The Rotumans aren't happy

The 4,000 people of Rotuma don’t want to be a “mere colony” of Fiji after Fiji’s independence in October—they want some autonomy of their own as a federal part of the new nation. A petition to this effect has been presented to the Governor of Fiji, Sir Robert Foster, from the chiefs of Rotuma.

Rotuma, 300 miles north-west of the Fiji group, whose population have a Polynesian background, was ceded to Britain in 1881 and is a dependency of Fiji Under the new Fiji Constitution, Rotumans get a seat in the Senate but have no specific guarantee for a House of Representatives’ seat. They are not happy about this. The petition asks that federal status, as “part of the new independent nation consisting of Fiji and Rotuma” be guaranteed, and that there be provision for a seat in the lower house.

The petition said this was necessary “in order to protect and perpetuate our identity, our birthright, customs and traditions”.