  4. Web site: Dr Ratu Atonio: Politics Aside, We’re Here For The Nation . Fiji Sun . Selita Bolanavanua . 29 November 2018 . 29 December 2022.
  5. Web site: Ratu Naiqama And Others Leaving Expected: Duru . Fiji Sun . Nacanieli Tuilevuka . 1 November 2022 . 26 December 2022.
  6. Web site: 7 Women And 48 Men For The Peoples Alliance . Fiji Sun . Jone Salusalu . 11 November 2022 . 29 December 2022.
  7. News: Singh . Indira . 18 December 2022 . Top 55 confirmed . FBC . live . 24 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221218063858/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ . 18 December 2022.
  8. Web site: Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu (491) . Fijian Elections Office . 29 December 2022.
  9. Web site: Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG . FBC News . Apenisa Waqairadovu . 24 December 2022 . 24 December 2022.