In 1995, the late president Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was formally installed as the Chancellor of the Order of Fiji at a ceremony held at Government House in Suva.
An article published by The Fiji Times on September 16 of that year reported that the installation was conducted by the late chief justice Sir Timoci Tuivaga.
Following his investiture, Ratu Mara stated that there had been a gap in Fiji’s corporate life until the establishment of the Order of Fiji. He explained that the cession of Fiji to Queen Victoria in 1874 had previously allowed for services to Fiji to be acknowledged through the British honours system. However, this ability was lost when Fiji’s link with the British Crown was severed in 1987.
The creation of the Order of Fiji, he said, had mended one of the gaps resulting from this loss. Ratu Mara was awarded the highest order after the government’s institution of the Order of Fiji earlier that year.
The Order of Fiji was intended to recognize citizens for high achievement or commendable service, and it featured three levels and an associated medal: Companion of the Order of Fiji (CF), Officer of the Order of Fiji (OF), Member of the Order of Fiji (MF), and the Medal of the Order of Fiji (MOF).
Ratu Mara noted that the names of all those recognized for the order would be announced on Ratu Sukuna Day, with the investiture ceremony taking place on Fiji Day. Nominations in the general division were reviewed by the College of Honour, which then made recommendations to the President, while military division nominations were submitted to the President by the Home Affairs Minister.
The investiture ceremony at Government House was attended by Members of Parliament, business executives, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Sir Leonard Usher proposed a toast to Ratu Mara following his installation as Chancellor of the Order of Fiji.
Ratu Mara also approved the President’s Medal for the Civilian Bravery Award to the late Mani Lal, the late Frederick Wise, Toloi Tara, and Eliki Viliyaliyali, and awarded Bravery Medals to Joeli Vuniduvi, Seru Volagotavuivui, Joeli Susu, and Isaia Veitawa.
The insignia for Ratu Sir Mara’s Order of Fiji, along with other insignias, were designed and produced by the famous London jewellers Christies.