Lynda Tabuya
{{Short description|Fijian politician and lawyer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Lynda Diseru Tabuya
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image = Lynda Tabuya Jan 2023.jpg
| caption = Tabuya in 2023
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| office8 = Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation
| primeminister8 = Sitiveni Rabuka
| term_start8 = 24 December 2022
| term_end8 = 26 December 2024
| predecessor8 = Rosy Akbar
| successor8 = Sashi Kiran
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| constituency_MP11 = SODELPA List
| parliament11 = Fijian
| term_start11 = 14 November 2018
| term_end11 = 14 December 2022
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| party = People's Democratic Party
Social Democratic Liberal Party
People's Alliance
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Lynda Diseru Tabuya (born 1972) is a Fijian politician and lawyer who has served as the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation from 24 December 2022 to 26 December 2024.{{Cite web |title=Gavoka, Kamikamica and Pro Prasad are the deputy Prime Ministers |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/-Gavoka-Kamikamica-and-Prof-Prasad-are-the-deputy-Prime-Ministers-4rxf58/ |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Fijivillage |language=en}}
Early life
Tabuya grew up in Wakanisila in Kadavu Province and is iTaukei.{{cite web |url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/04/28/tabuya-what-racism-means/ |title=Tabuya: What Racism Means |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=28 April 2018 |accessdate=15 November 2018}} She was educated at Yat Sen Primary School and Adi Cakobau School, before gaining a Bachelor of Laws from Bond University in Australia and a Master of Laws from Washington University in St. Louis, United States.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/lynda-making-every-moment-count/ |title=Lynda making every moment count |author=Siteri Sauvakacolo |publisher=Fiji Times |date=11 September 2016 |accessdate=15 November 2018}} She worked at the University of the South Pacific as an assistant lecturer in law. She resigned from her role after being elected branch secretary for the People's Democratic Party's Suva branch.{{cite web |url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2014/03/11/lynda-remains-positive/ |title=Lynda remains positive |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=11 March 2014 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/fiji-clampdown-academic-freedom-association-usp-8507 |title=FIJI: Clampdown on academic freedom of association at USP |publisher=Pacific Media Centre |date=12 March 2014 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}
Political career
In May 2014 Tabuya was elected president of the PDP.{{cite web |url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2014/05/05/lynda-tabuya-up-for-the-task/ |title=Lynda Tabuya up for the task |publisher=Fiji Sun |author=Rosi doviverata |date=5 May 2014 |accessdate=15 November 2018}} She contested the 2014 elections as a PDP candidate, but was unsuccessful as the party failed to meet the 5% threshold. In March 2017 she was elected party leader, replacing Adi Sivia Qoro.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/peoples-democratic-becomes-second-fiji-political/8317784 |title=People's Democratic becomes second Fiji political party to appoint a female leader |publisher=ABC |date=2 March 2017 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}
In December 2017 the PDP announced an alliance with the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) to run candidates on their list in the 2018 parliamentary election.{{cite web |url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2017/12/10/parties-join-forces-for-2018-election/ |title=Parties Join Forces For 2018 Election |publisher=Fiji Sun |author=Wati Talebula |date=10 December 2017 |accessdate=15 November 2018}} Tabuya became a SODELPA candidate and subsequently resigned from the PDP.{{cite web |url=http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/57575/tabuya-calls-for-pdp-followers-to-support-sodelpa |title=Tabuya calls for PDP followers to support Sodelpa |publisher=FBC |date=11 December 2017 |accessdate=15 November 2018 |archive-date=14 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224626/http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/57575/tabuya-calls-for-pdp-followers-to-support-sodelpa |url-status=dead }} During the election campaign she campaigned for a higher minimum wage and promised to be a "voice for employees" in parliament.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/tabuya-change-is-already-here/ |title=Tabuya: Change is already here |author=Felix Chaudhary |publisher=Fiji Times |date=4 November 2018 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/voice-for-workers-needed-in-parliament-tabuya/ |title=Voice for workers needed in parliament: Tabuya |author=Rohit Deo |publisher=Fiji Times |date=30 October 2018 |accessdate=15 November 2018}} She also represented SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka in his electoral fraud trial.{{cite web |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/369517/campaign-continues-after-rabuka-found-not-guilty |title=Campaign continues after Rabuka found not guilty |publisher=RNZI |date=26 October 2018 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}
