Minister for Health Jona Senilagakali of Fiji

Senilagakali said Fiji would seek assistance from Asian nations, such as Indonesia, Taiwan and China, to circumvent sanctions, just as it did following a 1987 coup.

Senilagakali said Bainimarama ordered him to accept his new position.

Dr Jona Baravilala Senilagakali is a medical doctor and former diplomat who was installed as interim Prime Minister of Fiji by Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama in the military coup of December 5, 2006.

Senilagakali was educated at Lau Provincial School and subsequently at Queen Victoria School on the main island of Viti Levu, where he studied from 1945 to 1950, when he enrolled in the Fiji School of Medicine.

Senilagakali is considered by some to be the best known and respected medical practitioner in the nation, having previously been the president of the Fiji Medical Association, before becoming the medical doctor to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

On his first full day as Prime Minister, Senilagakali received a hostile reception at the graduation ceremony of the Fiji School of Medicine.

Senilagakali was then sworn in as health minister on January 8.

Senilagakali is married with five children and four grandchildren.

Fiji's newly appointed Caretaker Prime Minister Dr Jona Senilagakali said the military coup was illegal but better than the corrupt activites of the ousted government.

Fiji Live - Fiji's newly appointed Caretaker Prime Minister Dr Jona Senilagakali has admitted Tuesday's military coup was illegal, but said it was a lesser evil than the corrupt activities of the ousted, democratically-elected government.

Dr Senilagakali said he was surprised by army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's decision to appoint him Prime Minister, but he followed orders and took the job.

Jona Senilagakali has been sworn in as the interim Fijian prime minister with promises to cut public expenditure, as Fiji remains in a state of emergency.

Doctor Senilagakali is speaking here with AM's Michael Vincent.

Dr Senilagakali says he hopes a democratic election can be held in Fiji, but adds that military rule might continue for years.

Senilagakali said he only took the job of prime minister because he was ordered to do so by his commanding officer, coup leader commander Frank Bainimarama.

Jona Senilagakali is seen at a officers' mess at Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva Tuesday, Dec 5, 2006.

Senilagakali says he hopes to quickly set up an interim government.

Senilagakali said he had no doubt the coup was "an illegal takeover.

Senilagakali said he learned he would be prime minister Tuesday when Bainimarama announced it during a news conference, in which he said he had assumed presidential powers.

Senilagakali is his only appointment so far.

Interim Health Minister Dr Jona Senilagakali said the meeting was very important for the Ministry and the health workforce as a whole.

Dr Senilagakali is reacting to a statement made this week by Methodist Church of Fiji General Secretary, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, at the annual Church conference in Macuata.

Dr Senilagakali said the particular clause in the MOA “has not been done or honoured by the Methodist Church” and that they should be the last to talk about legality or illegality.

Dr Senilagakali has also stated the Ministry of Health would not be forced to close the Ba Mission Hospital down or remove equipment or send MOH staff elsewhere, as previously stated.

Interim Minister for Health, Doctor Jona Senilagakali was at the village of Naqarawai located up in the Highlands of Namosi to open the newly built Nursing Station that was part of the ongoing project by the ministry to help develop isolated parts of Fiji in providing better access to health services.

Fiji's interim Health ministerDr Jona Senilagakali says he is leaving the interim Government.

Fiji's axed Health minister Dr Jona Senilagakali says he will return to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks to continue his service looking after military's medical scheme.

Senilagakali is among 9 interim ministers replaced in the interim regimes Cabinet reshuffle announced yesterday by interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Senilagakali had met with Bainimarama in early December last year to advise him of his wish to retire.

Before accepting the interim Prime Minister's post, Dr Jona Senilagakali was the president of the Fiji Medical Association and the Fiji Military Forces doctor.

Dr Senilagakali said he had to go to the principal to ask what he meant.

Dr Senilagakali said he was one in the health profession who had gone through the system.

Dr Senilagakali said he fully understood the structure of the health system and he had seen many changes since he joined the profession.

Dr Senilagakali said young doctors must always put patients as their priority.

Interim Health Minister Doctor Jona Senilagakali said millions of dollars have been spent over the past years on rent and the plans are now being drawn up to construct the new Health Headquarters in Nabua.

Audio 1Doctor Senilagakali said this will save tax dollars as the ministry wont have to pay rent when the loan to construct the building is paid off.

Senilagakali said the Church is in a financially secure situation now to settle.

Senilagakali said there were consultations with church leaders in the past which were enough for both parties to come to an amicable solution.

Senilagakali said at those meetings everyone made suggestions on how to manage the costs.

Until Wednesday Jona Senilagakali was coup leader Frank Bainimarama's doctor.

Dr Senilagakali was speaking following New Zealand's declaration of a wide range of sanctions against the new Fijian regime.

Dr Senilagakali has admitted the military take-over of the country this week is an illegal act.

Mr Senilagakali said he was taken totally by surprise by army commodore Frank Bainimarama's appointment of him as PM, but he merely followed orders and took the job.

Mr Senilagakali said his army background led him to accept his new post.

Mr Senilagakali said he believed he was called to the job by God.

wide range of sanctions against the new regime.

jpgNew caretaker Prime Minister Jona Senilagakali is sworn into office.

Jona Senilagakali said Tuesday's coup was needed to clean up corruption in the government of ousted leader Laisenia Qarase.

Caretaker Prime Minister Jona Senilagakali says the military government will bring "joy and peace" to the people of Fiji.

Until yesterday Jona Senilagakali was coup leader Voreqe (Frank) Bainimaramas doctor.

Dr Senilagakali said he accepted he could be put in prison for his role in the coup but he said Cdre Bainimarama believed there was nothing to stop the army from running the country for the next 10 years.

Last year Senilagakali was interim Health Minister, since January of this year he has been Medical-Officer-in-Charge of the Army Medical Scheme.

Senilagakali says the primary health care project reached most communities throughout Fiji when it was launched.