The

Great Council of Chiefs The Great Council of Chiefs ''(Bose Levu Vakaturaga'' in Fijian) was a constitutional body in Fiji from 1876 to March 2012. In April 2007, the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interi ...

''(Bose Levu Vakaturaga'' in Fijian) was a formal assembly of Fiji's senior hereditary chiefs (including

Sitiveni Rabuka Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, (; born 13 September 1948) is a Fijian politician who has served as Prime Minister of Fiji since 24 December 2022. He was the instigator of two military coups in 1987. He was democratically elected as Prime Minist ...

who led the 1987 Fijian coups d'état), along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. It also had a

constitutional A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When these prin ...

role in functioning as an electoral college to choose the President of the Republic, as well as 14 of the 32 Senators. Following the adoption of the ministerial system of government in 1967, the Minister for Fijian Affairs (the Cabinet Minister responsible for indigenous cultural and economic development) presided over the Great Council of Chiefs. This arrangement continued until the

changes of 1999, when the Great Council chose its own Chairman for the first time. The Great Council was disestablished in 2012. The following tables list the Fijian Affairs Ministers from 1967 to 1999, and Chairmen of the Great Council of Chiefs since that date.

Ministers for Fijian Affairs (1967–1999)

Ministers of Fijian Affairs since 1999 are not included, as they no longer preside over the Great Council. If the Minister was simultaneously the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

, this is indicated by an asterisk.

Chairmen of the Great Council of Chiefs (1999–2012)

Since 1999, when the Council chose its own chairman for the first time, the following individuals have held the office. In April 2007, the council was suspended by "interim prime minister" and military leader

Frank Bainimarama Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama (Fijian: ʃoˈsɛia βoˈreŋɡe mbɛiniˈmarama born 27 April 1954) is a Fijian politician and former naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst ...

, who had taken power in a coup in December 2006. In February 2008, Bainimarama announced that he was appointing himself chairman of the council. In early August 2008, it was announced that the Great Council of Chiefs was ready to reconvene. It would be chaired by the Minister for Fijian Affairs - namely, at that time, Commodore Bainimarama. In October 2008,

Ratu ''Ratu'' () is an Austronesian title used by male Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, ''adi'' (pronounced ), is used by females of chiefly rank. In the Malay language, the title ''ratu'' is also the traditional honorific title to re ...

Epeli Nailatikau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, (born 5 July 1941) (often referred to as ''Na Turaga Mai Naisogolaca'') is a Fijian chief who was President of Fiji from 2009 to 2015. He has had a long career in the Military, diplomatic service, and ...

was named Minister of Indigenous (Fijian) Affairs, and therefore also Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs. In April 2009, Nailatikau was appointed

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 hi ...

."President's deputy sworn in"
, ''Fiji Times'', 17 April 2009

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chairman Of The Great Council Of Chiefs Fijian nobility Government of Fiji Fiji, Chairmen of the Great Council of Chiefs Politics of Fiji

Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs The Great Council of Chiefs ''(Bose Levu Vakaturaga'' in Fijian) was a formal assembly of Fiji's senior hereditary chiefs (including Sitiveni Rabuka who led the 1987 Fijian coups d'état), along with some representatives of the national govern ...

1967 establishments in Fiji 2012 disestablishments in Fiji