MESSAGE TO THE FIJIAN PEOPLE FROM THE HONOURABLE PIO TIKODUADUA, MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT AND LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE PARLIAMENT OF FIJI
My fellow Fijians
It is with great regret that I inform you that I am seriously ill and have had to resign from public office and from public life. I have today handed in my resignation to the Speaker of Parliament under section 63(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji.
I have an advanced form of cancer and have chosen to spend time with my family and my people in Delasui, Tailevu.
I am facing the battle of my life and ask for your prayers in the sure knowledge that God is with me and will give me courage.
I have been blessed to enjoy the support of a great many people all through my life – my beloved mother, my grandfather and the rest of my extended family, my own family, my wonderful wife Sereana and my beloved children Mosese and Sarafina, my mentors in the Roman Catholic Church, my colleagues and friends in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, my colleagues and friends in the FijiFirst Government and the FijiFirst Party, and the people around me in the Ministries in which I have had the privilege to serve. I thank them all for being with me on life’s journey.
I especially thank the Prime Minister for his friendship over many years and the confidence and support he has shown in me, whether in the RFMF, as his Permanent Secretary as we carried out the reform program to produce our new democracy, and as a Cabinet Minister in his Government.
Above all, I thank the Fijian people for the opportunity to serve them. May God bless you all and God bless our beloved Fiji.
Yours sincerely
Pio Tikoduadua
11 May 2015
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STATEMENT BY THE PRME MINISTER
I am devastated to learn of the extent of the illness of my trusted Minister and dear friend, Pio Tikoduadua, that has forced him to resign from public office.
On a personal level, he has always displayed the shinning qualities of integrity, intelligence, loyalty, judgement and a consideration and love for others that we should all aspire to as Fijians. His religious faith and patriotism - an intense love for God and of Fiji – have also been an inspiration to all who know him. I hold him in the highest possible esteem.
On a professional level Pio has been by my side for 15 years and through some of the greatest challenges of my own life and in the life of the Nation. He was my Personal Staff Officer in the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces, Permanent Secretary for Justice, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office and was at the forefront of our reform program leading up to last September’s election, in which he played a key role in taking our FijiFirst movement to victory.
Since the election, Pio has also been a tower of strength and competence as we serve the Fijian people – my highly valued Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Leader of the Government in Parliament. In these key positions, he has brought all of his personal qualities to bear, quietly delivered a range of better outcomes for ordinary people and is widely admired and respected across the political spectrum.
I know that every MP of every affiliation will share my sorrow at his departure from the Government and the Parliament and we wish him the very best in his current struggle. And I ask every Fijian to join me in praying for his wonderful man, who is so dearly loved, admired and respected. May God bless Pio and his family – his wife Sereana and his children Mosese and Sarafina.
J.V. Bainimarama
Prime Minister
11 May 2015