Executive Council of Fiji
The colonial Governors of Fiji relied on the Executive Council for advice on proposals for legislation which, after being discussed in the Executive Council meetings, came before the Legislative Council in the form of bills. In this way, the Executive Council was the chief policy-making body and performed cabinet-like functions, but being advisory, was not yet a cabinet in function. This role changed in 1964 with the introduction of the membership system.
The first Executive Council
Immediately after Fiji was ceded to the
Inclusion of Legislative Council members
Changes to the Constitution in 1916 provided for an Executive Council consisting of the
Inclusion of ethnic Fijians and Fiji Indians
Ever since its inception in Fiji, Executive Council members were all
A man maybe highly representative of the petty trader, the petty shopkeeper or the petty farmer but if he also has the limitations of the petty trader he would be useless as an advisor.
but an Indian, K. B. Singh was finally appointed to the Executive Council in 1946.[1]
Selection from Legislative Council
A committee formed in 1948 proposed that the five unofficial representatives of each racial group be empowered to select one of their own numbers to be a member of the Executive Council. The selection of an
Membership System
On 1 July 1964, a membership system of Government was installed with the composition of the Executive Council modified to allocate a majority of the seats to unofficial members. A Fijian, an Indian and a European were granted portfolios. John Falvey was appointed Member for Communications and Works, Ratu Kamisese Mara was appointed Member for Natural Resources and A. D. Patel was appointed member for Social Services.
See also
- Executive Council
- Legislative Council of Fiji
References
- ISBN 0-86861-311-8.