Kamisese Mara
The Right Honourable Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara CF GCMG KBE MP President of Fiji In office 18 January 1994 – 29 May 2000 Acting: 16 December 1993 – 18 January 1994 Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka Mahendra Chaudhry Tevita Momoedonu Preceded by Penaia Ganilau Succeeded by Frank Bainimarama Prime Minister of Fiji In office 5 December 1987 – 2 June 1992 President Penaia Ganilau Preceded by Vacant Succeeded by Sitiveni Rabuka In office 20 September 1967 – 13 April 1987 Monarch Elizabeth II Governor General Derek Jakeway Robert Sidney Foster George Cakobau Penaia Ganilau Preceded by Position Established Succeeded by Timoci Bavadra Personal details Born 6 May 1920 Lomaloma, Fiji Died 18 April 2004 Suva, Fiji Political party Alliance Party Spouse(s) Lala Mara (1950-2004) Children 8 Religion Roman Catholicism Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE (6 May 1920 – 18 April 2004) is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first prime minister from 1970 to 1992. He subsequently served as president from 1993 to 2000.