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Fiji (; ), officially the Republic of Fiji In February 2011, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying that the name of the state had been officially changed to the Republic of Fiji , and that the name written in the 1997 constitution was now void (constitution is suspended since April 2009). See (; ), is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand 's North Island . Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west, France 's New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec Islands|Kermadec to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoa s, France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast and Tuvalu to the north.

The majority of Fiji's islands were formed through volcanic activity started around 150 million years ago. Today, some geothermal activity still occurs on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. Fiji has been inhabited since the second millennium BC. The country comprises an archipelago of more than 332 island s, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islet s, amounting to a total land area of circa . The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu , account for 87% of the population of almost 850,000. The former contains Suva , the capital and largest city. Most of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centres. Viti Levu's interior is sparsely inhabited due to its terrain.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch and the British explored Fiji. Fiji was a British colony up until 1970; British occupation lasted almost a century. Because of the abundance of forest, mineral, and fish resources, Fiji is one of the most developed economies in the Pacific island realm. Today, the main sources of foreign exchange are its tourist industry and sugar exports. The country's currency is the Fijian dollar .

Fiji has a local government system where city and town councils fall under the general supervision of the Ministry of Local Government and Urban Development. President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau became Fiji's president, after a high court ruled that the military leadership was unlawfully appointed after a 2006 coup. During World War II , the United Kingdom allowed for many thousands of Fijians to volunteer to aid in Allies' efforts via their attachment to the New Zealand and Australia n army units. Fiji Military Forces|The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) , consist of land and naval units.

Etymology

Fiji's main island is known as Viti Levu and it is from this that the name "Fiji" is derived, though the common English pronunciation is based on that of their island neighbours in Tonga. Its emergence was best described as follows:

Fijians first impressed themselves on European consciousness through the writings of the members of the expeditions of Cook who met them in Tonga. They were described as formidable warriors and ferocious cannibals, builders of the finest vessels in the Pacific, but not great sailors. They inspired awe amongst the Tongans, and all their Manufactures, especially bark cloth and clubs, were highly esteemed and much in demand. They called their home Viti, but the Tongans called it Fisi, and it was by this foreign pronunciation, Fiji, first promulgated by Captain James Cook, that these islands are now known. from on Line, section on Europeans in Fiji.

History

Pottery art from Fijian towns shows that Fiji was settled before or around 3500–1000& nbsp;BC, although the question of Pacific migration still lingers. It is believed that the Lapita people or the ancestors of the Polynesians settled the islands first but not much is known of what became of them after the Melanesians arrived; they may have had some influence on the new culture , and archaeological evidence shows that they would have then moved on to Tonga , Samoa and even Hawai'i .

The first settlements in Fiji were started by voyaging traders and settlers from the west about 5000 years ago. Lapita pottery shards have been found at numerous excavations around the country. Aspects of Fijian culture are similar to Melanesian culture to the western Pacific but have stronger connection to the older Polynesian cultures such as those of Samoa and Tonga. Trade between these three nations long before European contact is quite obvious with canoe s made from native Fijian trees found in Tonga and Tongan words being part of the language of the Lau Islands|Lau group of islands. Pots made in Fiji have been found in Samoa and even the Marquesas Islands .
Across 1000 kilometres from east to west, Fiji has been a nation of many languages. Fiji's history was one of settlement but also of mobility. Over the centuries, a unique Fijian culture developed. Constant warfare and cannibalism between warring tribes was quite rampant and very much part of everyday life.Peggy Reeves Sanday. " ". p.151. During the 19th century, Ratu Udre Udre is said to have consumed 872 people and to have made a pile of stones to record his achievement.Peggy Reeves Sanday. " ". p.166. According to Deryck Scarr ("A Short History of Fiji", 1984, page 3), "Ceremonial occasions saw freshly killed corpses piled up for eating. 'Eat me!' was a proper ritual greeting from a commoner to a chief." Scarr also reported that the posts that supported the chief's house or the priest's temple would have sacrificed bodies buried underneath them, with the rationale that the spirit of the ritually sacrificed person would invoke the gods to help support the structure, and "men were sacrificed whenever posts had to be renewed" (Scarr, page 3). Also, when a new boat, or drua, was launched, if it was not hauled over men as rollers, crushing them to death, "it would not be expected to float long" (Scarr, page 19"). Fijians today regard those times as "na gauna ni tevoro" (time of the devil). The ferocity of the cannibal lifestyle deterred European sailors from going near Fijian waters, giving Fiji the name Cannibal Isles , in turn Fiji was unknown to the rest of the outside world., Central Queensland University .

