Type of Government:

Republic. (Currently a Military Government)

Capital city:

Suva

Other cities:

Lautoka

Population:

931,741 (July 2008 est.)

Independence :

10 October 1970 (from UK )

Year of current Constitution:

1997

Previous constitutions:

1970, 1990

President:

Ratu Josefa Iloilo

Vice President:

Currently vacant

Prime Minister (interim) :

Frank Bainimarama

Ministers (interim):

Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Attorney General, Minister for Justice, Electoral Reform, Public Enterprises and Anti-Corruption

Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and National Planning, Public Service, People’s Charter for Change, Information, Foreign Affairs, International Co operation and Civil Aviation.

Minister for Provisional Development and Multi Ethnic affairs.

Parliament:

Bicameral system – House of Representatives (link to parliament.gov.fj) (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 reserved for Rotumans, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms) and the Senate (link) (32 seats; 14 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)

Electoral System:

Alternative vote system

Most recent election:

6-13 May 2006

Previous elections:

1963, 1972, April 1977, September 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001

Political Parties:

Dodonu Ni Taukei Party (DNT)

Fiji Democratic Party (FDP)

Fijian Association Party (FAP)

New Labor Unity Party (NLUP)

Fiji Labour Party (FLP)

General Voters Party (GVP)

Girmit Heritage Party (GHP)

Justice and Freedom Party (AIM)

Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party (LFR)

National Alliance Party (NAP)

National Federation Party (NFP)

Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party (NVTLP)

Party of National Unity (PANU)

Party of the Truth (POTT)

Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL)

Sogosogo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT)

United Peoples Party (UPP)

Historical Political Parties

Alliance Party (AP)

All Nationals Congress (ANC)

Christian Democratic Alliance (VLV)

Coalition of Independent Nationals (COIN)

Fiji Democratic Party (FDP)

Fijian Nationalist Party (FNP)

National Congress of Fiji

New Labour Unity Party (NLUP)

Party of National Unity (PANU)

Protector of Fiji (BKV)

Vanua Tako Lavo Party (VTLP)

Western United Front (WUF)

Parties Contesting Municipal Elections

Lighthouse
Ratepayers' Associations
Savusavu Ratepayers and Citizens
Sunrise Party
Tavua Ratepayers, Landowners, and Tenants Association

Judicial System:

The principal courts are the magistrate's courts, the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. In addition to its jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases, the High Court has special-interest jurisdiction on behalf of the public and is empowered to review alleged violations of individual rights.

Except for the family court, there are no special civilian courts. Military courts try members of the armed forces, and there is an internal police tribunal mechanism.

Defendants have the right to a public trial and to counsel. The Legal Aid Commission, supplemented by voluntary services of private attorneys, provided free counsel to some indigent defendants in criminal cases. Most cases were heard in the magistrate's courts, but a case cannot be tried in a magistrate's court without the defendant's consent. Absent such consent, cases are tried in the High Court. Trials in the High Court provide for the presence of assessors, typically three, who are similar to jurors but only advise the presiding judge. Magistrates are not authorized to impose prison sentences longer than 10 years. Sentences in the magistrate's courts in most domestic and family law cases were relatively light. Defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence and can question witnesses, present evidence on their own behalf, and access government-held evidence relevant to their case. The right of appeal exists but often was hampered by delays in the process.

Constitutional Offices Commission Chair:

http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_11150.shtml

Chief Justice (Acting):

Gates sworn

Speaker of the House of Representatives:

Currently vacant

Auditor General:

Mr. Eroni Vatuloka

Supervisor of Elections (Acting):

Mr. Semi Matalau

Electoral Commissioner:

Mr. M. K. Sahu Khan

Human Rights Commission Chairperson:

Dr Shaista Shameem

Ombudsman:

Dr Shaista Shameem

Solicitor General (Acting):

Mr. Sakiusa Rabuka

Director of Public Prosecution:

Mr. Josaia Naigulevu

Commissioner of Police (interim):

Cmdr. Esala Teleni

Chairman of the Public Service Commission:

Mr. Rishi Ram

Military Commander:

Cmdr. Frank Bainimarama

Directories:

Telephone White Pages

Telephone Yellow Pages

Fiji Government Directory

Directory of Fiji NGOs

Directory of Fiji Media

Directory of Fiji Trade Unions

International Memberships:

African, Caribbean , and Pacific Group of States (ACP)

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Colombo Plan (CP)

Commonwealth of Nations (currently suspended)

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

Group of 77 (G-77)

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

International Criminal Court (ICCt)

International Development Association (IDA)

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

Interpol

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)

South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (Sparteca)

United Nations (UN) - 13 October 1970

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) - 3 August 1979

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - 14 July 1983

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS)

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

University of the South Pacific (USP)

World Bank

World Customs Organization (WCO)

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

World Health Organisation (WHO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

World Trade Organisation (WTO) - 14 January 1996

Sources:

(1) Fiji Government Online
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/cat_ministries.shtml

(2) List of Ministers
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_1790.shtml

(3) Photos Of Fiji Ministers
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/ministers.shtml

(4) The US Central Intelligence Agency
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-f/fiji.html

(5)World  Fact Book
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fj.html

(6) U.S. Department of State
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78773.htm