Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs

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The Great Council of Chiefs (Fijian: Bose Levu Vakaturaga) was and is going to a formal assembly of Fiji's senior hereditary chiefs (including Sitiveni Rabuka who led the 1987 Fijian coups d'état), along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. It also had a constitutional role in functioning as an electoral college to choose the President of the Republic, as well as 14 of the 32 Senators.

Following the adoption of the

ministerial system of government in 1967, the Minister for Fijian Affairs (the Cabinet Minister responsible for indigenous cultural and economic development) presided over the Great Council of Chiefs. This arrangement continued until the constitutional
changes of 1999, when the Great Council chose its own Chairman for the first time. The Great Council was disestablished in 2012.

The following tables list the Fijian Affairs Ministers from 1967 to 1999, and Chairmen of the Great Council of Chiefs since that date.

Ministers for Fijian Affairs (1967–1999)

Ministers of Fijian Affairs since 1999 are not included, as they no longer preside over the Great Council. If the Minister was simultaneously the Prime Minister, this is indicated by an asterisk.

Order Minister Term of office Prime Minister served under
1. Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau 1967–1970 Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
2. Ratu Sir George Cakobau 1970–1972
3. Ratu William Toganivalu 1972–1977
. Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau 1977–1983
4. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara 1983–1985 *
5. Ratu David Toganivalu 1985–1987 Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
6. Timoci Bavadra 1987 *
7. Ratu Josua Toganivalu 1987 Governor-General
Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau
8. Ratu Meli Vesikula 1987
9. Vatiliai Navunisaravi 1987–1992 Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
10. Sitiveni Rabuka 1992–1994 *
11. Adi Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli 1994–1995 Sitiveni Rabuka
. Sitiveni Rabuka 1995–1997 *
12. Ratu Finau Mara 1997–1999 Sitiveni Rabuka

Chairmen of the Great Council of Chiefs (1999–2012)

Since 1999, when the Council chose its own chairman for the first time, the following individuals have held the office. In April 2007, the council was suspended by "interim prime minister" and military leader Frank Bainimarama, who had taken power in a coup in December 2006. In February 2008, Bainimarama announced that he was appointing himself chairman of the council.[1][2] In early August 2008, it was announced that the Great Council of Chiefs was ready to reconvene. It would be chaired by the Minister for Fijian Affairs - namely, at that time, Commodore Bainimarama.[3] In October 2008, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was named Minister of Indigenous (Fijian) Affairs, and therefore also Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs.[4]

In April 2009, Nailatikau was appointed Vice-President of Fiji.[5]

Order Chairman Term of office
1. Sitiveni Rabuka 1999–2001
2. Ratu Epeli Ganilau 2001–2004
3. Ratu Ovini Bokini 2004 – April 2007
4. Frank Bainimarama February 2008 – October 2008
5. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau October 2008 – March 2012

References

  1. ^ "Bainimarama is GCC head" Archived 23 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Frederica Elbourne, Fiji Times, 19 February 2008
  2. Radio New Zealand International
    . 18 February 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  3. ^ "Fiji Great Council of Chiefs ready to convene", ABC Radio Australia, 5 August 2008
  4. ^ "Ratu Epeli is new GCC chairman" Archived 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, FijiLive, 14 October 2008
  5. ^ "President's deputy sworn in" Archived 9 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji Times, 17 April 2009
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