The Netherlands|Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited Fiji in 1643 while looking for the Great Southern Continent., Answers.com . Europeans settled on the islands permanently beginning in the 19th century., Jane Resture's Oceania Page The first European settlers to Fiji were beachcombing|beachcombers , missionaries, whalers and those engaged in the then booming sandalwood and bêche-de-mer trade.

Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau was a Fijian chief and warlord from the island of Bau, off the eastern coast of Viti Levu, who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership. He then styled himself as King of Fiji or Tui Viti and then to Vunivalu or Protector after the Cession of Fiji to Great Britain . The British subjugated the islands as a colony in 1874, and the British brought over India n contract labour ers to work on the sugar plantations as the then Governor and also the first governor of Fiji, Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon , adopted a policy disallowing the use of native labour and no interference in their culture and way of life. In 1875–76, an epidemic of measles killed over 40,000 Fijians,"". Fiji Government On line. about one-third of the Fijian population."" BBC News. The population in 1942 was approximately 210,000 of whom 94,000 were Indians, 102,000 native Fijians, 2,000 Chinese and 5,000 Europeans."". TIME . October 26, 1942.

The British granted Fiji independence in 1970. Democratic rule was interrupted by two Fiji coups of 1987|military coups in 1987 because the government was perceived as dominated by the Indo-Fijian (Indian) community. The second 1987 coup saw the Fijian monarchy and the Governor-General of Fiji|Governor General replaced by a non-executive President, and the country changed the long form of its name from British Dominions|Dominion of Fiji to Republic of Fiji (and to Republic of the Fiji Islands in 1997). The coups and accompanying civil unrest contributed to heavy Indo-Fijian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.

In 1990, the new Constitution institutionalised the ethnic Fijian domination of the political system. The Group Against Racial Discrimination (Fiji)|Group Against Racial Discrimination (GARD) was formed to oppose the unilaterally imposed constitution and to restore the 1970 constitution. Sitiveni Rabuka , the Lieutenant Colonel who carried out the 1987 coup became Prime Minister in 1992, following elections held under the new constitution. Three years later, Rabuka established the Constitutional Review Commission, which in 1997 led to a new Constitution, which was supported by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities. Fiji is re-admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations .
The new millennium brought along 2000 Fijian coup d'état|another coup , instigated by George Speight , that effectively toppled the government of Mahendra Chaudhry , who became the country's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister following the 1997 constitution. Commodore Frank Bainimarama assumed executive power after the resignation, possibly forced, of President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Fiji was rocked by Mutinies of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état|two mutinies at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks, later in 2000 when rebel soldiers went on a rampage. The High Court (Fiji)|High Court ordered the reinstatement of the constitution, and in September 2001, a general election was held to restore democracy, which was then won by interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase 's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party.
In 2005, amid much controversy, the Qarase government proposed a Reconciliation and Unity Commission , with power to recommend compensation for victims of the 2000 coup, and amnesty for its perpetrators. However, the military strongly opposed this bill, especially the nation's top military commander, Frank Bainimarama. Bainimaram agreed with detractors who said that it was a sham to grant amnesty to supporters of the present government who played roles in the violent coup. His attack on the legislation, which continued unremittingly throughout May and into June and July, further strained his already tense relationship with the government. In late November 2006 and early December 2006, Bainimarama was instrumental in the 2006 Fijian coup d'état . Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase after a bill was put forward to parliament, part of which would have offered pardons to participants in the 2000 coup attempt. He gave Qarase an ultimatum date of December 4 to accede to these demands or to resign from his post. Qarase adamantly refused to either concede or resign and on December 5, President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo , was said to have signed a legal order dissolving Parliament after meeting with Bainimarama.

