Country Profile:Fiji

Brief Description: 

Fiji is situated in Australian continent. It’s total population is 18270 square km. It gained freedom in 1970.The official language of the country is Fijian, English. The currency is Dollar. The literacy rate of the country is 91% .The total population of the country is 900000.

Brief History: 

It is anticipated that Polynesians had settled in Fiji before Micronesians that it tacks enough evidence. Europeans settled in lavuka first modern town in Fiji in 1822. first Christian missionaries arrived at lakeba in 1830.powerful cakobau’s conversion to Christianity was a triumph for the Methodist Church. He later sent Reverend Baker out to spread the gospel in the western highlands of Viti Levu. He was killed in 1867.Many villagers continued to worship their Kava,t abu and tabua.

There was a cotton boom in Fiji for worldwide cotton shortage which was prompted by American civil war. This cotton boom stimulated black birding. The trade in laborers. Other pacific Islanders were brought to labour on cotton plantation Chiefs were bribed and men and women were traded for ammunition. There came a slump in the world cotton market after the end of the American civil war in 1865. Later there were epidemics in the country. On the grounds of Cokobau’s offer ,Britain pronounced it as a British crown colony in 1874 at Leneka. The administrative capital was officially moved to Suva in 1882 for Lavuka’s geography hindered expansion.

Fijians were reluctant to take full time work for wages. Plantation crops had the potential to make the Fiji economy self sufficient. To meet the demand of labours, negotiations were made with Indian colonial government. There were hardships to work in the plantations for the Indians. Recruitment in Fiji was stopped in 1916 and indenture ended officially in 1919.There was struggle for better conditions for Indians in the 1920s.Fiji had minor involvement in World War I.

Fiji became independent in 1970 after 96 years of colonial administration. There some important problems at that time like land ownership and leases. Ethnic tensions became apparent for economical crisis. Indo-Fijian families ran the most shops and transport services. For economic advancement, Greater unity among workers led to the for motion of the Fiji labor Party (FLP).An FLp government was elected in coalition with the National Federation Part (NFP).

There was a coup by Colonel sitiveni Rabuka after one month of the election .In 1970 Fiji was declared a republic and Rabuka proclaimed himself head of state. There were drastic economic consequences for coups. Main sources of income were affected and development aid was suspended.

There was a new constitution in 1990.The constitution diminished the position of the Indo-Fijians in government and so it was opposed as racist and undemocratic. The constitution was reviewed in 1997 and the Indo-Fijians got their rights.The FLP won the majority of seats in 199 elections and Maleendra Chaudhry, its leader, became prime minister.

Still the indigenous Fijians were displeased. There was again a coup in 200.For the coup the economy was hit hard and many business folded. In 2001,the 1997 constitution was upheld by appeal court and organized an election. Fijians people’s party (SLD) won in the election.  
 Fiji at a glance:

Population:

Total  population is about 858,038( Estimated,2012)

Currency:

 Three official languages are:
English
Fijian
Fiji Hindi

Capital City:  Suva

Largest City: Suva

Demonym : Fijian

Anthem: " God bless Fiji "

Government : Parliamentary republic run by military-appointed government

Calling Code : +679

Time Zone:
               FJT (UTC +12)
               Summer(DST)  FJST (UTC+13)