Suva – Fiji is to drop the Union Jack from its flag and will have a new one by October this year, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has proclaimed.

He made it plain he wants to beat New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to the flag change.

“Fiji intends to the lead the way by adopting a truly authentic expression of who we are and where we are, rather than honour someone else’s flag,” he said in a speech to the nation.

He intends holding a competition next month with a selection panel to make the final choice.

“And the whole selection process has been designed so that we will be ready to hoist our new flag on the 45th anniversary of our independence – October the 10th, 2015.”

Bainimarama, who seized power in a coup in 2006 and won democracy-restoring elections last year, says it was now time for a symbol that is more in keeping with Fiji’s national aspirations in the 21st century.

The Union Jack and coat of arms on the existing flag were anchored in the colonial past, he said.

“The existing flag is widely loved and admired and I want to stress that this initiative is in no way a repudiation of it or the warm sentiments we all feel whenever it is raised. It has served us well since it was introduced at Independence in 1970,” he said.

“But the Union Jack Flag belongs to the British, not to us.

“The shield on our flag has the British Lion and the Cross of St George – a British patron saint. What does this have to do with us?

“They are the symbols of the coloniser – Britain – a country with whom we are friends and will continue to be so. But they are not symbols that are relevant to any Fijian in the 21st century.”

Bainimarama said he had an open mind on the new flag.

“My preference at this stage is to retain the existing Fiji blue background – but without the Union Flag and Shield. But I’m excited to see whatever ideas the Fijian people come up with.”

“We must all have an open mind about the final result, but it should be symbolic of the unity of the nation and instantly recognisable the world over as uniquely and proudly Fijian,” he said.

However, the parliamentary opposition in Fiji has slammed the plan for a new national flag as undemocratic.

The Opposition Whip, Ratu Isoa Tikoca, said a flag change should have first been brought up in parliament, followed by community consultation and a national referendum.

Ratu Isoa says the current flag with its Union Jack in the corner reflects Britain’s important contribution to Fiji.

“That is a great history which everybody else in a hundred years time, they will know that flag reflects that. What history have we created from 1987 to this year? It’s coup after coup after coup. Maybe a rifle and a mask could be one to remember about that.”

Ratu Isoa says the flag change is part of hoodwinking the international community into believing that democracy has returned to Fiji.

Bainimarama scrapped the Queen’s Birthday public holiday in 2012 and also removed Queen Elizabeth’s head from the country’s currency when he ruled by military decree.

The move also comes as neighbouring New Zealand weighs changing its flag. Unlike Fiji, New Zealanders still have to vote on whether to go ahead with a new flag which is a divisive issue.

Both South Pacific nations have flags that sport the Union Jack in one corner in honour of Britain, which colonized the two countries in the 19th century.

The Union Jack appears on several Pacific flags – including Fiji, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia’s – so the move by Fiji could have a ripple effect across the region.

Australia has also faced periodic calls to change its flag, particularly ahead of major events such as the 2000 Olympics.

The flag debate in Australia is closely linked to whether the country should become a republic, an idea rejected in a 1999 referendum.

Canada removed the Union Jack from its flag nearly 50 years ago, replacing it with the distinctive maple leaf.