In April 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal ruled that the 2006 coup had been illegal. This began the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis . President Iloilo abrogated the constitution, removed all office holders under the Constitution including all judges and the Governor of the Central Bank. He then reappointed Bainimarama as Prime Minister under his "New Order" and imposed a "Public Emergency Regulation" limiting internal travel and allowing press censorship.

For a country of its size, Fiji has fairly large armed forces, and has been a Fiji and the United Nations|major contributor to UN peacekeeping|UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. In addition, a significant number of former military personnel have served in the lucrative security sector in Iraq following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Politics

Politics of Fiji normally take place in the framework of a parliamentary system|parliamentary representative democracy|representative democratic republic , whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the head of government , the President the head of state , and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament (Fiji)|Parliament of Fiji . The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Since independence there have been four coups in Fiji, two in 1987 Fijian coups d'état|1987 , one in 2000 Fijian coup d'état|2000 and one in late 2006 Fijian coup d'état|2006 . The military has been either ruling directly, or heavily influencing governments since 1987.

2006 military takeover

Citing corruption in the government, Commodore Frank Bainimarama|Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama , Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, staged a military takeover on the 5 December 2006 against the Prime Minister that he himself had installed after the 2000 coup. There had been two military coups in 1987 and one in 2000. The commodore took over the powers of the presidency and dissolved the parliament, paving the way for the military to continue the take over. The coup was the culmination of weeks of speculation following conflict between the elected Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, and Commodore Bainimarama. Bainimarama had repeatedly issued demands and deadlines to the Prime Minister. At particular issue was previously pending legislation to pardon those involved in the 2000 coup. Bainimarama named Jona Senilagakali caretaker Prime Minister. The next week Bainimarama said he would ask the Great Council of Chiefs to restore executive powers to President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

On 4 January 2007, the military announced that it was restoring executive power to President Iloilo, who made a broadcast endorsing the actions of the military. The next day, Iloilo named Bainimarama as the interim Prime Minister, indicating that the Military was still effectively in control.

In the wake of the take over, reports have emerged of intimidation of some of those critical of the interim regime. It is alleged that two individuals have died in military custody since December 2006. These deaths have been investigated and suspects charged but not yet brought to court.

On 9 April 2009 the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision that Bainimarama's take-over of Qarase's government was legal, and declared the Interim Government illegal. Bainimarama agreed to step down as Interim PM immediately, along with his government, and President Iloilo was to appoint "a distinguished person independent of the parties to this litigation as caretaker Prime Minister, ...to direct the issuance of writs for an election..."

On 10 April 2009 President Iloilo 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis|suspended the Constitution of Fiji, dismissed the Court of Appeal and, in his own words, "appoint self as the Head of the State of Fiji under a new legal order"., April 10, 2009 (Fiji government website) As President, Iloilo had been Head of State prior to his abrogation of the Constitution, but that position had been determined by the Constitution itself. The "new legal order" did not depend on the Constitution, thus requiring a "reappointment" of the Head of State. "You will agree with me that this is the best way forward for our beloved Fiji", he said. Bainimarama was re-appointed as Interim Prime Minister; he, in turn, re-instated his previous Cabinet.

On 2 May 2009, Fiji became the first nation ever to have been suspended from participation in the Pacific Islands Forum , for its failure to hold democratic elections by that date.; PIFS Press Statement (21/09), 2 May 2009 Nevertheless, it remains a member of the Forum.

