The Council of Rotuma is a

municipal A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

body on the island of

Rotuma Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a large and unique Polynesian indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognisable minority within the population of Fiji, known as " ...

, a Fijian dependency. Owing to the unique character of Rotuma, the powers of this council are greater than those of other municipal bodies in Fiji and in some ways it approximates a legislative body, though it is in every way subordinate to the Parliament of Fiji. The Council consists of fourteen full members and three advisory members. Each of Rotuma's seven districts elects one representative to the Council; the traditional Chief of each district is also a Council member ''ex officio.'' The advisory members, who have speaking rights but not voting rights, are the District Officer, the most senior

Medical Officer A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

, and the most senior Agricultural Officer, all of whom serve ''ex officio''. The seven chiefs are chosen according to traditional custom. The election is usually for life, although the Fijian cabinet minister responsible for Rotuma may, at his or her own discretion, dismiss a chief and order the election of a new one. The seven elected representatives are elected for three year terms by resident Rotuman Islanders aged 21 and over. Candidacy is restricted to persons who are eligible to vote. The full members of the Council elect a Chairman from among themselves. In addition to his vote as a member of the Council, the Chairman has a

casting vote A casting vote is a vote that someone may exercise to resolve a tied vote in a deliberative body. A casting vote is typically by the presiding officer of a council, legislative body, committee, etc., and may only be exercised to break a deadlock ...

in the event of a tie. The present Chairman is Gagaj Taimanav Taukave. The Council is required to meet at least once every three months. The Chairman and nine other members constitute a quorum to do business. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman, on his own initiative or that of eight members of the Council. The Council has the following powers and responsibilities: * to implement directives of the Fijian cabinet minister responsible for Rotuma. * to administer the Rotuman development Fund established by the Rotuma Act * to make bylaws relation to the environment, waste disposal, and public health. * to make bylaws for the promotion of the social and economic betterment of the Rotuman community * to regulate communal work * to regulate the prevention or removal of the public * to provide for the care of children and the elderly * to regulate the conservation of food supplies on Rotuma. Such regulations may provide for imprisonment of up to four months, or a fine of up to one hundred dollars, or both. In addition, the Council historically has also had two other important responsibilities, which were effectively terminated by the

military coup A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

of 2006 and the subsequent promulgation of the 2013 Constitution: * to nominate 3 members of 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 ...

. The Great Council was abolished by the

Military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

-backed Interim Government. * to nominate 1 member of the Fijian Senate. The most recent Senator representing the Rotuma Island Council was Dr

John Fatiaki Dr John Charles Fatiaki (born ) is a career medical practitioner who was chosen by the Rotuma Island Council to be their representative in the Fijian Senate. He is the younger brother of former Chief Justice of Fiji Daniel Fatiaki. Education and ...

, who served from June 2006 till the

of 5 December 2006. The Senate itself was abolished by the 2013 Constitution.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Council Of Rotuma Rotuma

Politics of Fiji Political organisations based in Fiji Government of Fiji Local government in Fiji