Premila Kumar
Minister for Education of Fiji from 2021 to 2022
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Premila Kumar | |
|---|---|
Kumar in 2020 | |
| Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts | |
| In office 24 August 2021 – 24 December 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Frank Bainimarama |
| Preceded by | Rosy Akbar |
| Succeeded by | Aseri Radrodro |
| Minister for Local Government | |
| In office 22 November 2018 – 24 December 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Frank Bainimarama |
| Preceded by | Parveen Bala |
| Succeeded by | Maciu Katamotu |
| Minister for Housing and Community Development | |
| In office 22 November 2018 – 24 August 2021 | |
| Succeeded by | Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum |
| Minister for Commerce, Trade and Tourism | |
| In office 22 November 2018 – 21 April 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Faiyaz Koya |
| Succeeded by | Faiyaz Koya |
| Member of the Fijian Parliament for FijiFirst List | |
| Assumed office 14 November 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | FijiFirst |
| Children | three |
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]