Penijamini Veli
Penijamini Veli | |
|---|---|
| Nominated Member of the Legislative Council | |
| In office 1937–1938 | |
| Succeeded by | Tiale Vuiyasawa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1874 |
| Died | 27 August 1938 (aged 64) |
Ratu Penijamini Veli (1874 – 27 August 1938) was a Fijian chief, civil servant and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council from 1937 until his death the following year.
Biography
[edit]Born in 1874,[1] Veli joined the constabulary service in the mid-1890s. In 1898 he took over responsibility for road building in his district and went on to build over 250km of bridal track.[2] In 1902 he visited the United Kingdom as part of the entourage of Adolph Brewster that attended the coronation of Edward VII.[2] He became a sub-inspector of native constabulary in 1906, before being appointed Roko Tui of Macuata Province in 1909.[3] Although he later retired, he was subsequently reappointed to the post.[3] He visited the United Kingdom again in 1924 as part of a tour to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Colony of Fiji.[2]
The Legislative Council was reconstituted prior to the 1937 elections to have five Fijian nominated members, who were chosen by the Governor from a list of ten submitted by the Great Council of Chiefs. Veli was one of the ten nominated,[4] and subsequently one of the five chosen by Governor Arthur Richards. In April 1938 he was awarded a Certificate of Honour by the Governor.[1]
He died in August 1938 aged 64.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Honours for three Fijian chiefs Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1938, p53
- ^ a b c "Exhibition tells story of Torquay's Fijian connection". Torbay Weekly. 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ a b c Ratu Penijamini Veli Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1938, p11
- ^ Fijian Chiefs Would Hand Over Land to Government Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1936, p63