FIJI AT A GLANCE SIZE : 332 islands (approx.one - third are inhabited) TOTAL AREA : 18,333 sq.km. (Viti Levu - 10,429sq.km Vanua Levu - 5,556sq.km) LAND : 82.9% Native Land, 8.41% State Land 8.06% Freehold Land, 0.24% Rotuman Community Owned CLIMATE : Southsea Maritime Climate SEASONS : May - October (cooler months) November - April (dry months) CAPITAL : Suva INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT : Nadi, Nausori POPULATION : 772,655 (Census August 25, 1996) This included 394,999 Fijians(51.1%), 336,579 Indians (43.6%) and 41,077 (5.3%) others. LABOUR FORCE : 301,500 ( as at December 1996) LANGUAGES : English, Fijian, Hindi and Rotuman CURRENCY : Fiji Dollar TIME : 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. FIJI TODAY 2004 / 2005 Ministry of Information, Communications and Media Relations CONTENTS 1 GEOGRAPHY 22 Diplomatic Mission Population 2 Climate 23 ECONOMY Flora/fauna 23 Overview 2004 3 Land Administration 24 Natural Resource Sector Native Land Trust Land Sugar Industry Mineral Resources 5 HISTORY/PEOPLE 25 Manufacturing Culture Transport, Storage & Communication 6 Great Council of Chiefs Tourism Europeans 26 Investment 7 20th Century Labour Market Citizenship 27 Inflation 8 Immigration Monetary Policy Religion Trade Race Relations Balance of Payments Language 28 Foreign Reserves Women Government’s 2004 Budget 9 Youths 29 Government’s Medium Term Strategies Investment Packages 11 GOVERNMENT, EXTERNAL Taxation RELATIONS AND CONSTITUTION 30 Indigenous Fijian Affirmative Action 12 Constitution 13 Parliament 31 TRADE AND INVESTMENT Cabinet 32 Increased Investments 14 Government Ministries 33 Strategic Development Plan Judiciary 34 Co-operatives 15 Local Government 35 Direction of Trade Fijian Administration 36 Fiji Islands Trade 16 Police & Investment Bureau 17 Army Diversification 18 Foreign Policy Investment Incentives 19 Trade Policy 37 Minerals 20 Fiji and the South Pacific 38 Garment 21 Fiji and the World Building & Construction International Peacekeeping Industrial Relations FIJI TODAY 2004 / 2005 CONTENTS 39 The Tripartite Forum 61 EDUCATION 40 Labour Relations 64 Fijian Education National Productivity Charter The University of the South Pacific 65 Fiji School of Medicine 41 AGRICULTURE 66 Fiji College Of Agriculture Sugar Vocational & Technical Education 42 Copra & Coconut Oil Cocoa 67 MEDIA 43 Ginger Media Review Yagona & Dalo 68 Print & Radio 44 Rice Information & Media Relations Fruits & Vegetables Electronic Media 45 Dairy 70 Audio Video Industry Sheep 71 Broadcast Service Fisheries 72 Journalism Training 47 Forestry 73 RECREATION & SPORTS 49 TOURISM 74 Fiji Sports Council Fiji Visitors Bureau 75 Festivals 50 Ecotourism 76 Recreation 51 HEALTH, SOCIAL WELFARE 77 TRANSPORT, & LIVING STANDARDS COMMUNICATION & ENERGY 53 Primary Health Care Services Roads Curative Health Services 78 Road Maintenance Sector Project Private Sector Participation Shipping 54 Social Welfare 79 Air Services Rehabilitation Services 80 Land Transport Authority Poverty Telecommunications 56 Housing 81 Information Communication Tech. 57 Home for the Poor 82 Energy 58 Food & Labour Force Fiji Electricity Authority 59 Water 83 Rural Electrification 60 Environment 84 FEA’S Friendly Policy FIJI TODAY 2004 / 2005 GEOGRAPHY Fiji lies in the heart of the Pacific Ocean and 41,077 others (5.3%). Compared with midway between the Equator and the South the 1986 Census there was a net increase Pole, and between longitudes 175 and 178 of 57,280 persons during the 1996 census. west and latitudes 15 and 22 south. Fiji’s Fijian numbers had increased by 65,694 Exclusive Economic Zone contains approxim- persons. Indian numbers registered a decre- ately 330 islands of which about one - third ase of 0.3 per cent as a result of high inte- are inhabited. It covers about 1.3 million rnational emigration, and lower rate of square kilometers of the South Pacific natural increase. The annual average growth Ocean. Fiji’s total land area is 18,333 square rate between the Censuses was 0.8%. kilometers. There are two major islands - Fiji has a relatively young population Viti Levu which is 10,429 square kilometers with about 53% or 413,100 persons below and Vanua Levu 5.556 square kilometers. the age of 25 years. This percentage has Other main islands are Taveuni (470 sq km), declined from the 1986 figure of 58.7%. Kadavu (411 sq km), Gau (140 sq km) and The economically active population in 1986 Koro (104 sq km). Eighty three percent of was 62% of the total population or 441,852 the land is owned by indigenous Fijians persons and in 1996 it was estimated at while nine per cent is state land and eight 67% or 523,428 persons. The number of per cent is freehold land. Only 16 per cent people aged 60 years and over was of Fiji’s land mass is suitable for agriculture estimated at 47,027 