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Fiji Islands
Head of State: President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
Languages: Fijian, Hindi, English.
Currency: Fiji dollar = 100 cents.
Exchange rate: F$1.46 per US$ (Dec 1990)
Area: 18 333 sq km (about 332 islands; 110 inhabited).
Population: 777 700 (1994 SPC est.); Fijians (48.4 per cent), Indo-Fijians 46.4 per cent, others 5.2 per cent.
Main cities/towns: Suva (Viti Levu; population 69 665 in 1986 census); Lautoka (Viti Levu, 28 728); Nadi (Viti Levu, 7709); Ba (Viti Levu, 6515); Nausori (Viti Levu, 5242); Labasa (Vanua Levu, 2179).
Adult literacy: 79 per cent (1990)
Time: +1200 hours GMT.
GDP per capita: F$1700 (1991 est)
GDP real growth: 3.5 per cent (1991)
Foreign debt: $428m (1990).
Map: Gemini News Service
Political system: Until 1987, Fiji recognised the British sovereign as head of state. But in two coups -- in May and September that year -- Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra of the Fiji Labour Party, abrogated the 1970 Constitution and then declared the country a republic on October 6.
On 25 July 1990, President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau promulgated a new constitution. This constitution created a new bicameral legislature that is racially weighted against Indo-Fijians. The lower House of Representatives has 37 Fijian members, 27 Indo-Fijian, one Rotuman and five from other communities. The upper Senate has 24 Fijian, one Rotuman and nine members from other groups. Fijian senators are appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs which also appoints the president for a five-year term.
Rabuka was elected Prime Minister in May 1992 as head of a Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (Fiji Political Party) coalition. He retained the prime ministership in a snap election in February 1994. This time Rabuka's coalition government comprised SVT (31 seats), General Voters Party (3), independent MPs (2). The Opposition comprised the National Federation Party (Opposition leader Jai Ram Reddy) and the Fiji Labour Party and sought a non-racially biased constitution.
In September 1996, a Constitutional Review Commission headed by former New Zealand Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves recommended that Fiji adopt a non-racially biased constitution as existed before the coups. It also called for a return to cross-communal voting.
On 27 July 1998, a new constitution came into force which includes cross-communal voting and establishes the first Human Rights Commission in the South Pacific. A general election is due May 8-15, 1999, under a new "alternative vote" preferential system and the composition of the new House of Representatives will be 71 members: 46 communal seats and 25 open seats elected by all races; 23 seats are reserved for Fijians, 19 for Indians, 3 for General Electors and 1 for Rotumans. The country is now officially known as Fiji Islands, and the people are Fiji Islanders.
On 18 May 1999, former trade unionist Mahendra Chaudhry was sworn in as the first Indo-Fijian prime minister of Fiji after his Fiji Labour Party swept to a landslide victory in the first general election under the 1997 constitution. He formed a coalition government with the mainly indigenous Fijian Association Party (FAP), Party of National Unity (PANU) and the Christian Democratic Alliance.
Two Fijian deputy prime ministers were appointed - Kuini Vuikaba Speed (Bavadra's widow), and Dr Tupeni Baba (Labour and previously a professor education at the University of the South Pacific). Opposition Leader is Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
The final state of the parties in the 71-seat Parliament:
Governing coalition:
Fiji Labour 37 seats
Fijian Association 11
Party of National Unity 4
Christian Democratic Alliance 3
Total: 55
Opposition parties:
Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei 7
United General Party 2
Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo 2
Independents 5
National Federation 0
United Labour 0
Total: 16
Press:
- Fiji's Daily Post: Daily; 9500; English; Fiji-owned, Fiji Daily Post Ltd. Editor-in-chief: Jale Moala. 16 Toorak Rd, PO Box 7010, Valelevu, Nasinu. Fiji national and foreign news, features, business and sport. Tel: (679) 313342; Fax: (679) 313320.
Email: dailypost@is.com.fj
Website: http://www.fijilive.com/
- Fiji Sun: Daily (about to be launched, September 1999); English; Fiji-owned, Sun Fiji News Ltd. Editor-in-chief: Stan Ritova. 12 Amra St, Walu Bay, Private Mail Bag, Suva. Fiji national and foreign news, features, business and sport. Tel: (679) 307555; Fax: (679) 311455.
Email: truth@is.com.fj
- Fiji Times: Daily; 31 000; English; Australian-owned (Murdoch's News Corp), Fiji Times Ltd. Editor-in-chief: Russell Hunter.177 Victoria Pde, PO Box 1167, Suva. Fiji national and foreign news, features, business and sport. Tel: (679) 304111; Fax: (679) 301521.
Email: fijitimes@is.com.fj
Website: http://www.fijivillage.com/news/fijitimes/index.html
Other titles include:
Nai Lalakai: Weekly; 13 000, Fijian; Australian-owned, Fiji Times Ltd. Address as for Fiji Times.
Shanti Dut: Weekly; 10 500, Hindi, Australian-owned, Fiji Times Ltd. Address as for Fiji Times.
- Pacific Islands Monthly:
Monthly news magazine; 10 500; English; Australian-owned, Fiji Times Ltd. Editor: Sophie Foster. Address as for Fiji Times. Fax: (679) 303809. Regional news, business and current affairs.
Email: fijitimes@is.com.fj
Website: http://www.pim.com.fj
- Islands Business: Monthly news magazine; 8000; English; Fiji-owned, Islands Business International Ltd. Regional news, business and current affairs. Editor-in-chief: Peter Lomas. 46 Gordon St, PO Box 12718, Suva. Tel: (679) 303108; Fax: (679) 301423. Email: editor@ibi.com.fj.
Website: http://www.islandsbusiness.com/
Other titles include:
Fiji Islands Business:
- The Review: Monthly news magazine; English; Associated Media Ltd. Publisher/editor: Yashwant Gaunder. Downtown Boulevard, GPO Box 12095, Suva. Tel: (679) 305916; Fax: (679) 305256. Fiji news, business and current affairs; limited regional coverage.
Email: review@is.com.fj
Website: http://www.fijilive.com/
Other publications:
- Pacific Journalism Online:
Daily email and website news updates and media resources. Includes Pasifik Nius, Radio Pasifik and the online edition of the journalism student training newspaper Wansolwara. Journalism programme of the University of the South Pacific. Coordinator: David Robie. USP, Private Bag, Suva, Fiji. Fax: (679) 313238.
Email: journ@usp.ac.fj
Website: Pacific Journalism Online
- Pacific Journalism Review:
Independent journal covering journalism and media issues in the South Pacific region. Published by Asia-Pacific Network in association with the University of the South Pacific. Editor: David Robie. PO Box U5, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji. Fax: (679) 313238.
Email: asia.pacific@mailcity.com
Website: http://www.asiapac.org.fj/PJR/
Radio:
Television:
- Fiji One:
This is 85 per cent Fiji-owned: 51 per cent of shares held by Fiji Development Bank for country's 14 provinces and Rotuma; 15 per cent Television New Zealand; 14 per cent Viti Television; 20 per cent sold to public. GPO Box 2442, Suva. Tel: (679) 305100; Fax: (679) 305077.
Email: news@fijitv.com
WWW: http://www.fijitv.com/
Web sites in Fiji:
Copyright © 1996-2000 David Robie and Asia-Pacific Network.
File updated: 24 April 2000.
http://www.asiapac.org.fj/cafepacific/resources/profiles/fiji.html
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