Baldwin Lonsdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baldwin Lonsdale
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| President of Vanuatu | |
| In office 22 September 2014 – 17 June 2017 |
|
| Prime Minister | Joe Natuman Sato Kilman Charlot Salwai |
| Preceded by | Philip Boedoro (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Esmon Saimon (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Baldwin Jacobson Lonsdale
5 August 1948 Mota Lava, Banks Islands, New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) |
| Died | 17 June 2017 (aged 68) Port Vila, Vanuatu |
| Political party | Independent |
Baldwin Jacobson Lonsdale (born August 5, 1948 – died June 17, 2017) was an important leader from Vanuatu. He was a priest in the Anglican Church before becoming the president of Vanuatu. He served as president from September 22, 2014, until he passed away in 2017. As president, he was the head of the country and helped make sure laws were followed.
Early Life and Work
Baldwin Lonsdale was born in 1948 on an island called Mota Lava. This island is part of the Banks Islands in Vanuatu. Before he became president, he worked for the government. He was a top official in the Torba province, which is where Mota Lava is located. Later, he became an Anglican priest, serving his community through the church.
Sometimes, people called him Womtelo Reverend Baldwin Lonsdale. The word Womtelo means "Rising Sun" in the Mwotlap language. It is the highest traditional rank a chief can have on his home island of Mota Lava. This shows how respected he was in his culture.
Becoming President in 2014
Baldwin Lonsdale was chosen as president through a special election. This election was not like a normal vote where everyone votes. Instead, a group of people called an "electoral college" voted. This group included members of parliament and leaders from different parts of the country.
The election was very long, taking eight rounds of voting. This was the longest election in Vanuatu's history! To win, a candidate needed two-thirds of the votes. In the final round, Lonsdale received 46 out of 58 possible votes, which was enough to win. Before he was elected, the speaker of Vanuatu's parliament, Philip Boedoro, was the temporary president.
Baldwin Lonsdale was the second Anglican priest to become president of Vanuatu. The first was John Bani.
His Time as President
When Baldwin Lonsdale became president, he gave a speech. He said that his appointment was important for his home province of Torba. He promised to follow the country's rulebook, called the constitution. He also asked all the people of Vanuatu to work together and be united.
In March 2015, a very strong storm called Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu. President Lonsdale was in Japan at a meeting about natural disasters. He asked countries around the world to send help to Vanuatu because of the damage from the cyclone.
In October 2015, something unusual happened. President Lonsdale was traveling outside the country. While he was away, the person temporarily in charge, the Speaker of Parliament Marcellino Pipite, made a decision. He tried to forgive himself and 13 other members of parliament who had been found guilty of breaking rules and were waiting for their punishment.
When President Lonsdale returned to Vanuatu, he was very upset about this. He gave a powerful speech, saying that no one is above the law. He promised to "clean the dirt from my backyard," meaning he would fix the problem. After talking with legal experts, President Lonsdale canceled the forgiveness. He said that leaders must always act honestly and avoid conflicts of interest. The highest court in Vanuatu, the Supreme Court of Vanuatu, agreed with President Lonsdale's decision. This showed his strong commitment to justice.
His Passing
Baldwin Lonsdale passed away on June 17, 2017, in Port Vila. He was 68 years old and died from a heart attack.
To honor him, a school on Sola, Vanuatu called Arep Secondary School was renamed. It is now known as the “Baldwin Lonsdale Memorial School.”
See also
In Spanish: Baldwin Lonsdale para niños
