Council of Rotuma
The Council of Rotuma is a local government on the island of Rotuma , a dependency of Fiji . According to the unique character of Rotuma, the powers of this “council” (council) are greater than those of the other municipalities in Fiji, and the council even has the character of a legislature in part, even if it is subordinate to the parliament of Fiji as a whole .
structure
The council consists of fourteen full members and three advisory members. Each of Rotuma's seven districts elects a representative to the council; the traditional chiefs of each district are also ex officio council members . The advisory members, who have speaking rights but no voting rights, are the district officers , the oldest medical officers , and the oldest agricultural officers , all of whom belong ex officio to the council.
choice
The seven chiefs are determined according to traditional rules. The election is usually for life, although the Fijian Cabinet Minister , who is responsible for Rotuma, can dismiss a chief on its own authority and order the election of a new one.
The seven elected MPs are elected for three years by Rotumans aged 21 and over. Candidacy is restricted to people who are also allowed to vote.
The full members of the council elect a chairman from their own ranks. In addition to his vote as a council member, the chairman has a casting vote in the event of a tie. Chairman is currently (2020) Terani Rigamoto .
Procedure
The council must meet at least once every three months. The chairman and nine other members form the quorum for the quorum. Extraordinary meetings can be called by the chairman, on his own initiative or at the request of eight members of the council.
The council has the following competencies and responsibilities:
- implement the directives of the Cabinet Minister of Fiji for Rotuma .
- manage the Rotuman Development Fund . This was established by the Rotuma Act .
- To adopt bylaws (ordinances) related to the environment, garbage and health.
- Adopt regulations for the social and economic improvement of the Rotuma community (Rotuman Community)
- Organize community work
- To organize child and elderly care
- organize the protection of food reserves in Rotuma.
The council may also impose sentences of up to four months in jail and fines of up to a hundred dollars, or both, as part of these powers.
In addition, the Council has two other important tasks historically, which were ultimately canceled by the military coup in 2006 and the promulgation of the constitution of 2013 :
- The council nominated 3 members to the Great Council of Chiefs . The Great Council was abolished by the military-backed interim government.
- The Council nominated 1 member of the Senate of Fiji . The last senator on the Rotuma Island Council was Dr. John Fatiaki , who served from June 2006 until the coup on December 5, 2006. The Senate was also abolished by the 2013 constitution.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Archived copy . Archived from the original on April 19, 2005. Retrieved April 15, 2005.