In the 2018 elections she was the highest-polling woman and 5th highest overall candidate.{{cite web |url=https://islandsbusiness.com/breaking-news/item/2247-tabuya-leads-women.html |title=Tabuya leads women |publisher=Islands Business |author=Lice Movono |date=15 November 2018 |accessdate=15 November 2018}} She gave her first speech to parliament on 30 November 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/maiden-speech-by-the-opposition-whip-lynda-tabuya/ |title=Maiden speech by the Opposition Whip, Lynda Tabuya |publisher=Fiji Times |date=30 November 2018 |access-date=5 January 2023}} In March 2020 she was arrested and charged with breaching the Public Order Act over social media comments about the government's Covid-19 response.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/412910/fiji-s-tabuya-charged-with-breaching-public-order-act |title=Fiji's Tabuya charged with breaching public order act |publisher=RNZ |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=5 January 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/03/27/lynda-tabuya-doctor-in-custody-overnight-for-alleged-breach-of-public-order-act/ |title=Lynda Tabuya, Doctor In Custody Overnight For Alleged Breach Of Public Order Act |publisher=Fiji Sun |author=Fonua Talei |date=27 March 2020 |access-date=5 January 2023}} She was acquitted of the charges in August 2020.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/08/17/sodelpa-mp-lynda-tabuya-acquitted/ |title=SODELPA MP Lynda Tabuya Acquitted |publisher=Fiji Sun |author=Ashna Kumar |date=17 August 2020 |access-date=5 January 2023}} On 25 July 2021 she was arrested by Fijian police after criticising government moves to amend land legislation.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/447669/fiji-opposition-mps-taken-in-by-police |title=Fiji opposition MPs taken in by police |publisher=RNZ |date=25 July 2021 |access-date=25 July 2021}}
On 7 January 2022, Tabuya announced she had tendered her resignation from SODELPA and would be joining the People's Alliance Party (PAP) - the party led by former Fijian Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-08|title=Tabuya quits Fiji's Sodelpa, joins Rabuka's party|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/459199/tabuya-quits-fiji-s-sodelpa-joins-rabuka-s-party|access-date=2022-01-07|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} In May 2022 she was appointed deputy leader of the PA, alongside Daniel Lobhendahn and Manoa Kamikamica.{{cite web |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/politics/tabuya-and-lobhendahn-appointed-deputy-pa-leaders/ |title=Tabuya and Lobhendahn appointed deputy PA leaders |publisher=FBC News |author=Apenisa Waqairadovu |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=5 January 2023}}
She was selected as a PA candidate in the 2022 Fijian general election.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2022/11/11/7-women-and-48-men-for-the-peoples-alliance/ |title=7 Women And 48 Men For The Peoples Alliance |publisher=Fiji Sun |author=Jone Salusalu |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=4 January 2023}} During the election campaign she was arrested by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption after allegedly soliciting prize money for a "rock the vote" event.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/480266/rabuka-condemns-outrageous-arrests-of-deputy-leaders-so-close-to-fiji-election-day |title=Rabuka condemns 'outrageous' arrests of deputy leaders so close to Fiji election day |publisher=RNZ |date=7 December 2022 |access-date=5 January 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Peoples-Alliance-Deputy-Leaders-Lynda-Tabuya-and-Dan-Lobendahn-charged-with-vote-buying-and-breach-of-campaign-rules-5fx84r |title=People's Alliance Deputy Leaders Lynda Tabuya and Dan Lobendahn charged with vote buying and breach of campaign rules |publisher=Fiji Village |author= Navitalai Naivalurua |date=6 December 2022 |access-date=5 January 2023}} She was elected to Parliament, winning 11965 votes.{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Indira |date=18 December 2022 |title=Top 55 confirmed |work=FBC |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218063858/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ |archive-date=18 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://2022results.feo.org.fj/Home/CandidateResults?Id=233&CandidateBallotNumber=405&Year=2022+Official |title=Lynda Diseru Tabuya (405) |publisher=Fijian Elections Office |access-date=4 January 2023}} On 24 December 2022 she was appointed Minister for Women, Children, and Poverty Alleviation in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.{{cite web |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/parliament/siromi-turaga-sworn-in-as-new-ag/ |title=Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG |publisher=FBC News |author=Apenisa Waqairadovu |date=24 December 2022 |access-date=24 December 2022}}
In August 2024 Tabuya suggested restoring the death penalty to combat drug trafficking.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/525809/fiji-minister-wants-to-explore-the-possibility-of-death-penalty-to-tackle-drug-crisis |title=Fiji minister wants to 'explore the possibility of death penalty' to tackle drug crisis |publisher=RNZ |date=21 August 2024 |access-date=21 August 2024}}In December 2024, she tried banning sugary foods in schools{{cite news |last1=Devi |first1=Shayal |title=Tabuya to push for ban on sugary food in schools |url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/tabuya-to-push-for-ban-on-sugary-food-in-schools/ |access-date=26 December 2024 |publisher=Fiji Times |date=14 December 2024}} On 26 December 2024 she was removed as Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation after a nude video of her was leaked online.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2024/12/26/pm-rabuka-fires-minister-tabuya-over-viral-nude-video/ |title=PM Rabuka Fires Minister Tabuya Over Viral Nude Video |publisher=Fiji Sun |author=Jone Salusalu |date=26 December 2024 |access-date=26 December 2024}} She was replaced by her assistant minister, Sashi Kiran.{{cite news |last1=Chand |first1=Anish |title=Lynda Tabuya removed as Minister, Sashi Kiran to replace her |url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/lynda-tabuya-removed-as-minister-sashi-kiran-to-replace-her/ |access-date=26 December 2024 |publisher=Fiji Times |date=26 December 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{People's Alliance (Fiji)|state=autocollapse}}
{{Social Democratic Liberal Party |state=autocollapse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tabuya, Lynda}}
Category:I-Taukei Fijian people
Category:Bond University alumni
Category:Washington University School of Law alumni
Category:Academic staff of the University of the South Pacific
Category:Politicians from Kadavu Province
Category:21st-century Fijian women politicians
Category:21st-century Fijian politicians
Category:People's Democratic Party (Fiji) politicians
Category:Social Democratic Liberal Party politicians
Category:People's Alliance (Fiji) politicians
Category:Members of the Parliament of Fiji