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House of Representatives (Fiji)

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Politics -
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This article is part of the series:
Politics of Fiji

Constitution of Fiji
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Chapters
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Leader of the Opposition

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Historical institutions
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March 1977 - September 1977
1982 - 1987 - 1992
1994 - 1999 - 2001
2006

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Diplomatic relations of Fiji

The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation (the Senate, by contrast, can amend or veto most legislation, but cannot initiate it). The House of Representatives also has much greater jurisdiction over financial bills; the Senate cannot amend them, although it may veto them. Except in the case of amendments to the Constitution, over which a veto of the Senate is absolute, the House of Representatives may override a Senatorial veto by passing the same bill a second time, in the parliamentary session immediately following the one in which it was rejected by the Senate, after a minimum period of six months.

Last but not least, the Prime Minister and Cabinet must retain the confidence of a majority of the House of Representatives in order to remain in office.

History

The House of Representatives in its present form dates from 10 October 1970, when Fiji attained independence from the United Kingdom. Under a grandfather clause in the 1970 Constitution, the old Legislative Council, which had functioned in various forms since 1904, was renamed the House of Representatives and continued in office until 1972, when the first post-independence elections were held. Membership of the House of Representatives was increased from 36 to 52 in 1972, and to 70 in 1992. It presently has 71 members, all of whom are elected for five-year terms to represent single-member constituencies.

Electoral system

The electoral system has been changed a number of times since independence in an effort to meet the competing demands of Fiji's diverse ethnic communities. In elections from 1972 through 1987, Fiji was divided into communal and national constituencies. The former were elected by voters registered as members of specific ethnic groups (12 indigenous Fijians, 12 Indo-Fijians, and 3 General Electors - Caucasians, Chinese, and other minorities); the latter were allocated to specific ethnic groups (10 indigenous Fijians, 10 Indo-Fijians, and 5 General Electors), but elected by universal suffrage. The system was a compromise between indigenous demands for a strictly communal franchise (based on fears of being swamped by an Indo-Fijian block-vote) and Indo-Fijian calls for universal suffrage, and was never widely popular. Ethnic Fijian nationalists blamed the national constituencies for the election of an Indo-Fijian dominated government in 1987, and following two military coups, they were abolished by the new republican Constitution of 1990.

The elections of 1992 and 1994 saw all 70 members elected from communal constituencies; this system was widely resented by many Indo-Fijians, who complained that only 27 seats were allocated to them as opposed to 37 to ethnic Fijians, despite the near equality of their numbers at that time. A further 5 seats were allocated to minority groups.

A constitutional review in 1997 introduced a new system, with 71 members. 25 are elected by universal suffrage from Open constituencies ("open" meaning that the franchise is open to all locally resident Fijian citizens, irrespective of their ethnic background), with the remaining 46 elected from communal constituencies, with 23 seats reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 for Indo-Fijians, 1 for Rotuman Islanders, and 3 for "General Electors" - Europeans, Chinese, Banaban Islanders, and other minorities. Every Fijian citizen eligible to vote thus has two votes - one for an open electorate, and one for a communal electorate. The system remains controversial, however.

The open constituencies used at present differ from the former national constituencies in that while both comprise all registered voters on a common voters' roll, regardless of race, the open constituencies may be contested by members of any ethnic group whereas the national constituencies were ethnically allocated.

Organization

At its first session following a general election, the House of Representatives elects a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. With a view to ensuring impartiality, the Speaker is not allowed to be a member of the House, though he must qualify for membership. The Deputy Speaker, however, is elected from among members of the House.

Latest election

The current composition of the House of Representatives, together with its officers, is as follows:

Speaker and Deputy Speaker

Office Incumbent
Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau [1]
Deputy Speaker Manasa Tugia [2]
[1] The Speaker is not allowed to be a member of the House.
[2] The Deputy Speaker is required to be a member of the House. The current Deputy Speaker, Manasa Tugia, represents the Cakaudrove West Open constituency for the Conservative Alliance Party.

Open Electorates

Electorate Member of Parliament Political Party
Ba Mahendra Chaudhry Fiji Labour Party
Bua Macuata West Isireli Tuvuki United Fiji Party
Cakaudrove West Manasa Tugia Conservative Alliance (Fiji)
Cunningham Solomone Naivalu United Fiji Party
Labasa Poseci Bune Fiji Labour Party
Lami Kaliopate Tavola United Fiji Party
Lau Taveuni Rotuma Colonel Savenaca Draunidalo Independent
Laucala Losena T. Salabula United Fiji Party
Lautoka City Daniel Urai Manufolau Fiji Labour Party
Lomaivuna Namosi Kadavu Ted Young United Fiji Party
Macuata East Krishna Datt Fiji Labour Party
Magodro Gyan Singh Fiji Labour Party
Nausori Naitasiri Asaeli Masilaca United Fiji Party
Nadi Krishna Prasad [1] Fiji Labour Party
Nadroga Jonetani K. Galuinadi United Fiji Party
Nasinu Rewa Peniasi Silatolu United Fiji Party
Ra George Shiu Raj United Fiji Party
Samabula Tamavua Manoa Dobui United Fiji Party
Suva City Ofa Swann New Labour Unity Party
Serua Navosa Col. Pio Iowane Wong United Fiji Party
Tavua Damodran Nair [2] Fiji Labour Party
Tailevu North Ovalau Josefa Vosanibola United Fiji Party
Tailevu South Lomaiviti Adi Asenaca Coboiverata Caucau-Filipe United Fiji Party
Vuda Vijay Singh Fiji Labour Party
Yasawa Nawaka Perumal Mupnar Fiji Labour Party
[1] Prem Singh of the National Federation Party was originally declared the winner, but on 8 February 2002, a recount ordered by Judge Anthony Gates gave the seat to Prasad.
[2] Nair was elected in a byelection on 17 January 2004 to replace the late Pravin Singh.

