SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 8) - The country's largest women's organization, Soqosoqo Vakamarama, has expressed disappointment with the reduction in the number of women in the interim Cabinet.
General Secretary, Adi Finau Tabakaucoro said all women and women's organizations should be concerned about this.
Last week's reshuffle saw the removal of Adi Laufitu Malani and Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau. The only woman in Cabinet is the newly-appointment interim Health, Women and Social Welfare minister, Dr. Jiko Luveni.
Adi Finau said, "Out of the nine ministers who were not re-appointed, both women who held Cabinet posts were part of that group."
"This creates the thinking that women are dispensable. Now the Ministry of Women is no longer a ministry on its own but a part of another major ministry the Health Ministry," Adi Finau said.
She said this was a downgrading of sorts.
"Why was this done? Does this mean that women are of less importance to...