Politics
President Tong Focuses On National Agenda
First to go: Immunity and media legislations
Legislation aimed at providing immunity to the president and those that many felt were drafted to muzzle the press would be the first to go as Kiribati's third president since independence took office in Tarawa last month.
The two legislations were proposed by former president Teburoro Tito who's now relegated to an opposition MP after being barred by his republic's constitution to run for another term.
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In his first interview with an overseas-based news organisation, President Anote Tong told Islands Business he would scrap both laws. "We propose an open government or transparency since we believe there should be nothing to hide from stakeholders," the London School of Economics graduate wrote in his response to questions submitted to his office by Islands Business.
"We propose to repeal the law giving immunity to the President from court action and to introduce a leadership code which will ensure greater accountability of leaders."
On media legislation, Kiribati's new leader described himself as a strong supporter for an independent media, adding, "my government will in due course undertake to review the legislative changes initiated by the previous government."
Tong was sworn into office last month after he emerged the victor in the presidency poll which saw him pitted against older brother, Dr Harry Tong and a Tarawa lawyer, Banuera Berina.
Dr Harry was actually the presidential candidate of Tito's party, the Mwaneaban Mauri. The veteran medical doctor had joined Tito's administration as health minister early this year. But what was supposed to be Tito's third and final four-year term lasted only three weeks. It ended when he couldn't get his budget through the national maneaba (parliament).
Tito now rejoins the older Tong in the opposition bench as parliament prepares to meet for the first time under Anote Tong's presidency on August 5.
In the lead-up to the session, word from the Kiribati capital suggests the younger Tong would have the numbers to rule. Even this was admitted by close aide to Dr Harry, Irishman turned Kiribati citizen, Brian Orme.
A confident president declared he has got the numbers to rule Kiribati.
"I now have a full complement of the cabinet drawn from all sides of the House, thanks to the willingness of certain MPs and their constituencies to place the national interest ahead of other considerations.
"I believe I now have the majority needed to function effectively at the forthcoming meeting of parliament."
The President has taken on the external affairs and immigration portfolio in his 12-member cabinet, which included for the first time in Kiribati's political history a woman vice president, Teima Onorio.
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President Anote Tong did complain that parliament was being recalled too soon as his new government had a lot to do. He felt the emergency rules which prompted the Speaker of the House to convene parliament sooner than the necessary 21 clear days notice from his taking office need not apply.
"Emergency as defined in the rules is when the country is under imminent threat of a war or similar threat on an extensive scale. I do not believe that Kiribati faces such a situation at this time.
"I have replied to the Speaker indicating that the date he has set gives us less than three weeks in which to draw up a budget and to finalise the policy statement which I shall have to present to the nation on the first day of the meeting.
"As a new government, we also need time to review the performance of the previous government before we can be in a position to present credible future options. We also have bills for which it is required that they be published not less than 25 working days before presentation. Apart from all these, I do not believe we should encourage a departure from the rules without justification. In fact, at this time there is every justification for very practical reasons that the 21 days notice be adhered to."
Here's extracts of President's Tong's interview:
Can the Kiribati economy sustain another general election should your government lack the majority in parliament?
"That question is no longer an issue. I do not think it will be necessary to go to the polls again. The new government has not had the opportunity to function, nor have we even had the opportunity to do anything right or wrong, so there can be no reason for the people to wish another dissolution of parliament. The public is quite rightly unwilling to see another dissolution of parliament. There will, of course, be personal rivalries between opposing sides. But I believe this was settled at the polls the last time and we should now focus on the national agenda. The question of whether we can afford another dissolution of parliament is a fair one. But let me ask another question, "can we afford to allow a government which is squandering millions of dollars of public funds on an unnecessary service to continue or do we have the obligation to remove it?"
Is good governance a cornerstone of your administration?
"Good governance has always been the fundamental philosophy of our politics and debate in parliament. In a small society like Kiribati, it is important that harmony rather than polarisation prevails. And when nepotism exists in a small society, it is easily apparent and can create dissatisfaction. We propose to focus on establishing a sustainable economic base which is necessary to support a growing population especially the youth. In this respect, we expect to increase our participation in the fisheries industry based on resources from our own EEZ."
