Cyclone Winston strikes Fiji
2010-2019
2010 — Cabinet approved the Fijian Affairs Amendment Decree 2010. The new law effectively replaces the word ‘Fijian’ or ‘indigenous’ or ‘indigenous Fijian’ with the word ‘iTaukei’ in all written laws, and all official documentation when referring to the original and native settlers of Fiji. All Fiji citizens are now called ‘Fijians’. March 2013 A draft 2013 Constitution is given to the Fiji public for comments and scrutiny. September, 2013
Fiji’s fourth constitution is signed into law by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. It eliminates race-based electoral rolls, race-based seat quotas, district-based representation, the unelected upper chamber, and the Bose Levu Vakaturaga. It vested sole legislative authority in a single-chamber. It granted the right to multiple citizenship and lowered the voting age to 18. May 24, 2014
Grand Pacific Hotel holds its 100th Anniversary.
Her preliminary planning was mooted in 1908 by Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (sometimes called Union Line), once the biggest shipping line in the southern hemisphere and NZ’s largest private-sector employer.
Construction was undertaken by Hall Hogg and Company from Dunedin, and the hotel opened its doors on 23rd May 1914 with 35 rooms for tourists who broke their sea journey for a short stay in Fiji.
The design of the hotel emulates the typical first class accommodation offered on board ships in those days. September 17, 2014
Fiji holds general elections based on the 2013 Constitution.
Voreqe Bainimarama of FijiFirst Party forms government and is sworn in as Prime Minister on September 22, 2014. FijiFirst Party holds 32 seats in the new Parliament, SODELPA 15 and NFP 3 seats. September 2014
Forty five Fijian peacekeepers are held hostage for more than two weeks by Islamist militants in the Golan Heights in Syria. The UN
later confirms their release after being held for two weeks by rebels from the al-Qaedalinked al-Nusra Front. September 28, 2014
Fiji is reinstated as a full member of the Commonwealth on September 27, 2014 after a 5 years suspension in 2009. November 2014 Fifteenth Indian PM Narendra Modi visits Fiji, 33 years after Indira Ghandi. February 21, 2016
Fiji faced the full brunt of Severe TC Winston the second strongest storm in the Southern Hemisphere. Forty-four people are killed, 31,000 homes destroyed and 350,000 people are affected.
By the evening of February 26, approximately 62,000 people were housed evacuation centres across the country, primarily in the Western Division. This number steadily fell to 29,237 by 4 March.
Also in February, Fiji becomes the first country in the world to formally approve the UN climate deal after its parliament ratifies the Paris agreement. August 13, 2016
The Fiji men’s 7s rugby team wins a gold medal at the Olympics in Rio, Brazil, the country’s first ever Olympic medal. Fiji, made its Olympic debut at the 1956 Summer Games and has competed at fourteen Summer Games and three Winter Games. Plans are mooted to hold national celebrations. November 1-17, 2017
Fiji presides over COP23 in Bonn with the support of the government of Germany and becomes the first Small Island Developing State (SIDS) hold the position. Fiji’s young climate change warrior Timoci Naulusala addresses world leaders at the meet. May 23, 2018
The High Court Judge Justice Thusara Rajasinghe returns a not guilty verdict against The Fiji Times of sedition charges. November 2018
Fiji goes to the poll. FijiFirst Party wins after polling the highest votes in the 2018 general elections. Bainimarama sworn in as PM for second term.