Fiji will have a new flag after going through a planned inclusive process over the next few months.
While opening the new Legal Aid Commission office in Nasinu, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the Union flag and the British shield will no longer be symbols on our new flag as it is no longer relevant in the 21st century.
Bainimarama said the new flag will represent who we are and where we are rather than honoring someone’s flag.
The Prime Minister said there are only four Commonwealth nations that still have the Union flag as part of their national symbols. These are Fiji, Tuvalu, New Zealand and Australia.
Bainimarama said NZ has already begun a process to change its flag and Australia is debating theirs.
He said a National Competition will now be held and every Fijian can give their proposed designs of the new Fijian flag to a committee to be appointed soon.
Bainimarama said the process will be inclusive to design a new flag and the competition will start this month.
It will run for two months and the plan is to hoist the new flag on the 45th anniversary of our independence on 10th October this year.
The Prime Minister said his personal preference is to retain the noble banner blue without the Union flag and symbols.
However he said everyone’s view will be taken into account.
The process to get the vote of every Fijian will be taken through social media and texting.
Bainimarama stresses that our new flag should make us stand taller and prouder.
