Alipate Qetaki

The Honourable
Alipate Qetaki
Judge of the Court of Appeal of Fiji
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 April 2023
27th Attorney-General of Fiji
In office
May 1987 – September 1987
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor GeneralRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Preceded byJai Ram Reddy
Succeeded bySailosi Kepa
In office
2000–2001
PresidentRatu Josefa Iloilo
Prime MinisterLaisenia Qarase
Preceded byAnand Singh
Succeeded byQoriniasi Bale
6th Chairman, Fiji Law Reform Commission
In office
2003–2008
PresidentRatu Josefa Iloilo
Prime MinisterLaisenia Qarase
Frank Bainimarama
Preceded byVacant since 1999
Last held by R. Matabalavu
Personal details
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
ProfessionJudge

Alipate Qetaki is a Fijian jurist, civil servant, and former politician who currently serves as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Fiji. He previously served as Attorney General of Fiji in the government of Timoci Bavadra from May 1987 to September 1987,[1] and again as Attorney General and Minister for Justice in the interim Cabinet formed by Laisenia Qarase in the wake of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état.[2] He held office till an elected government took power in September 2001.

Qetaki was educated at Lelean Memorial and Queen Victoria Schools in Fiji and holds an LLM from the University of Edinburgh.

He served as executive chairman of both the Fiji Law Reform Commission (from 2003) and the Fiji Law Revision Commission.

In August 2008, Qetaki was appointed by the military regime of Frank Bainimarama to the post of General Manager of the Native Land Trust Board,[3] replacing Semi Tabakanalagi, who died in office.[4] He held this position till April 2015, when he was succeeded by Tevita Kuruvakadua.[5] He has also been a Director of Fiji Sugar Corporation since 26 November 2008.[6] From 2020 to 2023 he taught law at the University of Fiji.[7]

In April 2023 he was appointed as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Fiji.[7] The appointment was opposed by the Fiji Law Society on the basis that he had previously been found guilty of professional misconduct as a lawyer and was thus ineligible to be appointed.[8] The question of Qetaki's eligibility for appointment was referred to the Supreme Court of Fiji in June 2024.[9][10] On 28 June 2024 the Supreme Court ruled that he was eligible for appointment, as his misconduct had been minimal.[11]

  1. ^ "Native Lands Trust Board Fiji Islands". www.nltb.com.fj. Archived from the original on 16 February 2007.
  2. ^ "Munro Leys - No 3 Post Coup Decrees". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  3. ^ Vakasama, Soli (2 October 2008). "Qetaki at NLTB helm". Discuss Fiji Politics. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  4. ^ "'Humbling Experience'". Fiji Sun. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  5. ^ Rainima, Tokasa. "Kuruvakadua to replace Qetaki as new TLTB GM". FijiVillage.com. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Alipate Qetaki". Company Overview of Fiji Sugar Corp Ltd. Bloomberg Business. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b Fonua Talei (19 April 2023). "Qetaki Sworn In As Justice of Appeal". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  8. ^ Wati Talebula (25 October 2023). "Another Breach!!". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  9. ^ Beranadeta Nagatalevu (20 June 2024). "Judge Justice and Acting DPP Appointments Under Fire". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  10. ^ Rashika Kumar (19 June 2024). "ADPP Rabuku and Justice Qetaki are not eligible to be appointed – Cabinet lawyer/Fiji Law Society". Fiji Village. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Justice Qetaki eligible to be Court of Appeal Judge, Rabuku ineligible to be DPP - Supreme Court". Fiji Village. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.