Kuini Speed facts for kids

Adi Kuini in 1988

Adi Kuini Teimumu Vuikaba Speed (born December 23, 1949 – died December 31, 2004) was an important leader from Fiji. She was a chief and a politician. She even served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji in 1999 and 2000.

Adi Kuini was a very bright student. She was the head girl at Adi Cakobau School in 1968. Later, she studied at the University of the South Pacific and the Australian National University in Canberra. After her studies, she worked in public relations, which is about managing how an organization is seen by the public. She also represented the Fiji Public Service Association at the United Nations.

Adi Kuini's Political Journey

Adi Kuini was married to Timoci Bavadra, who started the Fiji Labour Party and was a former Prime Minister. After he passed away in 1989, Adi Kuini became the leader of the Labour Party. However, she later moved to Australia for a few years and resigned from this role in 1991. Mahendra Chaudhry then took over as the party leader.

Leading a New Party

In 1994, Adi Kuini came back to Fiji. She became the leader of another political group called the Fijian Association Party (FAP) in 1998. Under her leadership, the FAP won 11 seats in the House of Representatives during the 1999 election. Her party then joined with her old party, the Fiji Labour Party, to form a government. Adi Kuini became one of two Deputy Prime Ministers in this new government, led by Mahendra Chaudhry.

Facing Challenges in Government

On May 19, 2000, the government led by Mahendra Chaudhry was overthrown in a coup. This was a difficult time for Fiji. After the coup ended, Adi Kuini felt that Fiji needed a new leader who could help bring people together. She believed this would help heal the relationships between different groups in Fiji.

Final Election and Legacy

Adi Kuini faced health challenges, including operations for a brain tumor. Despite this, she ran in the elections in September 2001. These elections were held to bring back democracy to Fiji. However, her party's candidates did not win many seats. Adi Kuini herself lost her seat in the Serua-Navosa area to another politician.

Her Life and Family

Adi Kuini was the daughter of Ratu Aseri Qoro Latianara. She followed in his footsteps to become the Tui Noikoro, which is a very important chief title for the people of Navosa. After her passing, her brother, Ratu Tomasi Latianara, took on these roles.

Adi Kuini was married three times. Her first husband was Savenaca Draunidalo, who was a military officer and later a government minister. She then married Timoci Bavadra, and later Clive Speed. She had four children of her own. One of her children, Tupou Draunidalo, also became a well-known lawyer and politician. Adi Kuini also had eleven stepchildren. By the time she passed away in 2004 after a long fight with cancer, she was a grandmother to three children. She is buried in Korolevu, a town in Fiji.

Many politicians remembered Adi Kuini as a person who deeply believed in her Christian faith. They also remembered her as someone who championed tolerance between different races. She worked hard to make sure that chiefs were held accountable for their actions.