Ratu Ovini Bokini is a Fijian statesman. On July 21, 2004, he succeeded Ratu Epeli Ganilau as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs. A formal gathering of mostly traditional chiefs chosen by the country's 14 provincial councils, along with some appointees of the national government and the Council of Rotuma, the Great Council of Chiefs functions as an electoral college to select Fiji's President, along with 14 of the 32 members of the Senate. Informally, the Council advises the Fijian government on every aspect political life. Although not mandated by the Constitution, the Chairman's role is therefore a very influential one. Ratu is a title inherited by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ratu Epeli Ganilau (born 10 October 1951) is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who served as Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs) from 2001 to 2004. ... The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fijis senior hereditary chiefs, along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. ... The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. ... Ratu is a title inherited by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... The Council of Rotuma is a municipal body on the island of Rotuma, a Fijian dependency. ... Fiji became a republic in 1987, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom formally abdicated as Queen of Fiji, following two military coups led by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka. ... The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. ...

Bokini was chosen to fill this position after his predecessor, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, had become embroiled in political controversy, calling for the resignation of the then-Vice President, Ratu Jope Seniloli (who has since been convicted of treason), and proposing the revival of the country's former ruling political party, the Fijian Alliance, as a multi-racial party, hinting that he would play a role in it. Many politicians feared that Ganilau was compromising the neutrality of the Council, and it is thought that government pressure played a role in the decision of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council to replace him as their representative with the less controversial Bokini. The Fijian vice-presidency is a mostly ceremonial office. ... Ratu Jope Seniloli Ratu Jope Naucabalavu Seniloli (born 1939) was the Vice-President of Fiji from 25 March 2001 to 29 November 2004, when he was forced to resign following his conviction for treason on August 6, 2004, and the rejection of his appeal early in November. ... The Fijian Alliance, also known as the Alliance Party, was the ruling political party in Fiji from 1966 to 1987. ...

The sentencing of Vice-President Seniloli to four years' imprisonment for treason on August 6, 2004 created fears of a possible power vacuum should anything happen to the ailing 83-year old President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo. Constitutional experts, however, said that as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Bokini could choose to assume the role of Vice-President in an interim capacity. These fears turned out to be unnecessary, as Seniloli resigned on 29 November 2004, paving the way for President Iloilo to nominate, and the Great Council to approve, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi as the new Vice-President on 15 December. August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fiji became a republic in 1987, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom formally abdicated as Queen of Fiji, following two military coups led by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka. ... Ratu Josefa Iloilo Uluivuda (born December 29, 1920) is the President of Fiji. ... November 29 is the 333rd (in leap years the 334th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (born 1957) is the Vice-President of Fiji. ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Bokini holds the chiefly title of Tui Tavua. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the 1990s, and also served in the Cabinet, holding a variety of portfolios. Overview The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fijis Parliament. ... Events and trends Technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other technology Reduction in size and cost of mobile phones leads to a massive surge in their popularity Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K) Microsoft Windows operating system becomes virtually ubiquitous on IBM... Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. ...

On 30 March 2005, Bokini was unanimously reelected Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs. March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ratu Epeli Ganilau (born 10 October 1951) is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who served as Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs) from 2001 to 2004. ... The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fijis senior hereditary chiefs, along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. ... The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. ...