Vice-President of Fiji

The position of the vice-president of the Republic of Fiji was created in 1990, to provide a constitutional successor to the president of Fiji, in the event of the latter's death or resignation, or of his otherwise being unable to carry out his duties. The vice-president's role in government was mostly ceremonial as its sole purpose was to replace the president in his absence, death, or inability to hold office. The vice-presidency was abolished in 2013, with the powers of the office transferred to the Chief Justice of Fiji, who has a dormant commission which is triggered when the position of President of Fiji is either vacant or when the President is either absent or ill.

Vice-President of the
Republic of Fiji
Coat of arms of
the Republic of Fiji
Epeli Nailatikau
Last office holder
AppointerGreat Council of Chiefs (1990–2009)
President of Fiji (2009–13)
Formation1990
First holderJosaia Tavaiqia
Inoke Takiveikata
Final holderEpeli Nailatikau
Abolished6 September 2013 (permanently vacant since July 30, 2009)
Superseded byChief Justice of Fiji
Politics of Fiji
Constitution
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Local government
Foreign relations
Former and informal

History of the office

Under the terms the 1990 Constitution of Fiji, the vice-presidency was divided between two persons, styled First Vice-President and Second Vice-President, respectively, but a single person held the office of vice-president from 1999, when the 1997 Constitution of Fiji came into effect.

Under the terms of the 1997 Constitution, the vice-president was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, after consultation with the prime minister.[1] In April 2009, however, the Constitution was suspended, following the earlier suspension of the Great Council of Chiefs in April 2007. Six days after the suspension of the Constitution, the government issued a decree stating that the vice-president would henceforth be appointed by the president.[2] Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was appointed vice-president the following day.[3]

Under the terms of the 2013 Constitution, the vice-presidency was abolished, with its duties and powers transferred to the chief justice.[4]

Being appointees of the all-indigenous Great Council of Chiefs, Fiji's vice-presidents, like its presidents, have all been indigenous Fijians (of chiefly rank). In 2007, Reverend Akuila Yabaki, Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, suggested that "the time may be right now to allow a person from any race to take up this position".[5]

Vice-presidents

First vice-presidents

No. Portrait First Vice-PresidentTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyPresident
Josaia Tavaiqia
Tavaiqia, JosaiaRatu Sir
Josaia Tavaiqia
(1931–1997)		19902 June 19922 years, 153 daysIndependentPenaia Ganilau
Kamisese Mara
Mara, KamiseseRatu Sir
Kamisese Mara
(1920–2004)		2 June 199215 December 19931 year, 196 daysIndependentRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Vacant (15 December 1993 – 12 January 1994)
Josaia Tavaiqia
Tavaiqia, JosaiaRatu Sir
Josaia Tavaiqia
(1931–1997)		12 January 199417 November 1997 †309 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara
Inoke Takiveikata
Takiveikata, InokeRatu
Inoke Takiveikata		17 November 199718 January 19991 year, 62 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara

Second vice-presidents

No. Portrait Second Vice-PresidentTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyPresident
Inoke Takiveikata
Takiveikata, InokeRatu
Inoke Takiveikata		19902 June 19922 years, 153 daysIndependentRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Josaia Tavaiqia
Tavaiqia, JosaiaRatu Sir
Josaia Tavaiqia
(1931–1997)		2 June 199212 January 19941 year, 224 daysIndependentRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
Inoke Takiveikata
Takiveikata, InokeRatu
Inoke Takiveikata		12 January 199417 November 19973 years, 309 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara
Josefa Iloilo
Iloilo, JosefaRatu
Josefa Iloilo
(1920–2011)		17 November 199718 January 19991 year, 62 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara

Vice-presidents (single office)
No. Portrait Vice-PresidentTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyPresident
Josefa Iloilo
Iloilo, JosefaRatu
Josefa Iloilo
(1920–2011)		18 January 199929 May 20001 year, 132 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara
Vacant (29 May 2000 – 25 March 2001)
Jope Seniloli
Seniloli, JopeRatu
Jope Seniloli
(1939–2015)		25 May 200129 November 20043 years, 188 daysIndependentJosefa Iloilo
Joni Madraiwiwi
Madraiwiwi, JoniRatu
Joni Madraiwiwi
(1957–2016)		15 December 20045 December 20061 year, 355 daysIndependentJosefa Iloilo
Vacant (5 December 2006 – 17 April 2009)
Epeli Nailatikau
Nailatikau, EpeliRatu Brigadier general (Rtd)
Epeli Nailatikau
(born 1941)		17 April 200930 July 2009104 daysIndependentJosefa Iloilo
Vacant (30 July 2009 – 6 September 2013)
Abolished (6 September 2013 – present)

References
  1. Constitution of Fiji, s.90
  2. Office of the Vice-President and Succession Decree Archived 13 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, 16 April 2009
  3. "Fiji appoints Ratu Epeli Nailatikau as Vice President", Radio Australia, 17 April 2009
  4. "No Vice President for Fiji: PM".
  5. "Promote multi-racism in Fiji", Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, 30 December 2007
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