Mere_Samisoni Knowpia

Adi Mere Tuisalalo Samisoni (28 July 1938 – 11 August 2023) was a Fijian businesswoman and politician,^[1] from Lomaloma village^[2] on the island of Vanua Balavu in Fiji's Lau archipelago. Samisoni was formerly a member of Parliament for the opposition party SODELPA. She served as mayor of Lami and as a member of the now-defunct House of Representatives.

Politics edit

In March 2018, Samisoni was sworn in as the newest opposition member of Parliament under the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), succeeding the late Ratu Sela Nanovo. During the 2014 elections, Samisoni polled 1855 votes. Samisoni won the Lami Open Constituency for the ruling Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party (SDL) at the parliamentary election held on 6–13 May 2006.^[3] It was her third attempt to win the seat;^[3] her previous campaigns in 1999 and 2001 for the SVT Party had been unsuccessful.

Later history edit

In the wake of the military coup that overthrew the government on 5 December 2006, Samisoni , Daily Post General Manager Mesake Koroi, and others, were detained by soldiers for questioning at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks.^[4] No reason was given for the questioning, but Samisoni had written a letter unsympathetic to the military to the Fiji Times earlier in the week. In a letter to the Fiji Sun published on 15 December, Samisoni claimed that soldiers had told her that if she did not discontinue writing letters critical of the military regime to newspapers, she would be imprisoned on Nukulau Island.

In April 2009, Samisoni was awarded a Doctorate of Business Administration by the University of the Sunshine Coast.^[5]

In 2013, Samisoni's case was in the news again, when the Fiji government hired criminal attorney Clive Grossman to argue a jurisdictional matter related to the charges against Samisoni.^[6] Samisoni was represented by prominent human rights barrister, Sir Peter Williams QC and later by his widow, Lady Heeni Phillips, who won the case. The case was closed in 2016 in a voir dire hearing when the state voluntarily dropped its case^[7]

Personal life and death edit

Samisoni was the second youngest daughter of Ratu Keni Naulumatua, who held the title of Turaga na Rasau, and his first wife, Mere Tuisalalo Fonolahi.^[8] She held Doctorate and Master's degrees in Business Administration and resided in Suva Fiji's Capital. She was well known for establishing a successful chain of bakeries throughout Fiji called Hot Bread Kitchen,^[9] and was married to the late Jimione Isimeli Samisoni of Rotuma, a doctor, lecturer, and former dean of the Fiji School of Medicine^[10] who had a great influence in the medical fraternity in Fiji and the Pacific.^[10] Together they had four children.

Mere Samisoni died on 11 August 2023, at the age of 85.^[11]

Footnotes edit

^ 20th Century Fiji
^ Ai Vola Ni Kawa Bula, Tokatoka No.7
^ ^a ^b Website Fiji Live Archived 17 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine 2006 Elections Results
^ "Army Warns Not To Speak Publicly Against Them". Village News. 9 December 2006. Archived from the original on 11 December 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
^ "Enterprising Fijian graduates with doctorate"
^ "Cash-strapped Fiji Government pays for 'gold-and-diamond-encrusted sledgehammer' Hong Kong barrister to try to crack jurisdiction issue in Dr Mere Samisoni case". fijileaks.com. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
^ "Auckland barrister wins drawn out Fijian human rights case". NZherald.co.nz. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
^ Fiji Times; Fiji Born Actor dies, 2004,Fiji Times Saturday 12 June
^ Fiji Times, Price of flour, sharps go up, AQELA LALAKATO, Monday, 10 December 2007, article notes her as owner of the Hot Bread Kitchen Franchise
^ ^a ^b Fiji Times, 26 April 2007, Title: "Dedicated to science, health" by Dr Joji Malani and Others
^ "Founder and owner of Hot Bread Kitchen Doctor Mere Samisoni passes away". Fiji Village. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.

References edit

20th Century Fiji, edited by Stewart Firth & Daryl Tarte - 2001 - ISBN 982-01-0421-1, (Reference article on Mere Samisoni)
Ai Vola Ni Kawa Bula, Reference to her connection to Chiefly family, The names and birth and death Register of Native Landowners details are as follows: Yavusa Buca, Tokatoka No.7 – Valelevu, Koro: Lomaloma, Tikina: Lomaloma, Yasana: Lau, from the Native Lands and Fisheries Commission – records as of 19 July 2005
A web link reference regarding details of the Native Lands and Fisheries Commission and the Ai Vola Ni Kawa Bula.
Lau Islands, Fiji By A.M Hocart, Published by the Bishop Museum, Hawaii (1929), this book has detailed references to her fathers Rank and Title and her Father Ratu Keni Naulumatua.
Newspaper Article; Title: Fiji Born Actor dies, Content: Talks in reference to Manu Tupou the Hollywood actor, of his ties with Lomaloma with reference to Ratu Mara and Adi Mere(Mere Samisoni's Mother) and Ratu Dreunimisimisi, 2004,Fiji Times Saturday 12 June, Fiji Times Archives
Weblink reference to recent events.