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 | |
|---|---|
| Style | His Excellency |
| Status | Abolished |
| Residence | Government House, Suva |
| Appointer | Monarch of Fiji |
| Formation | 10 October 1970 |
| First holder | Sir Robert Sidney Foster |
| Final holder | Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau |
| Abolished | 6 October 1987 |
| Succession | President of Fiji |
History
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
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 | ||