persons or 6% of the and are found mainly along the coastal total projected population in 1996. This plains, river deltas, and valleys. The capital figure has risen from 4.9% or 35,395 in 1986. is Suva and it is one of the two cities in The dependency ratio in 1986 was 71 but Fiji. The other city is Lautoka and both declined to 70 in 1990 and 68 in 1996. This are located on the island of Viti Levu. means that the percentage of people dependent on those who are working is Population decreasing. The population of Fiji on August 25, 1996 Fiji is becoming increasingly urbanised stood at 772,655. There were 358,131 as internal migration to towns and cities persons in the urban areas and 414,524 in continue. Extension of urban boundaries the rural areas. Of the total 394,999 were has also contributed to this trend. By 1996, Fijians (51.1%), 336.579 were Indians (43.6%) some 46 per cent of the population were FIJI TODAY 2004 / 2005 2 GEOGRAPHY living in urban areas, up from 39 per cent predominant winds over Fiji are the Trade in 1986. Around 41 per cent of Fijians and Winds from the east to south - east. On the Rotumans now live in urban areas. The western and eastern sides of Viti Levu and urban population has grown at 2.6 per cent Vanua Levu however, day time breezes per year between 1986 and 1996 and the blow in across the coast. In general, the rural population has been shrinking by 0.5 winds over Fiji are light or moderate, the per year. Apart from the indigenous Fijians, most persistent being in the period July - Fiji has accepted many other nationalities December. Temperature averages 22 Cel- to its shores - Indians, Europeans, Chinese sius (72 F) for the cooler months (May to and many Pacific islanders. October) while (November to April) temp- eratures are higher with heavy downpours. Climate Although rainfall is highly variable, the Fiji enjoys a tropical South Sea maritime average rainfall increases steadily inland climate without great extremes of heat or from coastal areas. It usually increases cold. The islands lie in area which is between December - April, especially over occasionally traversed by tropical cyclones, the larger islands, but in May - October it and mostly confined between the months is often deficient, particularly in the dry of November to April every year. On the zone on the western and northern sides of average some ten to twelve cyclones the main islands. per decade affect some parts of Fiji, and two to three cyclones can be Flora/Fauna very severe. At all seasons the Fiji’s flora and fauna are relatively few in number but are of exceptional scien- tific interest because of the higher proportion of endemic forms - i.e. those found no where else in the world. Ten per cent of the 476 indigenous Fijian plant species identified are endemic. Fiji also has a few rare reptiles and birds. Notable of this, is the Crested Iguana, found only in some parts of Fiji namely Yadua Taba in Bua and the Yasawas. Other rare species include the Fiji burrowing snake, Fiji petrel, the pink billed parrot finch, the red throat lorik- eet and the long leg- ged warbler. Two FIJI TODAY 2004 / 2005 GEOGRAPHY 3 researches in conjunction with the Fiji Muse- •reviewing the role of the Native Land um found bones of crocodiles, giant tortoi- Trust board (NLTB), which has fresh mana- ses and giant Fiji pigeons during one of the- gement and a new vision of efficiency and ir projects. The crocodiles were around two service. and a half metres long and the giant iguanas •transferring ALTA leases as they expire a metre and a half long. The amended bones and the issue of new 50 year leases under of these long extinct animals were found an Native Lands Trust Act(NLTA), in the Volivoli and Qarinivokai caves which •providing options of a residential lease is situated to the West of Sigatoka dunes. or relocation to a new farm to outgoing farmers and Land Administration • writing off of $34 million of government Land is an important factor in the develop- loans to the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC). ment of the economy. The Department of In line with the implementation of this re- Lands and Surveys and the Native Land form programme, Government is to est- Trust Board are two authorities which ablish a Land Claims Tribunal to provide a undertake management and administration user - friendly mechanism appropriate for of most land in Fiji. The Department of the settlement of land claims by indigenous Lands and Surveys manages all State lands Fijians of which a sum of $100,000 has which includes leases from state land of been allocated and an allocation of $2.5 both schedules – leases from owned freehold million for infrastructure and development and fore shore leases of land lying between and a further $4.0 million for land resettl- high and low spring tide limits.