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Official Name - Republic of Fiji Islands
Capital City - Suva
Land Area - 18,333 sq km (332 islands approximately 2,000 km north of New Zealand between Vanuatu and Tonga)
EEZ - 1,260,000sq dm
Population - 905,949 (July 2006 est.)
Ethnicity - 51 percent of population is indigenous Fijian, 44 percent
Indo-Fijian
Religions - Christian (Methodist), Hindu, Muslim
Language - English (official), Fijian, Hindi, Rotuman
Currency - Fiji Dollar
Real GDP growth 3.4% (2006 estimate), -2.5% (2007 projected)
Current account balance - -US$646million (2006 estimate), -US$572m (2007 projected)
Current Account Balance (% of GDP) - -22% (2006 estimate), -19.2% (2007 projected)
CPI 2.4% (2006 estimate), 3.0% (2007 projected)
Fiji relies heavily on remittances estimated at over NZ$300 million per annum from overseas workers as a source of foreign currency. Last year it was Fiji’s second largest foreign source.
Unconstitutional actions by the military are likely to have a detrimental effect on Fiji’s large reliance on tourism. 2006 numbers declined 5.4% from 2005 numbers.
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$362.8m for year ended March 2007
Main Exports - Meat (especially sheep meat), machinery, iron and steel,
dairy, vegetables, paper - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$60.5m for year ended March 2007
Main Imports - Vegetables, pasta, textiles, clothing and footwear, wood, machinery
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On 5 December 2006 the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Commodore Frank Bainimarama, announced that he had taken over executive authority. A state of emergency has been in force since that date, enforced by military checkpoints, restrictive regulations, and intimidation of dissidents. Despite his claims to the contrary, Commodore Bainimarama was acting well outside the terms of the Fiji Constitution.
Since taking power, Commodore Bainimarama has implemented sweeping changes for government appointed boards and judicial and constitutional offices. Since the coup, there have also been many reports of human rights abuses as the military attempts to suppress dissent.
The stated mandate of the interim ‘government’ includes upholding the 1997 constitution, preparing the country for national elections, and - significantly - facilitating immunity for Commodore Bainimarama, his senior officers and all his soldiers involved in the 2006 coup. The President made a decree granting this immunity on 20 January.
On 20 February, Commodore Bainimarama announced a ‘Road Map’ to democracy, under which he argued Fiji’s the return to parliamentary democracy may become possible after three years, following a redrawing of constituency boundaries based on a new population census, and the introduction of a new system of polling, voting, vote counting and declaration of results. The ‘Road Map’ will be subject to a mid-term review in late 2009.
Commodore Bainimarama also announced that a review of the 1997 Constitution and the fight against corruption will be carried out in tandem with the ‘Road Map’. In particular, he has highlighted ridding the Constitution of provisions that facilitate the election of representatives to the House of Representatives through separate racial electoral rolls.
In the lead up to recent events in Fiji, the New Zealand Government urged Commodore Bainimarama and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) to respect their constitutional roles and the status of Fiji’s elected multi-party government. A meeting between Commodore Bainimarama and Prime Minister Qarase was facilitated in Wellington to provide the opportunity for outstanding issues to be discussed and resolved. We advised at that time that, should the RFMF act to remove the Government of Fiji, New Zealand would invoke serious measures against the new government.
In response to the Fiji military’s unlawful seizure of power, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced a range of sanctions covering: immigration; defence and sports links; and development assistance links of an inter-governmental character (details in Prime Minister’s media release of 6 December [external link to Beehive website]). Similar measures have been taken by other countries such as Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The New Zealand Government is monitoring the situation in Fiji for an indication of concrete progress towards the re-establishment of constitutional government and will re-assess whether and when the current sanctions should be lifted in the light of such progress.
The Pacific Islands Forum, meeting in Sydney on 1 December, before the seizure of power by Commodore Bainimarama, expressed its grave concern at the prospect of a military takeover, and established an Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) from within the region. The EPG’s report and recommendations were considered and endorsed at a further meeting of Forum Foreign Ministers in Port Vila on 16 March. In particular, the meeting affirmed the EPG’s view that a national election should be held within 18-24 months, if not sooner. It also agreed that, depending on progress towards an immediate cessation of human rights abuses in Fiji and a roadmap back to democracy, a phased package of assistance be considered by Forum Leaders to support the electoral process, to support an anti-corruption commission and to restore the independence of the judiciary. A Joint Working Group is continuing its engagement with Fiji towards the achievement of the Forum deliberations.
These outcomes were reflected closely in the European Union’s negotiations with Fiji under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. Including sugar money, which is vital for the rehabilitation of the industry, a phased package totaling around 100 million euros (approx. NZD 200 million) is at risk should Fiji not meet EU benchmarks. At its consultation with the EU on 18 April, Fiji agreed to commit to holding free and fair parliamentary elections within 24 months from 1 March 2007, albeit subject to the findings of the assessment to be carried out by the independent auditors appointed by the Forum Secretariat.
The political instability arising from the coup has exacerbated Fiji’s existing economic problems. The Reserve Bank of Fiji is forecasting a decline in the country’s economy of between 2% and 4% this year. Prior to the military intervention, the bank had predicted a modest growth of 2%. Credit ratings agency Standard and Poors (S & P) has lowered two ratings.
A revised 2007 Budget was released by interim Finance Minister Chaudhry on 2 March introducing draconian cuts in the public sector in an effort to reduce government expenditure, including a five per cent pay cut and the lowering of the retirement age from 60 to 55, as well significant cuts to individual ministries. The country's largest union, the Public Service Association (PSA), has threatened strike action. top of page
The Republic of the Fiji Islands is a group of over 300 islands in the South Pacific ocean. It has two principal islands, Viti Levu (home to the international airport at Nadi and the capital, Suva) and to the north, Vanua Levu. Fiji is one of the larger and more developed Pacific Island countries with its economy based on a good supply of natural resources and relatively skilled human resources. The main sectors of the Fiji economy and sources of foreign exchange are sugar, tourism and garments.
On 5 December 2006 the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Commodore Frank Bainimarama, announced that he had taken over executive authority. Commodore Bainimarama has since appointed an interim government. A state of emergency was declared, enforced by military checkpoints, restrictive regulations, and intimidation of dissidents.
In response to the Fiji military’s unlawful seizure of power, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced a range of sanctions covering: immigration; defence and sports links; and development assistance links of an inter-governmental character.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Fiji [external link]. top of page
