Hon. Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji
Hon. Filimone Jitoko
Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji
Hon. Filimone Jitoko was elected Speaker of the Fijian Parliament on 12 November 2024, as a result of the vacancy in the office of the Speaker following the appointment of the Hon. Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu as the new President of the Republic of Fiji. Hon. Ratu Naiqama Lalalabalavu was the Speaker of the Fijian Parliament from 24 December 2022 to 11 November 2024.
Hon. Jitoko was born on 3rd October, 1949 in Kabara, Lau. He is married to Mrs Elina Senirewa Jitoko and they have two sons and two daughters.
From his humble beginnings at District School in Kabara, and later attending Ratu Kadavulevu School and Queen Victoria School, Hon. Jitoko has become a distinguished Pacific Jurist, Diplomat and Academic.
A keen sportsman, he was a member of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Team 1969. Prior to that, he captained the QVS First XV Rugby Team, as well as the Cricket, Hockey and Athletics Teams.
Hon. Jitoko read law at the Victoria University in Wellington from 1972-1976. Whilst there, he was a member of the Cricket and Rugby Teams.
He was admitted to the New Zealand Bar and the Bar of the High Court of Fiji in 1978.
He has had a storied legal career as a State Law Officer, rising to the position of Solicitor-General and later, stints as Resident Magistrate and Puisne Judge of the High Court of Fiji.
Hon. Jitoko also served as the Legal Advisor to the Bose Levu Vakaturaga from 1988-1994.
As a Diplomat, he served as Fiji’s Ambassador to the Court of St James in the United Kingdom accredited to the Holy See, Denmark and Israel.
He also served as Second Secretary at Fiji’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and at Fiji’s Embassy to the U.S. in Washington D.C.
As a senior and trustworthy Civil Servant, Hon. Jitoko also previously served as Secretary to Cabinet.
He also briefly joined Academia as a Senior Lecturer at the School of Islands and Oceans as well as the School of Law at the University of the South Pacific.
Another significant highlight is Hon. Jitoko’s fiduciary service for his Vanua and Community in giving back to the nation.
Hon. Jitoko has served as Chairman of the Kabara Development Corporation from 1992-1996 as well as the Ratu Mara Education Trust Board.
He has also served as Governor on the Adi Cakobau School Board of Governors and President of the Fiji Cricket Association as well as the QVSOB Club.
The apex of his professional career, most recently, is as Chief Justice of the Republic of Nauru and President of the Fiji Court of Appeal.
