title: Speaker of the House of Representatives of Fiji
text: # Speaker of the House of Representatives of Fiji
  
  The Speaker was the presiding officer of the Fijian House of Representatives. At its first session following a general election, the House members elected a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. With a view to ensuring impartiality, the Speaker was not allowed to be a member of the House, though he was required to qualify for membership. The Deputy Speaker, however, was elected from among members of the House.
  
  The office of Speaker was an essential feature of the parliamentary system, and has proved to be the most durable of all the Westminster parliamentary traditions.
  
  The House of Representatives of Fiji was preceded by Legislative Council of Fiji. In the 2013 Constitution, the House of Representatives was abolished, and replaced by a single chamber Parliament.
  
  ## List of speakers of the House of Representatives of Fiji (1970–2013)
  
  | No. | Portrait | Speaker | Political party | Term of office |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | | Sir Ronald Kermode | | 1970–1972 |
  | 2 | | R. D. Patel | National Federation Party | 1972–1976 |
  | 3 | | Sir Vijay R. Singh | Alliance Party | 1976–1977 |
  | 4 | | Mosese Qionibaravi | Alliance Party | 1977–1982 |
  | 5 | | Tomasi Vakatora | Alliance Party | 1982–1987 |
  | 6 | | Militoni Leweniqila | Alliance Party | 1987 |
  | vacant | vacant | vacant | vacant | 1987–1992 |
  | 7 | | Dr. Apenisa Kurisaqila | Fijian Political Party | 1992–2000 |
  | vacant | vacant | vacant | vacant | 2000–2001 |
  | 8 | | Ratu Epeli Nailatikau | Independent | 2001–2006 |
  | 9 | | Pita Nacuva | United Fiji Party | 2006 |
  | vacant | vacant | vacant | vacant | 2006–2013 |
  | abolished | abolished | abolished | abolished | 2013–present |
  