Fiji will officially change its national flag on October 10 this year.  Fiji’s Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama in announcing the move on Monday February 3 stated that the new flag should “reflect Fiji’s position in the world today as a modern and truly independent nation state.”

Bainimarama had announced intentions for a flag change in 2013. Yesterday he detailed a public competition beginning this month to design a new flag.

Bainimarama explained “The competition will be open for two months, and the whole selection process has been designed so that we will be ready to hoist our new flag on the 45^thanniversary of our Independence – October 10, 2015.”

He added “We urge every Fijian to take part in this process, irrespective of age, gender or socio-economic background – your idea may not be the final design, but maybe your idea inspires part of that design. So get involved in the process to create our new flag and our new democracy’s most important symbol for a modern, independent and strong Fiji.”

Bainimarama said the flag change was necessary, saying that the current flag did not reflect the true identity of Fiji as an independent South Pacific nation.

“We need to replace the symbols on our existing flag that are out of date and no longer relevant, including some anchored to our colonial past. The new flag should reflect Fiji’s position in the world today as a modern and truly independent nation state.”

The symbols designated to be removed the Fijian Flag are the British Union Jack and a shield containing the British lion.

“The Union Flag belongs to the British, not to us. The shield on our flag has the British Lion and the Cross of St George – a British patron saint. What does this have to do with us?”

Fiji’s current flag has been in place since the country gained independence from Britain in 1970.

Fiji did have a flag as a short-lived kingdom before it became a colony of Britain in 1874. The flag featured a dove with a light-blue and white background.