Losalini Raravuya Dovi Explained

Adi Losalini Raravuya Dovi
Title1:Assistant Minister for Urban Development and Social Welfare
Term1:1975–1977
Title3:Member of the House of Representatives
Term3:1972–1977
Successor3:Asela Logavatu
Constituency3:South-Eastern Fijian National
Term4:1966–1972
Constituency4:Great Council of Chiefs
Party:Alliance Party
Birth Place:Levuka, Fiji
Death Date:21 September 1983
Death Place:Suva, Fiji
Spouse:J.A.R. Dovi
Profession:Administrator

Adi Losalini Raravuya Dovi was a Fijian politician and lady of rank in Fiji's chiefly leadership.[1] [2] In 1966 she was jointly one of the first women elected to parliament, serving in the House of Representatives until 1977. She also served as Assistant Minister for Urban Development and Social Welfare from 1975 to 1977.

Biography

Dovi was the eldest child of Ratu Taniela Uluiviti and Laisani Valotu of Bau; her father was an early colonial administrator under her future brother-in-law Lala Sukuna.[3] The elder of her two younger brothers, Nat Uluiviti, played cricket and rugby union for Fiji and later became a Senator.

After attending the Methodist mission school in Suva, Dovi began working for the Fijian Affairs Board as a clerk.[4] She later worked for Lala Sukuna as his private secretary.[4] She married J.A.R. Dovi, Sukuna's younger brother, who served as Roko Tui Bau and was the first Fijian to quality as a doctor.[5] [6] They had four children: Joni Madraiwiwi (later Vice President of Fiji), Timoci Taniela Taliai Tavanavanua, Litiana Maopa and Viviana Valotu Sofi Veisaca. Dovi later worked for Malcolm Trustram Eve when he headed enquiries into the sugar and coconut industries, and served as president of the Fiji National Council of Women.[4]

In 1966 she joined the new Alliance Party and was briefly its secretary.[7] In the same year, she was elected to the Legislative Council as one of two representatives of the Great Council of Chiefs, becoming one of the first female members alongside Loloma Livingston and Irene Jai Narayan. She was re-elected in 1972 from the South-Eastern Fijian national constituency. Following the elections, she was appointed Government Whip. In 1975 she became Assistant Minister for Urban Development and Social Welfare, the first woman to hold a ministerial post. However, she was not nominated for the March 1977 elections and lost her seat.[4]

Dovi was awarded an OBE in the 1978 Birthday Honours. She died in September 1983 at the age of 53.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lal, Dr. Brij V.. Fiji before the storm: Elections and the politics of development. 2012. ANU E Press. 9781922144638. 149–150.
  2. Book: Lal, Brij V.. Islands of turmoil: elections and politics in Fiji. 4 April 2011. January 2006. Asia Pacific Press. 978-0-7315-3751-8. 52.
  3. Book: Mara, Ratu Sir Kamisese. The Pacific Way: A Memoir. 1997. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu. 0-8248-1880-6. 22.
  4. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339800523/view?partId=nla.obj-339875986#page/n72/mode/1up Adi Losalini Raravuya Dovi
  5. Web site: Soszynski. Henry. Roko Tui Bau (chiefly title). World of Royalty. 24 February 2013.
  6. News: Biumaiono. Solomoni. Makogai's Legacy. 24 February 2013. Fiji Times. 18 March 2012.
  7. Book: Howard, Michael C.. Fiji: Race and Politics in an Island State. 1991. UBC Press. Vancouver BC. 0-7748-0368-1. 109.