The Fiji Government officially took possession of a complex computer system on Tuesday December 01, 1970, The Fiji Times reported.
According to then Minister of Finance, W. Barrett, the computer system could make Suva the data-processing centre of the South Pacific.
The system that was to be housed in St Stephens House following renovations costing about $100,000, was on lease to the government from International Computers Ltd, of New Zealand.
The then ICL general manager, T Hartrick, formally handed over the system to Mr Barrett at a ceremony attended by about 40 government officials and representatives of business houses.
Mr Barrett said the computer was going to provide the government with vital planning and control information on an increasing variety of subjects.
It was revealed that the computer was being used in dealing with civil service pays, trade statistics, income tax matters, a school census and several other major projects.
Eventually, it was to become a regional computer centre serving all of the territories and small nations of the South Pacific.
