London, Aug 2 (IANS) Former British colony Fiji has scrapped a bank holiday on the birthday of Queen Elizabeth because it was "unimportant" and a "burden" on the country, a media report here said.
Officials said the queen's importance in Fiji has disappeared after the Pacific Ocean island nation became a republic 25 years ago, according to the Daily Mail.
The queen's face on Fijian currency was last year replaced with new designs of native flora and fauna.
Former British-ruled countries Australia, New Zealand and Canada continue to celebrate the birthday as a public holiday.
Fiji has undergone a period of unrest in recent years. In 2006, the military ousted the government which its commanders had installed in 2000.
In 2009, Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth, a move supported by Britain, because of its failure to hold elections, which it still has not done till today. Polls are now scheduled for 2014.
|
|
Comments:
