'Cakaudrove' is one of fourteen
Provinces of
Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of
Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of
Taveuni,
Rabi,
Kioa, and numerous other islands in the
Vanua Levu Group. It has a total land area of 2,816 square kilometers, with a population of 44,821 at the last
census in
1996, making it the sixth most populous Province. The only major town is
Savusavu, with a population of 4,962 in
1996.
Cakaudrove has proved to be one of Fiji's most influential Provinces.
Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, Fiji's last
Governor-General and first
President, held the
chiefly title of ''
Tui Cakau'', with Cakaudrove as his traditional
fiefdom. Former
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is also from Cakaudrove. The present ''Tui Cakau,''
Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, is a
Cabinet Minister and leader of the
Conservative Alliance (CAMV), a
nationalist political party with considerable support in Cakaudrove. The CAMV politicians
Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure and
Manasa Tugia also hail from Cakaudrove.
Ratu Epeli Ganilau, a son of Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau leads another significant political party, the
National Alliance Party.
Cakaudrove is governed by a
Provincial Council, chaired by the former Prime Minister,
Sitiveni Rabuka.