Question

Identify one of the correct features of the electoral system of Fiji.
A. Vote of indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian Fijian.
B. Vote of indigenous Fiji has less value.
C. Indian Fijian has no right to vote.
D. Equal voting rights for the migrants.

Answer 1

Hint: Fiji is an island nation located in south-western Pacific Ocean. Fiji was a colony of Britain until 1970. Indians were brought to Fiji to promote indentured labor. In 1970, Fiji got independent from colonial rule.

Complete step by step answer:
After Independence, the state of Fiji adopted a west-minister model of government i.e. parliamentary system of government.
Fiji elects members of parliament through the proportional representation method of voting. Ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijian constitute a major part of the population of Fiji.
The constitution drafted after Independence was very much similar to the constitution of British times. At that time, voters were classified as Fijian, Indian, or general (others).
The representatives were elected from the indo and Fijian rolls.
In later years, raised the constitutional crisis in Fiji, which has also resulted in a military coup in the state
Ethnic Fijians claimed that Indo Fijians dominate the government.
The military coup caused the exodus of Indo-Fijians. In this way, state started discriminating against Indo-Fijians.
In $1990$, a new constitution was promulgated by the constitution which strengthened the hold of ethnic Fijians in the governance and administration of the state.
The next model of the Fijian constitution was adopted in 1997, which tried to do away the discrimination faced by Indo-Fijians. But, this too failed in its purpose as it again raised the civilian coup in the state.
In this way, the constitution of Fiji favored ethnic-Fijians over Indo-Fijians.
So, the correct answer is Option A.

Note: The 2013 model of the Fijian constitution has tried to provide the equal value of a vote for communities, indo-Fijians, and ethnic Fijians also.
Under this constitution, only ethnic Fijians can hold the position of the prime minister or president. The majority of seats in the legislative assembly were reserved for ethnic-Fijians.