The Speaker was the presiding officer of the Fijian House of Representatives.
[1] With a view to ensuring impartiality, the Speaker was not allowed to be a member of the House, though he was required to qualify for membership.
The Deputy Speaker, however, was elected from among members of the House.
The office of Speaker was an essential feature of the parliamentary system, and has proved to be the most durable of all the Westminster parliamentary traditions.
In the 2013 Constitution, the House of Representatives was abolished, and replaced by a single chamber Parliament.