Fiji's British colonial rulers established the office of Chief Minister in October 1967, along with the Cabinet system of government. This was part of an ongoing move to forge modern political institutions to prepare Fiji for independence, which was granted on 10 November 1970.
The Chief Minister, who was appointed by the colonial Governor, had to retain the support of a majority of the Legislative Council. As Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara's Fijian Alliance controlled a majority of the seats, he was appointed to this post, which was renamed Prime Minister upon independence.
Famous quotes containing the words chief and/or minister:
“The chief value of money lies in the fact that one lives in a world in which it is overestimated.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)
“[T]he dignity of parliament it seems can brook no opposition to it’s power. Strange that a set of men who have made sale of their virtue to the minister should yet talk of retaining dignity!”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)