Ratu ''Ratu'' () is an Austronesian title used by male Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, ''adi'' (pronounced ), is used by females of chiefly rank. In the Malay language, the title ''ratu'' is also the traditional honorific title to r ...

Dr. Epeli Qaraninamu Nailatikau (born 1942) is a

Fiji Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

a medical doctor and former political leader, who served in the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

from 2004 to 2006. He was nominated on 24 September 2004 by the

Fiji Labour Party The Fiji Labour Party (FLP; ),() also known as Fiji Labour, is a political party in Fiji. Most of its support is from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoc ...

, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of former Senator Joeli Kalou. Under the

Constitution of Fiji The Constitution of Fiji is the supreme law of Fiji. There have been four Constitutions since the first was adopted in 1970. The first constitution, adopted in 1970 upon independence, was abrogated following two military coups in 1987. A seco ...

, the

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...

nominates 8 of the 32 Senators. The eight nominees of the Leader of the Opposition were required to reflect the political composition of the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

. As the Labour Party was the principal opposition, it got to choose most or all of the eight opposition Senators.

Medical career

Nailatikau had wide experience locally and internationally as a medical doctor. Once the chief medical officer to the

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (; ), or UNIFIL (; ) is a United Nations peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions United Nations Security Council Resolution 425, 425 and Unit ...

, he later played an important role after the Fiji coup of 2000, as head of the trauma team providing counseling for the parliamentarians (and their families) who had been kidnapped and held hostage in the insurrection. He also established his own medical clinic, the Siloah People's Clinic, in Tavua.

Views on the chiefly system, religion

Nailatikau spoke out in early March 2006 against what he said was the failure of chiefs to set examples of good leadership, transparency, and vision for the following generations. ''"We must be role models and practice what we say. Right now there is a lack of authority at the village level,"'' he said. Instead of leading the people, some chiefs were using their positions for personal enrichment, he alleged at the Peace and Stability Development Analysis Awareness Forum, which was organized by the

United Nations Development Program The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries Poverty reduction, eliminate poverty and achieve Sustainable development, sustainable economic growth and Human development (economics), hu ...

. He declared that traditional influence in a modern government was out of place. On a separate issue, he said that traditional objections to interracial marriages were an obstacle to peace and stability in Fiji. Nailatikau continued his attack on the chiefly system with a Parliamentary speech on 10 March.

Fijian culture The culture of Fiji is a tapestry of native Fijians, Fijian, Indian, European, China, Chinese and other nationalities. Culture polity traditions, language, food costume, belief system, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance, and sports will be d ...

and traditions needed to be brought up to date with the modern world, he said, and chiefs should be chosen democratically and for fixed terms, the

Fiji Times ''The Fiji Times'' is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating. ''The Fiji Times'' is owned by Motibhai Gr ...

quoted him as saying. According to the

Fiji Sun ''Fiji Sun'' is a daily newspaper published in Fiji since September 1999 and owned by Sun News Limited. ''Fiji Sun'' was founded by and is part of CJ Patel Group. The Fiji Sun has its main newsroom in Suva, Fiji. Its print center remains in subu ...

, he also called for politics and religion to be clearly separated, though with the latter morally underpinning the former.

Personal life

Nailatikau is married to Latu, a schoolteacher.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nailatikau, Epeli Qaraninamu 1942 births Living people I-Taukei Fijian members of the Senate (Fiji) Fijian medical doctors Fiji Labour Party politicians Fijian expatriates in Lebanon Politicians from Tavua, Fiji Politicians from Kadavu Province