Fiji is to remove the head of Queen Elizabeth II, its Head of State, from its coins and banknotes after a long-running row with Britain.
The Commonwealth, with the support of Britain, removed Fiji from its membership and the tiny South Pacific island nation has been at loggerheads with Britain since.
Engravings of native trees and animals will replace the Queen's head on the country's currency in June next year.
Fiji, which has a population of 849,000, gained its independence from Britain in 1970 but several coups since then have left other Commonwealth nations questioning whether its instability qualified it to remain a member.
The final decision to suspend Fiji from the Commonwealth came in 2009 after the government of military ruler Voreqe Bainimarama broke a promise to restore democracy following a bloodless coup in 2006.
Off with her head! Fiji orders removal of Queen's profile from its currency after row with Britain
By Daily Mail Reporter
2nd March 2011
Daily Mail
The Queen's head is to be removed from all coins and banknotes in Fiji after a long-running row between the South Pacific island nation and Britain.
The decision will not come as a surprise to either the Queen or the British government, which has been at loggerheads with Fiji since the UK supported the Commonwealth in removing the group of islands from its 53-nation membership.
Instead of the Queen's head, islanders will find engravings of native trees and animals on their coins and notes from June next year.
The Queen's head will no longer appear on Fiji's banknotes and coins from next year. Instead, islanders will find engravings of native trees and animals on their currency
Fiji, a former British colony which gained independence in 1970, continued to feature the Queen on its currency, but several coups since then have left other Commonwealth nations questioning whether its instability qualified it to remain a member.
The final decision to suspend Fiji from the Commonwealth came in 2009 after the government of military ruler Voreqe Bainimarama broke a promise to restore democracy following a bloodless coup in 2006.
Fiji Military commander Voreqe Bainimarama is angry following the UK's decision to support its removal from the Commonwealth
In what is now seen as retaliation to Britain's support of the suspension, Mr Bainimarama said that the country's cabinet had accepted his recommendations for new designs on the nation's ten coin and note denominations - none of them featuring the Queen.
'Important and iconic flora and fauna of Fiji has been selected to replace Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's portrait,' said Mr Bainimarama, who holds the titles of Prime Minister and Finance Minister among a number of other portfolios.
He gave no reason for the decision but observers said the rift with the British Government was believed to be behind the axing of the Queen.
In what was seen as a flexing of muscles in September last year, Mr Bainimarama told the United Nations that he and his country demanded 'respect, dignity and equality'.
Although he did not mention international sanctions that had been brought against Fiji since the 2006 coup, he told the UN General Assembly that foreign policy had been 'revamped' as part of his reforms.
The shift in foreign policy, he said, 'heralds the globalisation and maturity of Fiji'.
Announcing the removal of the Queen's head from the currency today, Mr Bainimarama did not specify what plants and animals would replace her image, but tourism officials say the nation is rich in lush vegetation and birdlife.
Mammals, though, and land-based animals are more scarce but, says a tourism website, there are introduced rats, dogs, pigs, goats, mongooses, horses and sheep.
'It will be very interesting to see what they choose to replace the Queen,' said a local hotelier, who declined to be identified.
Queen replacements? Fiji has plenty of lush vegetation which could replace her image on banknotes and coins...
... as well as wildlife, such as this long-legged warbler
dailymail.co.uk
The Commonwealth, with the support of Britain, removed Fiji from its membership and the tiny South Pacific island nation has been at loggerheads with Britain since.
Engravings of native trees and animals will replace the Queen's head on the country's currency in June next year.
Fiji, which has a population of 849,000, gained its independence from Britain in 1970 but several coups since then have left other Commonwealth nations questioning whether its instability qualified it to remain a member.
The final decision to suspend Fiji from the Commonwealth came in 2009 after the government of military ruler Voreqe Bainimarama broke a promise to restore democracy following a bloodless coup in 2006.
Off with her head! Fiji orders removal of Queen's profile from its currency after row with Britain
By Daily Mail Reporter
2nd March 2011
Daily Mail
The Queen's head is to be removed from all coins and banknotes in Fiji after a long-running row between the South Pacific island nation and Britain.
The decision will not come as a surprise to either the Queen or the British government, which has been at loggerheads with Fiji since the UK supported the Commonwealth in removing the group of islands from its 53-nation membership.
Instead of the Queen's head, islanders will find engravings of native trees and animals on their coins and notes from June next year.
The Queen's head will no longer appear on Fiji's banknotes and coins from next year. Instead, islanders will find engravings of native trees and animals on their currency
Fiji, a former British colony which gained independence in 1970, continued to feature the Queen on its currency, but several coups since then have left other Commonwealth nations questioning whether its instability qualified it to remain a member.
The final decision to suspend Fiji from the Commonwealth came in 2009 after the government of military ruler Voreqe Bainimarama broke a promise to restore democracy following a bloodless coup in 2006.
Fiji Military commander Voreqe Bainimarama is angry following the UK's decision to support its removal from the Commonwealth
In what is now seen as retaliation to Britain's support of the suspension, Mr Bainimarama said that the country's cabinet had accepted his recommendations for new designs on the nation's ten coin and note denominations - none of them featuring the Queen.
'Important and iconic flora and fauna of Fiji has been selected to replace Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's portrait,' said Mr Bainimarama, who holds the titles of Prime Minister and Finance Minister among a number of other portfolios.
He gave no reason for the decision but observers said the rift with the British Government was believed to be behind the axing of the Queen.
In what was seen as a flexing of muscles in September last year, Mr Bainimarama told the United Nations that he and his country demanded 'respect, dignity and equality'.
Although he did not mention international sanctions that had been brought against Fiji since the 2006 coup, he told the UN General Assembly that foreign policy had been 'revamped' as part of his reforms.
The shift in foreign policy, he said, 'heralds the globalisation and maturity of Fiji'.
Announcing the removal of the Queen's head from the currency today, Mr Bainimarama did not specify what plants and animals would replace her image, but tourism officials say the nation is rich in lush vegetation and birdlife.
Mammals, though, and land-based animals are more scarce but, says a tourism website, there are introduced rats, dogs, pigs, goats, mongooses, horses and sheep.
'It will be very interesting to see what they choose to replace the Queen,' said a local hotelier, who declined to be identified.
Queen replacements? Fiji has plenty of lush vegetation which could replace her image on banknotes and coins...
... as well as wildlife, such as this long-legged warbler
dailymail.co.uk
Last edited:
