Republic of Fiji
Capital: Suva
Government: Republic.
Independence Day: 10 October 1970. (from the UK)
National Holiday: Independence Day. Celebrated on the second Monday of October.
Capital: Suva
Government: Republic.
Independence Day: 10 October 1970. (from the UK)
National Holiday: Independence Day. Celebrated on the second Monday of October.
President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
Executive: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and responsible to Parliament; note - coup leader
Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet. Under the constitution, president elected by the Great
Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); in 2007
the Great Council of Chiefs was suspended from its role in electing the
president; prime minister appointed by the president.
Legislative: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 members appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister, 8 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 1 appointed on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 members reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
Judicial: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, all justices of the Court of Appeal, and judges appointed specifically as Supreme Court judges); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, all puisne judges of the High Court, and judges specifically appointed to the Court of Appeal); High Court (chaired by the chief justice and includes a minimum of 10 puisne judges; High Court organized into civil, criminal, family, employment, and tax divisions)
Suffrage: 21 years old
Name of Ambassador: Ambassador Winston Thompson
Location of Embassy: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 2003
Consulates: None
Ambassador: Ambassador Frankie A. Reed
Location of Embassy: 158 Princes Rd, Tamavua
Consulates: None
Ambassador to UN: Mr. Humata Lions
Legislative: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 members appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister, 8 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 1 appointed on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 members reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
Judicial: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, all justices of the Court of Appeal, and judges appointed specifically as Supreme Court judges); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, all puisne judges of the High Court, and judges specifically appointed to the Court of Appeal); High Court (chaired by the chief justice and includes a minimum of 10 puisne judges; High Court organized into civil, criminal, family, employment, and tax divisions)
Suffrage: 21 years old
Name of Ambassador: Ambassador Winston Thompson
Location of Embassy: 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 2003
Consulates: None
Ambassador: Ambassador Frankie A. Reed
Location of Embassy: 158 Princes Rd, Tamavua
Consulates: None
Ambassador to UN: Mr. Humata Lions
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the blue symbolizes the Pacific ocean and the Union Jack reflects the links with Great Britain; the shield - taken from Fiji's coat of arms - depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
National Symbol: Dove
Disputes: None
Stateless people: 596
Refugees: 41
Drugs: None
Disputes: None
Stateless people: 596
Refugees: 41
Drugs: None