Communal Electorates (Fijian)

Electorate Member of Parliament Political Party
Ba East Joeli Nabuka [1] United Fiji Party
Ba West Tomasi N. Sauqaqa United Fiji Party
Bua Josateki Vula Conservative Alliance
Cakaudrove East Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu Conservative Alliance
Cakaudrove West Niko Nawaikula [2] Conservative Alliance
Kadavu Konisi T. Yabaki United Fiji Party
Lau Laisenia Qarase United Fiji Party
Lomaiviti Simione Kaitani United Fiji Party
Macuata Isireli Leweniqila Conservative Alliance
Nadroga Navosa Pita Nacuva United Fiji Party
Naitasiri Ilaitia Bulidiri Tuisese United Fiji Party
Namosi Ro Suliano Matanitobua United Fiji Party
Nasinu Urban Emasi Qovu United Fiji Party
North East Urban Nanise Nagusuca [3] United Fiji Party
North West Urban Joji N. Banuve United Fiji Party
Ra Tomasi Vuetilovoni United Fiji Party
Rewa Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa United Fiji Party
Serua Joketani Cokanasiga United Fiji Party
South West Urban Ratu Jone Kubuabola United Fiji Party
Suva City Urban Mataiasi V. Ragiagia United Fiji Party
Tailevu North Samisoni Tikoinasau [4] Conservative Alliance
Tailevu South Irami Matairavula United Fiji Party
Tamavua Laucala Urban Lt. Col. Jonetani Kaukimoce United Fiji Party
[1] Elected in byelection in early 2002, to fill vacancy caused by death of Epeli Seavula, also United Fiji Party.
[2] Declared elected unopposed on 22 June 2005, to fill vacancy caused by imprisonment of Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, also Conservative Alliance.
[3] Elected in byelection on 11 December 2004, to fill vacancy caused by death of Filimone Banuve, also United Fiji Party.
[4] Elected in byelection on 23 March 2002, to fill vacancy caused by imprisonment of George Speight, also Conservative Alliance.

Communal Electorates (Indo-Fijian)

Electorate Member of Parliament Political Party
Ba East Satendra Singh Fiji Labour Party
Ba West Ahmed Gaffar Fiji Labour Party
Labasa James Shri Krishna Fiji Labour Party
Labasa Rural Mohammed Rafiq [1] Fiji Labour Party
Laucala Kamlesh Arya Kumar Fiji Labour Party
Lautoka City Dr. Ganeshwar Chand Fiji Labour Party
Lautoka Rural Udit Narayan Fiji Labour Party
Macuata East Cakaudrove Ram Sharan Fiji Labour Party
Nadi Rural Dr. Gunasagaran Gounder Fiji Labour Party
Nadi Urban Amjad Ali Fiji Labour Party
Nadroga Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi Fiji Labour Party
Nasinu Pratap Chand Fiji Labour Party
Suva City Gyani Nand Fiji Labour Party
Tailevu Rewa Ragho Nand Fiji Labour Party
Tavua Anand Babla Fiji Labour Party
Vanua Levu West Surendra Lal Fiji Labour Party
Viti Levu South Kadavu Prince Gopal Lakshman Fiji Labour Party
Viti Levu East Maritime Sanjeet Chand Maharaj Fiji Labour Party
Vuda Vyas Deo Sharma Fiji Labour Party
[1] Rafiq was elected in a byelection on 6 December 2003 to succeed the late Mohammed Latiff Subedar, also of the FLP.

Communal Electorate (Rotuman)

Electorate Member of Parliament Political Party
Rotuma Marieta Rigamoto Independent

Communal Electorates (General Electors)

Electorate Member of Parliament Political Party
North Eastern David Ariu Christopher United Fiji Party
Suva City Kenneth Vincent Zinck Independent [1]
West Central Mick Beddoes United Peoples Party
[1] Zinck was elected as a candidate of the New Labour Unity Party, but was expelled from the party on 4 December 2003, following his refusal to resign from the Cabinet, as directed by the party. The Parliamentary roll still counts him as a member of the NLUP, however.

External links

 


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