Roundup: Fiji unveils 23 finalist entries for new national flag

The Fijian government on Tuesday announced the next stage in the selection of the Pacific island country's new national flag, releasing the 23 finalist entries.

"Following an open and inclusive process, the Fijian public can review and comment on the shortlisted 23 designs that were chosen from more than 2,000 entries submitted," the Department of Information said in a statement, encouraging all Fijians "living both at home and abroad" to participate in making the final selection in various ways including expressing their views on a special webpage showcasing the finalist entries.

Of the finalist entries, prominent designs retain the sky blue color of the current national flag, with other elements such as the sun, stars, coconut trees and waves.

On June 30, after Fijians express their comments and preferences, the new national flag will be considered by the country's cabinet and the parliament.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum underscored the significance in the move.

"The outcome will be a new flag for a new Fiji. When the new flag is raised for the first time on Independence Day - Oct.10, 2015, it will be the culmination of an historic event in the history of Fiji in keeping with our progression from colonialism to a true and independent democracy," said Sayed-Khaiyum.

He said the government is following through on a mandate engraved in last year's general election and that political critics of the new flag are anchored to mentality of the past.

"There is a small backward looking political faction that claims they are disturbed by the raising of a new flag for a new Fiji. For anyone still listening to them, please remember this: Prime Minister (Voreqe) Bainimarama first proclaimed the need for a new flag in 2013. Knowing this, Fijian voters elected the prime minister in overwhelming numbers in 2014. The prime minister then officially announced the national competition for the design of a new Fijian flag in 2015," the attorney-general said.

A petition for a referendum by a youth council of the opposition has been dismissed by the parliament, where Bainimarama and his FijiFirst party have majority.

Drawing a sharp contrast with the selection of Fiji's current flag 45 years ago, Sayed-Khaiyum said in that case that there were only about 400 flag designs submissions over a limited period of one month's time, at the end of which a committee of only four men announced their decision.

"Obviously there was very little deliberation and public consultation in choosing the current flag," he said.

"This time around, Fijians from all walks of life and all over the world have had the chance to actively participate in this process and now, in sharing their preference, before a passage to the cabinet and parliament, which will culminate on Independence Day with the raising of the new Fijian Flag," said the Department of Information.

Fiji gained independence on Oct. 10, 1970 from British colonial rule, and the current Fijian national flag contains hefty British elements, including the national flag of Britain itself.

Earlier this year, Fijian Prime Minister Bainimarama expressed the motive behind the change.

"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? They are the symbols of the colonizer - Britain - a country with whom we are friends and will continue to be so. But they are not symbols that are relevant to any Fijian in the 21st century," he said. " And they should go. Honored symbols of our past, but not of our future."

Fiji's new national flag designing competition was launched early in March. Endi