Dominion of Fiji
Encyclopedia
The Dominion of Fiji, also known simply as Fiji, was a predecessor to modern-day Fiji
and an independent state and that existed between October 1970 and 26 October 1987.
When British rule ended in 1970, Fiji was given independence as a commonwealth realm, in which the state existed until the coup d'etat of 1987.The Republic of Fiji came into existence on 1st October 1987. During the commonwealth realm phase, the British monarch remained head of state
of Fiji, and was represented in Fiji by a governor-general
. The following governors-generals held office in Fiji during the dominion period:
The following held office as prime minister
(and head of government
) of the Dominion of Fiji during this period:
Following the abolition of the Commonwealth Realm, former governor general Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau
became the first President of 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...
and an independent state and that existed between October 1970 and 26 October 1987.
When British rule ended in 1970, Fiji was given independence as a commonwealth realm, in which the state existed until the coup d'etat of 1987.The Republic of Fiji came into existence on 1st October 1987. During the commonwealth realm phase, the British monarch remained head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Fiji, and was represented in Fiji by a governor-general
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
. The following governors-generals held office in Fiji during the dominion period:
- Sir Robert Sidney FosterRobert Sidney FosterSir Robert Sidney Foster, GCMG, KCVO was a British colonial administrator, best remembered as the last colonial Governor of Fiji and the first Governor-General of the Dominion of Fiji.-Colonial service:...
10 October 1970-13 February 1973 - Ratu Sir George CakobauGeorge CakobauRatu Sir George Kadavulevu Cakobau, GCMG, GCVO, OBE was Governor General of Fiji from 1973 to 1983. A great-grandson of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the King of Bau who had unified all the tribes of Fiji under his reign in the mid-1800s and subsequently ceded the islands to the United Kingdom in...
13 February 1973-12 February 1983 - Ratu Sir Penaia GanilauPenaia GanilauRatu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, DSO was the first President of Fiji, serving from 8 December 1987 until his death in 1993...
12 February 1983-6 October 1987
The following held office as prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
(and head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
) of the Dominion of Fiji during this period:
- Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara 10 October 1970 - 13 April 1987
- Timoci BavadraTimoci BavadraTimoci Uluivuda Bavadra was a medical doctor who served for one month as the second Prime Minister of Fiji in 1987 and who founded the Fiji Labour Party....
13 April 1987 - 14 May 1987
Following the abolition of the Commonwealth Realm, former governor general Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Penaia Ganilau
Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, DSO was the first President of Fiji, serving from 8 December 1987 until his death in 1993...
became the first President of Fiji.
See also
- Governor-General of FijiGovernor-General of FijiFiji became a British Crown Colony in 1874, and an independent dominion in the Commonwealth in 1970. Queen Elizabeth II remained the Head of State, holding the title of Queen of Fiji until 1987, when she formally abdicated following two military coups...
- FijiFijiFiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
- Monarchy of FijiMonarchy of FijiThe monarchy of Fiji arose in the mid-nineteenth century when native ruler Seru Epenisa Cakobau consolidated control of the Fijian Islands and declared himself King or paramount chief of Fiji . In 1874, he voluntarily ceded sovereignty of the islands to Britain, which made Fiji a Crown colony...
- Elizabeth II
- RatuRatuRatu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Kamisese MaraKamisese MaraRatu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992... - Penaia GanilauPenaia GanilauRatu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, DSO was the first President of Fiji, serving from 8 December 1987 until his death in 1993...