Fiji set to change national flag

Suva, Feb 3: Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama Tuesday said the country is set to change its national flag as its colonial symbols are no longer relevant. Bainimarama, who signaled the national flag change plan as early as in his 2013 New Year message, has now officially confirmed and announced the plan, Xinhua reported. In the past two years, Fijians were consumed with the task of holding "our first genuinely democratic election in Fijian history", Bainimarama said. "But now that our new democracy is in place, we can proceed with the programme I flagged at the beginning of 2013 to adopt a symbol that is more in keeping with our national aspirations in the 21st century." "The new flag should reflect Fiji's position in the world today as a modern and truly independent nation," Bainimarama said. Fiji was colonised by Britain in 1874 and gained independence Oct 10, 1970.