Council of Rotuma
Encyclopedia
The Council of Rotuma is a municipal body on the island of Rotuma
, a Fiji
an dependency. Owing to the unique character of Rotuma, the powers of this council are greater than those of other municipal bodies in Fiji and in some ways it approximates a legislative body, though it is in every way subordinate to the Parliament of Fiji.
The Council consists of fourteen full members and three advisory members. Each of Rotuma's seven districts elects one representative to the Council; the traditional Chief of each district is also a Council member ex officio. The advisory members, who have speaking rights but not voting rights, are the District Officer, the most senior Medical Officer, and the most senior Agricultural Officer, all of whom serve ex officio.
The seven chiefs are chosen according to traditional custom. The election is usually for life, although the Fijian cabinet minister
responsible for Rotuma may, at his or her own discretion, dismiss a chief and order the election of a new one.
The seven elected representatives are elected for three year terms by resident Rotuman Islanders
aged 21 and over. Candidacy is restricted to persons who are eligible to vote.
The full members of the Council elect a Chairman from among themselves. In addition to his vote as a member of the Council, the Chairman has a casting vote
in the event of a tie. The present Chairman is Terani Rigamoto.
The Council is required to meet at least once every three months. The Chairman and nine other members constitute a quorum
to do business. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman, on his own initiative or that of eight members of the Council.
The Council has the following powers and responsibilities:
Such regulations may provide for imprisonment of up to four months, or a fine of up to one hundred dollars, or both.
Rotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
, a Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an dependency. Owing to the unique character of Rotuma, the powers of this council are greater than those of other municipal bodies in Fiji and in some ways it approximates a legislative body, though it is in every way subordinate to the Parliament of Fiji.
The Council consists of fourteen full members and three advisory members. Each of Rotuma's seven districts elects one representative to the Council; the traditional Chief of each district is also a Council member ex officio. The advisory members, who have speaking rights but not voting rights, are the District Officer, the most senior Medical Officer, and the most senior Agricultural Officer, all of whom serve ex officio.
The seven chiefs are chosen according to traditional custom. The election is usually for life, although the Fijian cabinet minister
Cabinet (Fiji)
Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: the President must appoint as Prime...
responsible for Rotuma may, at his or her own discretion, dismiss a chief and order the election of a new one.
The seven elected representatives are elected for three year terms by resident Rotuman Islanders
Rotuman people
The Rotuman people are the indigenous inhabitants of Rotuma, a small island group forming part of the Republic of Fiji. The island itself is a cultural melting pot at the crossroads of the Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian divisions of the Pacific Ocean, and due to the seafaring nature of...
aged 21 and over. Candidacy is restricted to persons who are eligible to vote.
The full members of the Council elect a Chairman from among themselves. In addition to his vote as a member of the Council, the Chairman has a casting vote
Casting vote
A casting vote is a vote given to the presiding officer of a council or legislative body to resolve a deadlock and which can be exercised only when such a deadlock exists...
in the event of a tie. The present Chairman is Terani Rigamoto.
The Council is required to meet at least once every three months. The Chairman and nine other members constitute a quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
to do business. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman, on his own initiative or that of eight members of the Council.
The Council has the following powers and responsibilities:
- to implement directives of the Fijian cabinet minister responsible for Rotuma.
- to administer the Rotuman development Fund established by the Rotuma Act
- to make bylaws relation to the environment, waste disposal, and public health.
- to make bylaws for the promotion of the social and economic betterment of the Rotuman community
- to regulate communal work
- to regulate the prevention or removal of the public
- to provide for the care of children and the elderly
- to regulate the conservation of food supplies on Rotuma.
- to nominate 3 members of the Great Council of ChiefsGreat Council of Chiefs (Fiji)The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
- to nominate 1 member of the Fijian SenateSenate (Fiji)The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
. The most recent Senator representing the Rotuma Island Council was Dr John FatiakiJohn FatiakiDr John Charles Fatiaki is a career medical practitioner who was chosen by the Rotuma Island Council to be their representative in the Fijian Senate.- Education and early career :...
, who served from June 2006 till the military coup2006 Fijian coup d'étatThe Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
of 5 December 2006. - need to educate our council chiefs to professional educator
Such regulations may provide for imprisonment of up to four months, or a fine of up to one hundred dollars, or both.