On 1 September 2009, Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations . The action was taken because Commodore Frank Bainimarama refused to hold elections by 2010, elections that the Commonwealth of Nations had demanded after the 2006 coup. He states a need for more time to end a voting system that heavily favours ethnic Fijians at the expense of the multi-ethnic minorities. Critics claim that he has suspended the constitution and was responsible for human rights violations by arresting and detaining opponents.

In his New Year's address, Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced the lifting of the Public Emergency Regulations (PER). The PER had been put in place since April 2009, when the former constitution was abrogated. The former had allowed restrictions on some public gatherings and speech, censorship of news media reports and gave security forces added powers. He had also announced the nationwide consultation process leading to the new Constitution under which the 2014 elections will be held.

Armed Forces

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) - Fiji Army with a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, includes a 300-man strong Navy Unit, Air Force currently does not exist.

Land Force form Fiji Infantry Regiment (regular and teritorial force organized into six light infantry battalions), Fiji Engineer Regiment, Logistic Support Unit and Force Training Group. The two regular battalions are traditionally stationed overseas on peacekeeping duties.

Fiji Police Force http://www.police.gov.fj

Fiji Corrections service http://www.corrections.org.fj/

Demographics

Ethnic groups

The population of Fiji is mostly made up of Fijian people|native Fijians , who are Melanesia ns (54.3%), although many also have Polynesia n ancestry, and Indo-Fijians (38.1%), descendants of Indian contract labourers brought to the islands by the United Kingdom|British colonial powers in the 19th century. The percentage of the population of Fijian India n descent has declined significantly over the last two decades due to migration for various reasons.. Migration Information Source. The Fiji coup of 2000 provoked a violent backlash against the Indo-Fijians for a time."". BBC News. July, 2000."". The Australian. April 16, 2009. There is also a small but significant group of descendants of indentured laborers from Solomon Islands .

About 1.2% are Rotuman people|Rotuman —natives of Rotuma Island, whose culture has more in common with countries such as Tonga or Samoa than with the rest of Fiji. There are also small, but economically significant, groups of Ethnic groups in Europe|Europeans , Chinese people|Chinese , and other Pacific island minorities.
The total membership of other ethnic groups of Pacific Islanders is about 7,300. Tongans, who as traders and warriors have lived in Fiji for hundreds of years, form the largest part of this community. In the old days there was active commerce between Tonga and Fiji, and later in the history of this relationship the Fijians in the Lau Islands became vassals to the King of Tonga. One particular reason Tongans and Samoans came to Fiji was to build drua (large double-hulled canoes) which they couldn’t build on their own islands because of the lack of proper timber.
Relationships between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians at a political level have often been strained, and the tension between the two communities has dominated politics in the islands for the past generation. The level of tension varies between different regions of the country.

Demonym

Within Fiji, the term Fijian refers solely to Fijian people|indigenous Fijians : it denotes an ethnicity, not a nationality. Constitutionally, citizens of Fiji are referred to as "Fiji Islanders" though the term Fiji Nationals is used for official purposes. In August 2008, shortly before the proposed People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress was due to be released to the public, it was announced that it recommended a change in the name of Fiji's citizens. If the proposal were adopted, all citizens of Fiji, whatever their ethnicity, would be called "Fijians". The proposal would change the English name of indigenous Fijians from "Fijians" to itaukei , the Fijian language|Fijian word for indigenous Fijians., August 4, 2008

Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase reacted by stating that the name "Fijian" belonged exclusively to indigenous Fijians, and that he would oppose any change in legislation enabling non-indigenous Fijians to use it., FijiVillage, August 8, 2008 The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma|Methodist Church , to which a large majority of indigenous Fijians belong, also reacted strongly to the proposal, stating that allowing any Fiji citizen to call themselves "Fijian" would be "daylight robbery" inflicted on the indigenous population., Fiji Times , August 29, 2008

In an address to the nation during the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis|constitutional crisis of April 2009 , military leader and interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama , who has been at the forefront of the attempt to change the definition of "Fijian", stated:

