Governor-General of Fiji

The governor-general of Fiji was the representative of the Fijian monarch in the Dominion of Fiji from the country's independence in 1970 until the monarchy's deposition in 1987.

Governor-General of Fiji
StyleHis Excellency
StatusAbolished
ResidenceGovernment House, Suva
AppointerMonarch of Fiji
Formation10 October 1970
First holderSir Robert Sidney Foster
Final holderRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Abolished6 October 1987
SuccessionPresident of Fiji

History

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Fiji became a sovereign state and adopted an independent monarch in the Commonwealth of Nations on 10 October 1970, with Queen Elizabeth II as Fiji's monarch. She held the title of Queen of Fiji until 1987, when the monarchy was deposed following two military coups, led by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka.

The monarch's functions were exercised in Fiji by her representative, the governor-general of Fiji.

In 1987, following the monarchy's overthrow, the position of governor-general was abolished. The Fijian monarch was replaced with a president as head of state. With Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, the last governor-general of Fiji, appointed as the first president of Fiji on 8 December 1987 after resigning from the position of the governor-general of Fiji on 15 October 1987.

List of governors-general of Fiji

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Following is a list of people who have served as governor-general of Fiji.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Monarch
Took office Left office Time in office
1   Sir Robert Sidney Foster
(1913–2005)
10 October 1970 13 January 1973 2 years, 95 days  
Elizabeth II
2   Ratu Sir George Cakobau
(1912–1989)
13 January 1973 12 February 1983 10 years, 30 days
3   Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau
(1918–1993)
12 February 1983 6 October 1987 4 years, 236 days

See also

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