George Cakobau

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Ratu Sir George Cakobau

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Order:2nd Governor-General

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Term of Office: 13 January 1973 - 12 February 1983

Related Topics:
13 January - 1973 - 12 February - 1983

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Followed:Sir Robert Sidney Foster

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Succeeded by:Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau

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Date of Birth6 November 1912

Related Topics:
6 November - 1912

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Date of Death:25 November 1989

Related Topics:
25 November - 1989

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Wife:(1) Adi Veniana Gavoka (1937); (2) Lady Lelea Seruwaia Balekiwai (1975)

Related Topics:
''Adi'' Veniana Gavoka - 1937 - ''Lady'' Lelea Seruwaia Balekiwai - 1975

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Occupation:soldier

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Ratu Sir George Cakobau (November 6, 1912–November 25, 1989) was Governor General of Fiji from 1972 to 1982. A great-grandson of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the King of Bau who had unified all the tribes of Fiji under his reign in the mid-1800s and subsequently ceded the islands to the United Kingdom in 1874, Ratu Sir George held the traditional titles of Vunivalu of Bau and Tui Levuka and thus considered by many as Fiji?s highest-ranking traditional chief. Ratu Cakobau, was appointed Governor General in 1972, becoming the first indigenous Fijian to serve as the representative of Queen Elizabeth.

Related Topics:
November 6 - 1912 - November 25 - 1989 - Governor General - Fiji - 1972 - 1982 - Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau - Bau - 1800s - United Kingdom - 1874 - Vunivalu of Bau - Tui Levuka - Queen Elizabeth

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One significant event marked Ratu Cakobau?s tenure as Governor-General. In March 1977, a constitutional crisis developed following a general election which gave a narrow majority to the Indo-Fijian dominated National Federation Party (NFP). Three days after the election, the NFP splintered in a leadership brawl, and Ratu Cakobau, acting as Fiji's effective Head of State, then called on the defeated Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, to form a new government, pending fresh elections (which were held in September, and resulted in a landslide win for Mara's Alliance Party).

Related Topics:
1977 - A constitutional crisis - General election - Indo-Fijian - National Federation Party - Head of State - Prime Minister - Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara - Fresh elections - Alliance Party

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In a public statement, Ratu Cakobau defended his actions thus:

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?In the recent general election, the people of Fiji did not give a clear mandate to either of the major political parties. It therefore became the duty of the Governor-General under the Constitution to appoint as Prime Minister the Member of the House of Representatives who appeared to him best able to command the support of the majority of the Members of the House. The Governor-General has not been able to act sooner as it was not until this afternoon that he was informed who had been elected leader of the National Federation Party. The Governor-General, after taking all relevant circumstances into account, has come to the firm conclusion that the person best able to command support of the majority of the Members is the Leader of the Alliance Party, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. In compliance with the Constitution and acting in his own deliberate judgment the Governor-General has accordingly appointed Ratu Sir Kamisese as Prime Minister.?

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Although Cakobau's actions were unquestionably constitutional, they were controversial. Despite the disarray in the NFP, many people, especially in the Indo-Fijian community, were outraged at his role in usurping a popular election, in what many Indo-Fijians saw as a blatant move to protect the privileged position of his fellow Fijian chiefs, who dominated the Mara government.

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educated at Queen Victoria School, Fiji, Newington College, Australia and Wanganui Technical College, NZ. Served during WWII 1939/45, Captain, Fiji Military Forces. Member of the Council of Chiefs 1938/72; Member of the Legislative Council 1951/70; Minister for Fijian Affairs and Local Government 1970/71; Minister without Portfolio 1971/72

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Ratu Cakobau was educated first at Fiji's Queen Victoria School, then at Newington College in Australia and Wanganui Technical College in Wanganui, New Zealand. He became a member of the Great Council of Chiefs in 1938, where he remained until 1972. When he first joined the Council, it had the power to make laws for the ethnic Fijian population, but this power was removed towards the end of the colonial era, as modern political institutions were built.

Related Topics:
Queen Victoria School - Newington College - Australia - Wanganui Technical College - Wanganui - New Zealand - Great Council of Chiefs - 1938 - 1972 - Ethnic Fijian - Colonial

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Ratu Cakobau served with the Fiji Military Forces in World War II (1939-1945), rising to the rank of Captain. Following his return to Fiji after the end of the war, he was elected to the Legislative Council in 1951. He remained a member of this body, which was renamed the House of Representatives when Fiji became independent in 1970, until his appointment as Governor-General. He served in the Cabinet, first as Minister for Fijian Affairs and Local Government and subsequently as a minister without portfolio, from 1970 to 1972.

Related Topics:
Fiji Military Forces - World War II - 1939 - 1945 - Legislative Council - 1951 - House of Representatives - 1970 - Cabinet - Minister for Fijian Affairs - 1972

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Ratu Cakobau was decorated with many honours during his lifetime. Among these was Royal Victorian Chain, a rare and prestigious honour that may be held by no more than twenty-five living individuals throughout the world at any one time. Ratu Cakobau was awarded this honour as a sign of the special relationship between Fiji and the British Monarchy, following the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1982.

Related Topics:
Royal Victorian Chain - Queen Elizabeth II - 1982

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Ratu Cakobau retired from office in 1982, but as Fiji's traditional Paramount Chief, he remained influential until his death in 1989.

Related Topics:
1982 - 1989

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