In May 2010, Attorney-General (Fiji)|Attorney-General Aiyaz Saiyed Khaiyum reiterated that the term "Fijian" should apply to all Fiji nationals, but the statement was again met with protest. A spokesperson for the Viti Landowners and Resource Owners Association claimed that even fourth-generation descendants of migrants did not fully understand "what it takes to be a Fijian", and added that the term refers to a legal standing, since legislation affords specific rights to "Fijians" (meaning, in legislation, indigenous Fijians). Fiji academic Brij Lal , a prominent critic of the Bainimarama government,, ABC Radio Australia, January 14, 2010 said he "would not be surprised" if the new definition of the word "Fijian" were included in the government's projected new Constitution, and that he personally saw "no reason the term Fijian should not apply to everyone from Fiji".

Religion

Indigenous Fijians are mostly Christian (40% at the 1996 census ), and the Indo-Fijians are mostly Hindu and Muslim . Breakdown per the CIA world factbook : Christian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census).

The largest Christian denomination is the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma . With 36.2% of the total population (including almost two-thirds of ethnic Fijians), the proportion of the population adhering to Methodism is higher in Fiji than in any other nation. Roman Catholic Church in Fiji|Roman Catholics (8.9%), the Assemblies of God (4%), the Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventists (2.9%) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) (2.2%), also are significant. Fiji also is the base for the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia (part of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia ). These and other denominations also have small numbers of Indo-Fijian members; Christians of all kinds comprise 6.1% of the Indo-Fijian population. Much major Roman Catholic missionary activity was conducted through the Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji , which has since been renamed the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Suva, which spans the whole of Fiji.
Hindus belong mostly to the Sanatan sect (74.3% of all Hindus) or else are unspecified (22%). The small Arya Samaj sect claims the membership of some 3.7% of all Hindus in Fiji. Muslims are mostly Sunni (59.7%) and Shia Islam|Shia (36.7%), with an Ahmadiyya Community|Ahmadiyya minority (3.6%). The Sikh religion comprises 0.9% of the Indo-Fijian population, or 0.4% of the national population in Fiji. Their ancestors came from the Punjab, India|Punjab region of India, but are a much recent wave of immigrants who did not live through the indenture system . The Bahá'í Faith has over 21 Spiritual Assembly|Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout Fiji and Baha'is live in more than 80 localities. The first Baha'i in the islands was a New Zealand er who arrived in 1924. There is also a small Jewish population. Every year the Israeli Embassy organises a Passover celebration with approximately 100 people attending.

Administrative and provincial divisions

Fiji is divided into Four Major Divisions:

Central Division, Fiji|Central

Eastern Division, Fiji|Eastern

Northern Division, Fiji|Northern

Western Division, Fiji|Western

These divisions are further divided into 14 provinces:

Ba Province|Ba

Bua Province|Bua

Cakaudrove

Kadavu Province|Kadavu

Lau Islands|Lau

Lomaiviti Province

Macuata

Nadroga-Navosa

Naitasiri

Namosi

Ra Province|Ra

Rewa Province|Rewa

Serua

Tailevu

Fiji was also divided into 3 Confederacies or Governments during the reign of Cakobau, though these are not considered political divisions, they are still considered important in the social divisions of the indigenous Fijians:

The Burebasaga Confederacy

The Kubuna Confederacy

The Tovata Confederacy

Geography

Fiji covers a total area of some of which around 10% is land.

Fiji is the hub of the South West Pacific , midway between Vanuatu and the Kingdom of Tonga . The archipelago is located between 176° 53' east and 178° 12' west. The 180° meridian runs through Taveuni but the International Dateline is bent to give uniform time (UTC+12) to all of the Fiji group. With the exception of Rotuma, the Fiji group lies between 15° 42' and 20° 02' south. Rotuma is located north of the group, from Suva, 12° 30' south of the equator.

