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| Office of the Prime Minister (Fiji) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Office of the Prime Minister |
| Formed | 1970 |
| Preceding1 | Colony of Fiji Executive Council |
| Jurisdiction | Fiji |
| Headquarters | Suva |
| Minister1 name | Sitiveni Rabuka |
| Minister1 pfo | Prime Minister of Fiji |
| Chief1 name | Sitiveni Rabuka |
| Parent agency | Government of Fiji |
Office of the Prime Minister (Fiji)
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is the central executive office supporting the Prime Minister of Fiji in policy coordination, administration, and liaison with national and international institutions, including the Parliament of Fiji, the President of Fiji, and regional bodies such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations. The OPM interfaces with ministries like the Ministry of Finance (Fiji), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Fiji), and statutory bodies including the Fiji Electoral Commission and the Reserve Bank of Fiji. It plays a pivotal role in crisis management alongside agencies such as the Fiji Police Force and Fiji Defence Force during events like cyclones and public health emergencies.
The OPM traces its origins to the colonial-era Executive Council of Fiji and the office established at independence in 1970 under Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, engaging with institutions such as the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Kingdom. During the 1987 Fijian coups d'état led by Sitiveni Rabuka, the OPM's role shifted amid interactions with the Great Council of Chiefs and the Military of Fiji, later adapting through constitutional changes including the 1990 and 1997 1997 Constitution of Fiji. The 2006 2006 coup overseen by Frank Bainimarama confronted the OPM with a reconfiguration of authority that involved the FijiFirst party and the Electoral Commission of Fiji ahead of the 2014 elections. Subsequent administrations, including leaders like Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama and Jacinda Ardern-linked regional dialogues, saw the OPM deepen links with development partners such as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Pacific Community.
The OPM coordinates national policy across agencies such as the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (Fiji), the Ministry of Education (Fiji), and the Ministry of Agriculture (Fiji), and manages relations with international partners including the Commonwealth Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, and the European Union. It provides administrative support to the Cabinet of Fiji, oversees implementation of decisions from the Parliament of Fiji and the Supreme Court of Fiji rulings, and directs national security coordination with the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Military Forces. The office leads disaster response coordination with agencies such as the National Disaster Management Office (Fiji) and handles appointments to commissions like the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission and statutory corporations like Telecom Fiji.
The OPM comprises divisions reflecting functions linked to entities such as the Public Service Commission (Fiji), the Attorney-General of Fiji, and the Ministry of Finance (Fiji), including units for policy, communications, and strategy that liaise with bodies such as the Fiji Bureau of Statistics and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service. Senior staff include the Chief of Staff, principal advisers, and the Solicitor-General of Fiji or legal advisers working with the Court of Appeal of Fiji. The OPM coordinates with provincial administrations such as those in Ba Province, Rewa Province, and Tailevu Province, and works with statutory bodies like the Fiji Airways board and the Fiji Sugar Corporation.
Prominent individuals associated with the OPM include founding leaders such as Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, coup-era figures including Sitiveni Rabuka and Rabuka-era staff, interim leaders linked to Laisenia Qarase, and contested administrations under Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama and later elected prime ministers. The office supports prime ministers who engage with regional leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri-era analogues, Pacific counterparts such as Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Barack Obama-era diplomacy through interactions with international leaders and organizations.
The official seat for administrative functions is in Suva near governmental precincts that host the Parliament of Fiji building and the State House (Fiji), which is the residence of the President of Fiji. Prime ministers have used official residences and guest houses connected to sites like Thurston Gardens and properties in districts such as Nasese and Lami. The OPM maintains liaison offices for international delegations and coordinates diplomatic visits involving missions like the High Commission of Australia and the Embassy of the United States, Suva.
The OPM employs national symbols including the Flag of Fiji and the Coat of arms of Fiji in formal communications, and uses seals modeled on the Presidential Standard (Fiji) for official documentation. Ceremonial items draw from Fijian custom embodied by the Great Council of Chiefs traditions and state insignia used at events involving foreign dignitaries from entities like the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations.
The OPM has been at the center of disputes linked to the 1987 and 2006 Fijian coups d'état and ensuing international responses from bodies such as the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations Human Rights Council, attracting criticism from organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Allegations of political interference with institutions such as the Fiji Electoral Commission and the Judiciary of Fiji have prompted scrutiny from regional partners including the Pacific Islands Forum and bilateral donors like the Australian Government and the New Zealand Government. Debates over land policy and reform have involved stakeholder groups such as the Great Council of Chiefs and indigenous rights advocates, while economic controversies have engaged the Asian Development Bank and private sector entities such as Fiji Sugar Corporation and Fiji Airways.
Category:Government of Fiji