Manikam Pillai

The Honourable
Manikam Vasigam Pillai
M.B.E.
24th Attorney General of Fiji
In office
1981–1984
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor GeneralRatu Sir George Cakobau
Prime MinisterRatu Sir Kamisese Mara
Preceded byAndrew Deoki
Succeeded byQoriniasi Bale
2nd Chairman, Fiji Law Reform Commission
In office
1984–1987
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor GeneralRatu Sir George Cakobau
Prime MinisterRatu Sir Kamisese Mara
Preceded byK. A. Stuart
Succeeded byVacant
Next held by Daniel Fatiaki
1994-1995
Senator of Fiji
In office
1981–1984
Appointed byPrime Minister of Fiji
President of the SenateRobert Munro
Wesley M. Barrett
Personal details
CitizenshipFijian
NationalityBritish subject
(until 1970)
Political partyAlliance Party
OccupationLawyer, Sports administrator

Manikam Vasagam Pillai MBE (last name sometimes spelt Pillay) was a Fiji Indian lawyer, football administrator, and politician. He was a supporter of the Alliance Party[1] and in the 1968 by-elections contested the Nadi Indian Communal seat against Dr A. D. Patel, the leader of the Federation Party, but lost by 7903 votes to 2772.[2] He later served as Attorney General of Fiji from 1981 to 1984.[3] He then became Chairman of the Fiji Law Reform Commission, serving till 1987.[citation needed]

Career

Pillay was President of the Fiji Football Association from 1962 to 1965, and again from 1967 to 1983.[4] He opened Govind Park in July 1976.[5] Associates remembered him as a polite and unflappable person, who rarely spoke during negotiations, except to propose a compromise (which was usually accepted) to break a deadlock.[6]

On 13 June 1980, Pillai was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the community.[7] He died in the late 1980s or early 1990s.[8]

Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Fiji
1981–1984 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman, Fiji Law Reform Commission
1984–1987 		Succeeded by
(Vacant)
Political offices
Preceded by
 Senator of Fiji
1981–1984 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ Larkin, Philip. "Chapter 2: Baptism by Fire" (PDF). In the Eye of the Storm. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  2. ^ Lal, Brij V. "Chapter 1: Inheritance" (PDF). In the Eye of the Storm. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  3. ^ Fiji's Previous Attorneys-General
  4. ^ "Kewal joins race for vice president's post", Fiji Times, 22 November 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2013
  5. ^ "The Day Ba Reigned". Fiji Times. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  6. ^ Tarte, Daryl. "10. Sugar". Fiji: A Place Called Home. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Order of the British Empire (Civil Division)" (PDF). The London Gazette. 13 June 1980. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  8. ^ Bulewa, K. R. "Meeting of June/July 1992" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) The House of Representatives. Retrieved 2 October 2015.