Local government in Fiji

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Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces; the self-governing island[1][2][3] of Rotuma and its dependencies lie outside any of the four divisions. Each division is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Fijian government. The divisions are basically agglomerations of provinces and have few administrative functions of their own, but serve to foster cooperation among the member provinces for providing services. Each province has a provincial council which may make bylaws and impose rates (local taxes), subject to the approval of the Fijian Affairs Board, a government department. The board must also approve the appointment of the Roko Tui, or executive head of the provincial council, who is usually a high chief, although in recent years, commoners have sometimes been chosen.

Map of the divisions of Fiji.

The provinces used to have direct input into national affairs through the Great Council of Chiefs and the Senate. The Great Council of Chiefs was a traditional body which advised the government on indigenous affairs and also functioned as an electoral college to elect the President and Vice-President; 42 of the 55 members of the Great Council were chosen by the provincial councils, three from each province. In addition, 14 of the 32 members of the Senate, the upper house of the Fijian Parliament, were chosen by the provincial councils (one Senator each) and confirmed by the Great Council of Chiefs. The Military-backed interim government that seized power in a military coup on 5 December 2006 formally abolished the Great Council of Chiefs in 2012, and the 2013 Constitution promulgated by the regime similarly abolished the Senate. This effectively ended provincial input into national government affairs.

Additionally, the island of Rotuma, north of the main archipelago, is self-governing according to the Rotuma Act promulgated in 1927. The Fiji government includes it in the Eastern Division for statistical purposes (such as the census), but it has its own council which is empowered to legislate on most local matters. Like a province, Rotuma used to choose (through its council) 3 members of the Great Council of Chiefs and 1 Senator.

Below the provincial level, districts and villages, based on extended family networks, have their own chiefs and councils. Indigenous Fijian administration is based on the koro, or village, headed by a Turaga ni Koro elected or appointed by the villagers. Several koros combine to form a Tikina, two or more of which comprise a province. In addition, municipal governments have been established for the cities of Suva and Lautoka, and for ten towns. Each has a city or town council elected for a three-year term, presided over by a Mayor chosen by the councillors from among their own members. On 15 February 2006 the government announced legislation to change the local government term of office from three years to four.

Provincial administration, and its sub divisions, cater for ethnic Fijians, town and city councils cater for urban residents of all races. Local authorities have also been established for rural areas, with advisory powers and these provide a voice to people of all races outside the provincial structure. The Ministry of Regional Development ensures that Fiji's rural areas are provided with the access to opportunities and basic amenities that are enjoyed by the urban areas. This is done through its district administrations which are involved in community capacity building, coordinating the development projects like upgrading of rural roads, upgrading of cane access roads, development or roads for access to cash crops and other capital programs in their respective districts. They also attend to some statutory functions such as registration of births, deaths and marriages, liquor licences and acting as Third Class Magistrates.

Fiji is divided into 17 districts, each with a district officer and five sub-districts with assistant district officers. The districts generally centre on towns and cities, but some follow provincial or tikina boundaries. The districts are: Ra, Tavua, Ba, Nadi, Nadarivatu, Keiyasi, Nausori, Navua, Vunidawa, Suva, Korovou, Macuata, Savusavu, Bua, Taveuni, Seqaqa, Saqani, Tukavesi, Kadavu, Rotuma, Lomaiviti, Lautoka.

Fiji Province

Provinces - statistics

Division
(Capital)		ProvinceCouncil ChairmanArea
km²		Population
(2007)
Central
(Suva)		NaitasiriRatu Ilaitia Tuisese1666160,760
NamosiRatu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro5706,898
RewaPita Tagi Cakiverata (acting) [1]272100,787
SeruaAtunaisa Lacabuka83018,249
TailevuJosefa Seruilagilagi75555,692
Northern
(Labasa)		BuaRatu Filimoni Ralogaivau137914,176
CakaudroveSitiveni Rabuka281649,344
MacuataRatu Aisea Katonivere200472,441
Eastern
(Levuka)		KadavuRatu Josateki Nawalowalo47810,167
LauRatu Josefa Basulu48710,683
LomaivitiRatu Jo Lewanavanua41116,461
Western
(Lautoka)		BaRatu Ovini Bokini2634231,760
Nadroga-NavosaRatu Sakiusa Makutu238558,387
RaSimione Naikarua134129,464
[1] The Rewa Provincial Council wants Ro Teimumu Kepa, the Roko Tui Dreketi (Paramount Chief of Rewa and of the Burebasaga Confederacy) to hold the council chairmanship. Until the coup of December 2006 she was a Cabinet Minister, and thus constitutionally disqualified from holding a council chairmanship simultaneously, and the Provincial Council has decided to leave the position vacant until the constitution is changed.

Towns and Cities

City
or Town		Date of
incorporation		Mayor (Party)CouncillorsArea
(square kilometers)		Population
(1996)
Ba1939Parveen Bala (NFP)1532714,596
Labasa1939Pradeep Singh (FLP)1236027,949 (2007)
Lami1977Tevita Buatalevu (SDL)1268020,529 (2007)
Lautoka (city)1929Rohit Kumar (FLP)16160752,220 (2007)
Levuka1877George Gibson (Balance)8673,745
Nadi1946Shalesh Mudliar (NFP)1557742,284 (2007)
Nasinu1999Rajeshwar Kumar (FLP)21450087,446 (2007)
Nausori1931Vikash Singh (NRA)1216747,604 (2007)
Savusavu1969Ram Pillay (SRC)98004,962
Sigatoka1959Ratu Isikeli Tasere (SDL/NFP)101277,940
Suva (city)1881Ratu Peni Volavola (SDL)20204885,691 (2007)
Tavua1992Chandra Singh (TRLTA)91002,418
FLP: Fiji Labour Party; NFP: National Federation Party; NRA: Nausori Ratepayers' Association; SDL: Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua; SRC: Savusavu Ratepayers and Citizens Party; TRLTA: Tavua Ratepayers, Landowners, and Tenants Association

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wikisource:Rotuma Act
  2. ↑ http://www.itc.gov.fj/lawnet/fiji_act/inter_act_list.html
  3. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=B9Qww9fVkGIC&pg=PA239&lpg=PA239&dq=rotuma+free+association&source=bl&ots=yyE_6WYTgQ&sig=3SMYyQfkQjvX_1i8WK5wqfY9LPA&hl=en&ei=bIE3TPWxF8G88gaD2OSmBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=rotuma%20free%20association&f=false

External links

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