KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1970 (rejoined in 1997 after ten-year lapse) Population: 181,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 1.2% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 88 Official language: English Time: GMT plus 12 hrs Currency: Fijian dollar (F$) Geography Area: 18,333 sq km Coastline: 1,130 km Capital: Suva The Republic of Fiji lies 1,850 km north of Auckland, New Zealand, and 2,800 km north-east of Sydney, Australia. It consists of about 300 islands (100 inhabited) and 540 islets spread over three million sq km. It is surrounded by the island groups of (clockwise from north) Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. The largest islands are Viti Levu (‘Great Fiji’), Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu. Constitution Status: Republic Legislature: Parliament Independence: 10 October 1970 Until 2013 Fiji’s constitution reflected the multiracial nature of its society. It provided for a parliamentary democracy with a bicameral parliament comprising an elected House of Representatives and appointed Senate. Some seats in the House of Representatives were reserved for ethnic Fijians, some for Indo-Fijians and some for other ethnic groups. Following the 1987 coups, Fiji became a republic with a President appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga, a body comprising the heads of the ethnic Fijian clans) for a five-year term as head of state. The President appointed as Prime Minister the member of the House of Representatives who commanded the support of the majority. Constitutional amendments required a 75 per cent majority in both houses. Under the 1997 constitution, the number of seats in the House of Representatives was increased to 71, 25 of which were opened to all ethnic groups (elected by universal suffrage), while the remainder were to be elected by separate communal electoral rolls in the following proportions: ethnic Fijians 23; Indo-Fijians 19; other ethnic groups three; and Rotuman Islanders one. The Senate had 32 members, 14 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, Commonwealth Governance 160 Handbook 2014/15 nine by the Prime Minister, eight by the Leader of the Opposition and one by the Council of Rotuma. The prime ministership, but not the presidency, was opened to all Fijians. In addition, the first-pastthe post electoral system was replaced by an alternative preference system and voting became mandatory. Parties taking more than ten per cent of the votes in a general election had the right to a number of cabinet posts in proportion to the numbers of votes received. A new constitution was promulgated on 6 September 2013. It includes a bill of rights and provides for a single-chamber legislature, parliament, with 50 members directly elected by universal adult suffrage for a term of no more than four years from its first session. All Fijian citizens from the age of 18 are entitled to vote in a single national constituency and under a system of proportional representation. Parliament elects a non-executive President from a field of two candidates, one nominated by the Prime Minister and one by the Leader of the Opposition. The Fiji
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