Fiji consists of 322 islands (of which 106 are inhabited) and 522 smaller islets. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu , which account for approximately three-quarters of the total land area of the country. The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,324 metres (4,341& nbsp;ft), and covered with thick tropical forest s. The highest point is Mount Tomanivi on Viti Levu. Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva , and is home to nearly three quarters of the population. Other important towns include Nadi (the location of the international airport), and Lautoka , Fiji's second city with large sugar cane mills and a seaport.

The main towns on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu . Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu Island|Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively), the Mamanuca Group (just off Nadi) and Yasawa Islands|Yasawa Group , which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti|Lomaiviti Group , off Suva, and the remote Lau Islands|Lau Group . Rotuma , some north of the archipelago, has a Local government of Fiji|special administrative status in Fiji, which nearest neighbour is Tonga in the east.

Climate

The climate in Fiji is tropical marine climate|tropical marine and warm most of the year round with minimal extremes. The warm season is from November till April and the cooler season May to October. Temperature in the cool season still averages .

Rainfall is variable, the warmer season experiences heavier rainfall, especially inland. Winds are moderate, though cyclones occur about once a year (10–12 times per decade).. Retrieved 26 April 2010.

Economy

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral , and fish resources, is one of the more developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil and hydropower. Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s but stagnated in the 1980s. The coup of 1987 caused further contraction.

Economic liberalization in the years following the coup created a boom in the garment industry and a steady growth rate despite growing uncertainty of land tenure in the sugar industry. The expiration of leases for sugar cane farmers (along with reduced farm and factory efficiency) has led to a decline in sugar production despite a subsidized price. Subsidies for sugar have been provided by the European Union|EU and Fiji has been the second largest beneficiary after Mauritius .

Urbanization and expansion in the service sector have contributed to recent GDP growth. Sugar exports and a rapidly growing tourism|tourist industry — with 430,800 tourists in 2003. Retrieved 10 May 2008. and increasing in the subsequent years — are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji is highly dependent on tourism for revenue. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact on the economy, which shrank by 2.8% in 2000 and grew by only 1% in 2001.

The tourism sector recovered quickly, however, with visitor arrivals reaching pre-coup levels again during 2002, which has since resulted in a modest economic recovery. This recovery continued into 2003 and 2004 but grew by 1.7% in 2005 and grew by 2.0% in 2006. Although inflation is low, the policy indicator rate of the Reserve Bank of Fiji was raised by 1% to 3.25% in February 2006 due to fears of excessive consumption financed by debt. Lower interest rates have so far not produced greater investment for exports.

However, there has been a housing boom from declining commercial mortgage rates. The tallest building in Fiji is the fourteen-storey Reserve Bank of Fiji Building in Suva, which was inaugurated in 1984. The Suva Central Commercial Centre , which opened in November 2005, was planned to outrank the Reserve Bank building at seventeen stories, but last-minute design changes made sure that the Reserve Bank building remains the tallest.

Trade and investment with Fiji has been criticized due to the country's military dictatorship. In 2008, Fiji's interim Prime Minister and coup leader Frank Bainimarama announced election delays and that it would pull out of the Pacific Islands Forum in Niue , where Bainimarama would have met with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark .

The South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPSE) is the only licensed securities exchange in Fiji and is based in Suva. Its vision is to become a regional exchange.

Culture

Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous, Indian, Chinese and European traditions, comprising social polity, language, food (based mainly from the sea, casava, dalo & other vegetables), costume, belief systems, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance and sports.

The indigenous culture is very much active and living, and is a part of everyday life for the majority of the population. However, it has evolved with the introduction of old cultures like the Indian and Chinese ones, as well as a large influence from Europe, and from various Pacific neighbours of Fiji, mainly the Tongan and Samoan. The culture of Fiji has created a unique communal and national identity.
Fiji's culture was displayed at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, along with other Pacific countries in the Pacific Pavilion.

