Valdon Dowiyogo

Delegates at the 102nd session of the Forum Fisheries Committee, or FFC, paused to honour and remember two Ministerial leaders who have passed away in the last six months.

Tuvalu's Elisala Pita, a long-time politician and Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment, had just completed his term as Chair of the FFC and handed over to Minister Matai Seremaiah Nawalu, in Vanuatu last July.

He passed away in Tuvalu weeks later.

The 48-year old son of former President Bernard Dowiyogo had been on an official visit to Russia at the time of his death, early yesterday.

Dowiyogo had been MP for Ubenide since 2003, and was Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru from 2005 until his appointment in 2013 to President Baron Waqa's cabinet, holding the Fisheries portfolio as well as those of Health, Transport and Sports.

There are no details yet about the cause of his death but it is known he had been suffering poor health for some time.

Mr Dowiyogo, who is the son of a former president of Nauru, was 48 years old.

He was in Russia on government business and the government information office reports Foreign Minister David Adeang is to accompany the body home.

Photo: RNZ

The Government of Nauru issued a statement this evening (Thursday) saying it regrets to announce the passing of Dowiyogo who also held the ministerial portfolios for Transport, Sports, Nauru Ports, and Fisheries in Moscow.

The statement said arrangements to repatriate the body are being made and a state funeral will be announced in due time.

Dowiyogo is the Member of Parliament for Ubenide constituency.

He had previously served as Speaker of Parliament in 2005.

Dowiyogo is the son of one of Nauru’s longest serving presidents, the late Bernard Dowiyogo.

The development will include new emergency and outpatient rooms, an acute ward, a pediatric ward and an operating theatre and some will be ready for use by early next year.

The Nauru Health Minister Valdon Dowiyogo says the new hospital facilities will significantly cut the costs incurred by the government on overseas medical referrals.

He says the most notable facility will be the improved diagnostic imaging and pathology capability

including the installation of a CAT scanner.