Fiji's defense minister resigns from gov't, parliament

Timoci Natuva, Fiji's minister for immigration, national security and defense has resigned, the government announced Wednesday.

In a brief statement disseminated by the Department of Information on Wednesday evening local time, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said Natuva has resigned from both government and parliament for "personal reasons", on which Bainimarama did not further elaborate.

"I have personally assumed his ministerial duties for the time being and an announcement about a permanent replacement will be made in due course," Bainimarama said.

Natuva, 59, who has spend some 40 years in public service, was appointed as Fiji's minister for immigration, national security and defense after the Bainimarama-led FijiFirst party won a landslide victory in the country's latest general election, held in September, 2014.

The former minister told local news website Fijivillage that he had handed his resignation letter to both Prime Minister Bainimarama and Parliament Speaker Dr. Jiko Luveni.

Natuva said he had been talking about his resignation intention with his family and they also agreed that he should resign from the post. He said he wants to spend more time with his wife and children, and also wants to get into farming in his home province. Endit