Holidays and festivals

This is a list of holidays celebrated in Fiji:

New Year's Day

Good Friday

Easter Saturday

Easter Monday

National Youth Day

Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day

Queen's Birthday

Fiji Day

Diwali

Christmas Day

Boxing Day

Mawlid|Prophet Mohammed's Birthday

The exact dates of public holidays vary from year to year, but the dates for this year and recent years can be found at the

Tourism

Fiji has a significant amount of tourism and many people go to the Nadi and Denarau islands.. . Retrieved April 2010. The biggest sources of international visitors by country are Australia, New Zealand and the USA."" Bureau of Statistics. Fiji has a significant amount of soft coral reef s, and scuba diving is a common tourist activity. More budget resort s are being opened in remote areas, which provides more tourism opportunities.

Transportation

Air

The Nadi International Airport is located 9& nbsp;km north of central Nadi and is the largest Fijian hub.. Retrieved April 2010. Nausori International Airport is about 23 kilometres northeast of downtown Suva.

Bus

Fiji's larger islands have extensive bus routes that are affordable and consistent in service. There are bus stops, and in rural areas buses are often simply hailed as they approach.

Language

Fijian language|Fijian is an Austronesian languages|Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. It has 350 000 first-language speakers, which is less than half the population of Fiji, but another 200,000 speak it as a second language. The Constitution of Fiji|1997 Constitution established Fijian as an official language of Fiji, along with English language|English and Fiji Hindi , and there is a discussion about establishing it as the "national language", though English and Hindustani would remain official. Fijian is a Verb–object–subject|VOS language.

The Fiji Islands developed many languages, some similar and some very different. Missionaries in the 1840s chose the language of one island off the southeast of the main island of Viti Levu, to be the official language of Fiji. This island, Bau, was home to Cakobau, the chief that eventually became the self forged "King" of Fiji. Missionaries were interested in documenting a language and in standardizing all of Fiji on one official language to make their job of translating and teaching in Fiji a bit easier. Standard Fijian is based on the language of Bau Island|Bau , which is an East Fijian language . There are many other dialects that make up the West Fijian languages including all dialects spoken in the Nadroga/Navosa and those of the western island groups and provinces.

English
Fijian
Fiji Hindi

Sport

Rugby union

Rugby union is the most popular sport in Fiji. The Fiji national rugby union team|national rugby union team is very successful given the size of the population of the country, and has competed at five Rugby World Cup competitions, the first being in 1987 Rugby World Cup|1987 , where they reached the quarter-finals. The Fiji national side did not match that feat again until the 2007 Rugby World Cup when they upset Wales national rugby union team|Wales 38–34 to progress to the quarter-finals where they nearly beat the eventual Rugby World Cup winners, South Africa. Fiji also defeated the British and Irish Lions in 1977. Fiji competes in the Pacific Tri-Nations and the Pacific Nations Cup . The sport is governed by the Fiji Rugby Union which is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance , and contributes to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team . At the club level there are the Colonial Cup and Pacific Rugby Cup . The Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)|Fiji sevens team is one of the most successful rugby sevens teams in the world, having won the two world cup titles and the 2006 IRB Series.

Rugby league

Rugby league is a popular team sport played in Fiji. The Fiji national rugby league team , known as Fiji Bati, has competed in the Rugby League World Cup on three occasions, with their best result coming when they made the semi-finals of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup . The team also competes in the Pacific Cup .

Soccer

Soccer was a minor sport but over the last decade with further international funding from FIFA and sound local management of the sport has grown in popularity amongst the Indian community initially but now also the Fijian community.

The Fiji Football Association is a member of the Oceania Football Confederation . The Fiji national football team|national soccer team defeated New Zealand national football team|New Zealand 2–0 in the 2008 OFC Nations Cup , on their way to a joint-record third placed finish. However, they have never reached a FIFA World Cup . Fiji won the South Pacific Games soccer tournament in Football at the 1991 South Pacific Games|1991 and Football at the 2003 South Pacific Games|2003 .

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