What's the future of Air Kiribati's leased ATR-72?
"We propose to review the operation of the ATR-72 which on a preliminary evaluation is definitely not viable. Total losses sustained by the ATR-72 service since its inception up to the end of May this year amounted to more than $8 million. No rational government can justify operating an international air service at a huge loss given our economic situation and the fact that another operator is already serving the same sector. There can be no doubt that both services are currently running at a loss."
On promises to build another Central Hospital in southern Kiribati and another USP centre on Kiritimati Island:
"One has to fully comprehend the scattered nature of our islands to understand the problems we constantly have to face with the unavoidable need to duplicate expensive infrastructure.
"The present hospital is already operating over capacity and there was an overdue need to extend or build extra capacity five years ago, and, of course, we continue to have a growing population for which we need to plan ahead.
"Building another hospital in the southern Kiribati is logical and hopefully it will contribute to easing the population pressure on the already overcrowded and stressed essential services on South Tarawa.
"The need for a USP Centre on Kiritimati is another consequence of our extreme scatteredness. Kiritimati and other Line islands are over two thousand kilometres from Tarawa where the existing USP Centre is located. There is a rapidly growing population there, as well as three secondary schools. Again, the establishment of another USP Centre in Kiritimati is logical."
Government grants for the elderly and the disabled:
"We believe assistance to the elderly and disabled to be more justified than some of the payments already made from public funds. At this time we have only had three days in office since the prolonged public holidays so the exercise to determine the number of people involved and the amount of money required is still being undertaken. We expect to be able to introduce this programme as soon as possible after the presentation of the budget at the forthcoming meeting, provided we are given the time to complete the exercise before then."
Can the economy afford such a grant?
"Provided we can eliminate large unnecessary expenditures similar to those spent on the ATR-72 ($8 million), 1980 union strikers' ex-gratia payment ($1.5 million), etc, we believe there is more justification in channelling funds to the elderly and the disabled."
On his proposed review of the old government:
"I believe it is always necessary for any incoming government to undertake a review of the performance of the previous government in order to ascertain which elements of the previous policies are worth retaining and those which ought to be replaced.
"In the area of education, we propose to see a more equitable provision of assistance to schools and students.
"We also propose to increase investment in sustainable development aimed at consolidating our economic base. We promise equal opportunity to those willing and able to take the opportunity with particular emphasis on women."
The future of the Chinese satellite system in South Tarawa:
"We are committed to undertaking a thorough review of the Chinese satellite tracking station by independent experts to reassure us and the people that it is what it is purported to be‹a facility to serve civilian purposes. This has been raised with a visiting delegation from Beijing in July."
His relationship with presidential rival, older brother Dr Harry Tong:
"Of course, Dr Tong will always be my older brother and nothing in the world, whether politics or anything else could ever change that. Politics is something that is best kept out of personal relationships and on this occasion it should be no different."
Possibility of Dr Tong becoming Leader of the Opposition again:
"We have not initiated anything yet, so I do not believe anyone will have much to oppose at this stage. But certainly if we are unable to live up to expectations we can certainly expect strong but hopefully fair criticism."
Possible future roles for former President, Ieremia Tabai and unsuccessful presidential candidate, Taberannang Timeon:
"I believe we and the country will benefit immensely from the contributions of former prominent leaders including President Ieremia Tabai and Taberannang Timeon. I believe their contributions can be made within the current administration either locally or elsewhere. It is, of course, too early to be more specific at this stage when we ourselves are also in the process of defining our own roles."
Attendance at this month's Pacific Islands Forum Summit:
"I have every desire to attend the forthcoming Pacific Islands Summit in New Zealand. But the timing of our next parliament could prove most inconvenient."
Views on the role of the Forum when it comes to issues like military intervention in the Solomon Islands, and global warming:
"Kiribati has nothing to offer in terms of military intervention in the Solomon Islands. But in the spirit of the Biketawa Declaration we have agreed to contribute to the police contingent to assist with the peacekeeping process. Global warming presents a totally different problem and Kiribati like other small islands countries could never hope to make any significant impact on the issue outside of the Forum."
