EACH year the State sets aside a public holiday to mark the Fiji Day celebrations. The days falls on October 10 of each year. Schools, government departments, statutory and corperate organisations, NGOs, religious groups all mark this day by hosting various activities.
At school level, the most important focus must be to educate children on the meaning and significance of Fiji Day.
The idea is to develop a sense of pride and patriotism for an independence nation.
Independence has not come about easily and below is a chronology of events that has taken place since 1871.
* 1871 — Cakobau Government formed.
* 1874 — October 10, Cession to British Crown.
* 1876 — Native Affairs Ordinance created a Fiji—wide local government system for Fijians.
* 1878 — Levuka constituted a town.
* 1879 — Fiji Indian indentured labourers arrived.
* 1881 — Rotuma annexed as a dependency to Fiji.
* 1882 — Capital moved from Levuka to Suva. Lands Commission investigating pre—Cession land ownership claims finished its works.
* 1904 — Fiji European elected members of Legislative Council.
* 1914—18 — Fiji contingents and Fiji Labour Labour Corps served in World War I.
* 1916—20 — Indian indentured labour system ended.
* 1917 — First Indian—nominated member to Legislative Council.
* 1928 — Townships created under Townships Ordinance.
* 1929 — First Indian elected members in Legislative Council.
* 1935 — Towns Ordinance passed.
* 1937 — Equal European, Fijian and Indian unofficial membership of Legislative Council — partly elected and partly nominated.
* 1940 — Native Land Trust Board set up to administer Fijian land.
* 1941 — Fiji Military served in Solomons and Bougainvillea.
* 1944 — Fijian Affairs Ordinance increased Fijians control over their own affairs.
* 1951 — Legislative Council given fi nancial autonomy.
* 1952—56 — Fiji infantry regiment served against terrorists in Malaya.
* 1953 — Suva proclaimed a city.
* 1956 — Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna appointed Speaker of Legislative Council.
* 1962 — Legislative Council reconstituted. Women given vote. Fijian members elected directly.
* 1964 — Member system introduced as forerunner to ministerial government.
* 1965 — First Constitutional Conference in London.
* 1966 — Legislative Council unoffi cial membership enlarged to give virtual self government.
* 1967 — Council of ministers headed by chief minister replaced Executive Council.
* 1969 — Second London Constitutional Conference.
* 1970 — October 10 — Fiji became an independent nation within the Commonwealth. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara appointed Prime Minister.
* 1972 — First elections under new constitution. Local Government Act increased the number of towns.
* 1974 — Ratu Sir George Cakobau became Governor—General.
* 1987— First Coup
* 2000— Second Coup
* 2006— Military take over
* 2007— Ratu Epeli Nailatikau became President.
* 2008— 1997 Constitution was abolished
* 2013— A new Constitution was launched
* 2014— General Election won by Fiji First. Mr Voreqe Bainimarama became the Prime Minister of Fiji
* 2015— Presidential election by Parliament
