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Bainimarama Appoints Self As Chiefs Council Chair

Tuesday: February 19, 2008

(Fiji Times)

Fiji’s Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has reportedly appointed himself as chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs following a gazette issued under his name last week.

The Fiji Times reports that the gazette states that each of Fiji’s 14 provinces and Rotuma will have three representatives on the Council, who have demonstrated exemplary leadership at vanua level and in the community at large.

The gazette specifies that members are disqualified if they: are an un-discharged bankrupt; are serving a prison term; have a previous conviction in the 10 years leading up to their appointment in the council, held public office, including Senate and the House of Representatives over the past seven years preceding their appointment to the council; contested the general elections; were office bearers of a political party; have unsound mind in respect of the Mental Treatment Act; or have allegiance, obedience or adherence to a power or State outside Fiji including being a citizen or resident of another country.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=81711