Premila Kumar
Fijian Parliament for FijiFirst List | |
|---|---|
| Assumed office 14 November 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Suva, Fiji |
| Political party | FijiFirst |
| Children | three |
Premila Kumar is a Fijian consumer advocate, politician and former Cabinet Minister. She served as chief executive of the Consumer Council of Fiji from 2006 to 2018, and then as a Cabinet Minister in the government of Frank Bainimarama from 2018 to 2022. She is a member of the FijiFirst party.
Early life
Kumar was born in Suva and educated at Suva Methodist Primary School, Dudley Intermediate, and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School.[1] She then studied for a bachelor of science at Sophia College for Women in India, before working as a teacher.[1] She later completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of the South Pacific, and a Master of Science in trade and the environment in the Netherlands.[2] She later worked as a Government environmental advocate and as an investment manager at Fiji Islands Trade & Investment Bureau.[3]
In 2006 she was appointed chief executive of the Consumer Council of Fiji.[2] As chief executive she led campaigns on drug prices,[4] bank fees,[5] and fuel prices,[6] among other issues. She also served as a council member of Consumers International.[2] She resigned as chief executive in July 2018[7] in order to pursue a career in politics.
In 2010 the Fiji Times named her the most influential woman of the year.[2] In 2015 she was awarded the Executive Woman of the Year Award in 2015 by Women in Business.[8]
Political career
Kumar was selected as a candidate for the FijiFirst party for the 2018 Fijian general election.[9] She was elected, and appointed Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Local Government, and Housing.[10][11] As a Minister, she opposed the restoration of elected local councils, which had been abolished by the military regime in 2009.[12] A cabinet reshuffle in April 2020 saw her surrender the Commerce, Trade and Tourism portfolio to former Minister Faiyaz Koya, while continuing as Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development.[13] A further reshuffle in August 2021 saw her appointed Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, and surrender the Housing and Community Development portfolios to Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.[14]
She was re-elected in the 2022 election,[15] winning 1025 votes,[16] but lost her Cabinet position when the Bainimarama regime lost power to the coalition government.[17]
References
- ^ a b "MEET PREMILA KUMAR". FijiTuwawa News. 15 July 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d "From An Influential Consumer Advocate To Member Of Parliament". Fiji Sun. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ "KUMAR SPENDS FIRST 12 MONTHS STREAMLINING POLICIES, SYSTEMS". FijiSun. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Drug prices in Fiji double says new survey". RNZ. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Fiji's Reserve Bank urged to review fees and charges". RNZ. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Fiji Consumer Council shocked at size of fuel price rise". RNZ. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Premila Kumar Resigns". Fiji Sun. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Premila Thanks Three Men Who Helped Shape Her Career". Fiji Sun. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "FijiFirst announces candidates but no election date". RNZ. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Fiji Government ministers sworn in". RNZ. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Bainimarama and his ministers sworn in as Fiji's government gets down to business". Stuff. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "No municipal elections for Fiji until "major reforms"". RNZ. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Fiji PM reshuffles cabinet, Faiyaz Koya gets commerce portfolio". RNZ. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Rosy Akbar is now Minister for Women, Children & Poverty Alleviation while Premila Kumar is new Education Minister". Fiji Village. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Fiji's general election: All the latest results". RNZ. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Premila Devi Kumar (331)". Fijian Elections Office. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Sitiveni Rabuka is Fiji's new prime minister". RNZ. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2023.