Citizens to design nation’s new flag
Fijians will get the opportunity to design a new flag as the country prepares to ditch Britain’s Union Jack.
Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced on Friday the Pacific island nation was launching a twomonth competition starting on Monday to find the best replacement flag. He said a panel of citizens will choose the best designs, with the final decision going to lawmakers.
He said the winning designer will get to hoist the new flag on Oct 10, the 45th anniversary of the nation’s independence.
Fiji’s current flag features the Union Jack in the top left corner.
In a speech earlier this month, Bainimarama said that the flag’s symbols were part of Fiji’s colonial past.
“They are the symbols of the colonizer, Britain, a country with whom we are friends and will continue to be so,” he said. “But they are not symbols that are relevant to any Fijian in the 21st century. And they should go.’’
Bainimarama is encouraging schools to enter into the competition, offering them the chance to win prizes, including a largescreen television, for participating.
“I stress that the competition to design the flag is open to everyone,’’ he said. “But we are especially keen to encourage our young people to give full rein to their imaginations because this flag is ultimately for them and future generations of Fijians.’’
New Zealand is also considering ditching the Union Jack from its flag. Voters in that country will get to first choose a favorite alternative flag from among several options, and then get to decide on whether that alternative should replace the current flag.