Fiji to change its flag, replacing colonial symbols

Fiji's prime minister, Frank Bainimarama has announced his nation will change its flag and dispense with its colonial symbols. Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama has announced his nation will change its flag and dispense with its colonial symbols, making it more relevant to every Fijian. Mr Bainimarama made the announcement while opening the Legal Aid Commission's Office in Nasinu, the nation's most populated municipality. He said now that Fiji's new democracy was in place, his nation could proceed with the program he flagged in 2013, to adopt a symbol more in keeping with its national aspirations in the 21st century. Fiji held its first democratic election in September last year, following a bloodless coup in 2006. Mr Bainimarama said Fiji's new flag should reflect its position in the world today, as a modern and truly independent nation state. "The existing flag is widely loved and admired and I want to stress that this initiative is in no way a repudiation of it or the warm sentiments we all feel whenever it is raised," he said. "It has served us well since it was introduced at Independence in 1970." All Fijians, including school children, were encouraged to enter a competition for the design of their nation's new flag. The new flag is expected to be ready by the 45th anniversary of Fiji's Independence, on October 10.

However, the parliamentary opposition in Fiji has slammed the plan for a new national flag as undemocratic.
The Opposition Whip, Ratu Isoa Tikoca says a flag change should have first been brought up in Parliament, followed by community consultation and a national referendum.
The prime minister Frank Bainimarama announced yesterday a new, more relevant flag would be hoisted in October after a national design competition.
But Ratu Isoa says the current flag with its Union Jack in the corner reflects Britain's important contribution to Fiji.
"That is a great history which everybody else in a hundred years time, they will know that flag reflects that. What history have we created from 1987 to this year? It's coup after coup after coup. Maybe a rifle and a mask could be one to remember about that."
Ratu Isoa says the flag change is part of hoodwinking the international community into believing that democracy has returned to Fiji.