Ieremia Tabai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ieremia Tabai GCMG AO
Tabai in 2009
1st President of Kiribati
In office 12 July 1979 – 4 July 1991
Vice President	Teatao Teannaki
Preceded by	Himself (as chief minister)
Succeeded by	Teatao Teannaki
Chief Minister of the Gilbert Islands
In office 1978 – 12 July 1979
Preceded by	Naboua Ratieta
Succeeded by	Himself (as president)
Personal details
Born	(1949-12-16) 16 December 1949 (age 75) Nonouti, Gilbert and Ellice Islands (now Kiribati)
Political party	National Progressive Party Boutokaan te Koaua
Spouse	Meleangi Kalofia
Children	2
Residence	Tarawa Palace Razidans
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington

Ieremia Tienang Tabai (born 16 December 1949) is an important politician from Kiribati. He was the very first President of Kiribati, serving from 1979 to 1991. Before becoming president, he was the Chief Minister of the Gilbert Islands from 1978 to 1979, when Kiribati was still under colonial rule.

After his presidency, Tabai returned to the House of Assembly in 1998. He still represents his home island, Nonouti, as of 2024.

After studying at university in New Zealand, Tabai worked in the Ministry of Finance for a year. He then decided to enter politics. He was elected to the House of Assembly in 1974 and became the leader of the opposition. In 1978, Tabai won the election to become Chief Minister. This put him in charge of talks for Kiribati's independence. When Kiribati became independent in 1979, he became its first president.

Tabai was re-elected president in 1982. His term almost ended early when a bill he supported failed, which was seen as a vote of no confidence. However, he won the next election in 1983 and kept his presidency. In his early years as president, Tabai focused on making Kiribati self-sufficient.

In 1985, Tabai signed a fishing agreement with the Soviet Union. This caused protests both in Kiribati and around the world. He ran for re-election in 1987. An opponent, Harry Tong, argued that Tabai had already served too many terms. However, it was decided that his 1978 election as Chief Minister did not count towards his presidential term limit. Tabai then won re-election. He reached his term limit in 1991. He then successfully supported his Vice-President, Teatao Teannaki, to become the next president.

Tabai became the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum in 1992. He held this important role until 1998. After that, he returned to politics in Kiribati. He also started two media companies: the Newstar newspaper, which was the first independent news outlet in Kiribati, and a radio station. As a member of parliament, he has spoken against Kiribati's close ties with China. He also supports smaller family sizes to help with overpopulation and climate change issues.

Early Life and Education

Ieremia Tienang Tabai was born on Nonouti island on December 16, 1949. When he was 11, he started attending King George V High School in Tarawa. He then received a scholarship from the New Zealand government to continue his studies there.

Moving to New Zealand was tough for him. He was far from his family and had less money than other students. But he said this experience taught him to be careful with money. Tabai went to college at St Andrew's College, Christchurch from 1967 to 1968. While in New Zealand, he watched politicians like Prime Minister Norman Kirk, who greatly influenced him. He earned a bachelor's degree in commerce and administration in 1972.

Tabai returned home to the Gilbert Islands in 1973. He was one of the few people in the country with a university degree. This helped him get a job at the Ministry of Finance. He worked there for one year before deciding to enter politics. He married Meleangi Tabai, a woman from the Ellice Islands.

Starting His Political Journey

Tabai began his political career by following the ideas of Reuben Uatioa. In the 1974 general election, Tabai was elected to represent Nonouti in the House of Assembly. The next year, he became the leader of the opposition. For this election, Tabai and his friends called themselves the Democratic Labour Party.

He became a strong critic of the government led by Naboua Ratieta. Tabai was from the southern, Protestant part of the country. This was different from Ratieta, who was seen as favoring the northern, Catholic areas. Tabai presented himself as an ordinary person who cared about the outer islands.

Tabai's image was also built on his simple lifestyle. He held informal meetings on the outer islands and often rode the bus. He was known for riding his bicycle to shops without a shirt or shoes. He was part of a group of Pacific leaders who believed in a "Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific." Voters liked that he went fishing with his son and collected his own coconut sap.

Tabai actively campaigned against the Ratieta government. He criticized its focus on cities instead of the outer islands. He also disagreed with the plan to create a defense force. He gained support by performing well in radio broadcasts of parliamentary debates. He also visited many outer islands. Tabai's main message was that the Ratieta government did not understand the needs of people on the outer islands. He made it seem like Ratieta was ignoring the country's self-governance and was too much like the old colonial leaders.

The House of Assembly approved a change to the constitution. This change allowed for a Chief Minister to be elected by the people. Tabai and three of his allies ran against Ratieta. Tabai and Roniti Teiwaki agreed not to campaign much, as they were already well-known.

The election for Chief Minister was held on March 17, 1978. Tabai won with 55.6% of the votes. He received strong support from his own district. His district's central location helped reduce the divide between the North and South. He also got a third of the Catholic votes, even though he was Protestant in a country with religious divisions. He was the youngest candidate, only 27 years old. Voters chose him because they valued his understanding of government. Tabai later said his university education helped him win, as it was rare for people in Kiribati at that time.

Becoming Chief Minister

When forming his government, Tabai carefully chose his ministers. He made sure there were representatives from the north, central, and south regions. He also included both Catholics and Protestants, and people from unions. He chose Teannaki as his Vice-President.

As Chief Minister, Tabai was in charge of negotiating Kiribati's independence. In June 1978, he traveled to London and Washington D.C. He led a group that included ministers and advisors. There, he discussed financial support from the United Kingdom. This was important because Kiribati's main resource, phosphate, was running out. They also talked about the legal status of Banaba island and American claims in the region. Tabai believed that Australia and New Zealand would be important allies after independence.

As talks continued, Tabai stated he would not change his mind about Banaba becoming independent. He said the Gilbert Islands had the right to become independent with all its land. He argued this point during a constitutional meeting in November and December. The new constitution was based on the British system. However, it included changes, like an executive president with term limits. Tabai said these changes helped keep the country stable.

In May 1979, Tabai agreed to an international meeting to discuss the new constitution and the Banaba issue. This delayed independence further. Kiribati finally became independent on July 12, 1979. Tabai's title of Chief Minister was then changed to President of Kiribati. The large independence celebration was Tabai's first big test as the new president. He had to manage many important visitors. By this time, he had two children.

His Time as President

First Term: 1979–1982

As president of an independent nation, Tabai felt it was important to teach people how the government worked. He wanted them to get used to democracy. He faced the challenge of managing a very poor economy across many distant islands. The country relied on foreign funding. Financial independence became a main goal for Tabai's government. He put in place a policy of careful spending and some privatization. However, he did not cut spending or change taxes much.

Kiribati moved towards a subsistence economy, where people produce what they need. The government cut funding for public services. This included having only a basic primary health care system. Tabai was against developing a tourism industry. He worried that the small island nation could be overwhelmed by many wealthy tourists. He suggested waiting "50 or 100 years before talking about such a subject."

Tabai tried to improve life on the outer islands by building schools and government offices, but these efforts were not very successful. While president, Tabai continued to climb a 10-meter-tall coconut tree twice a day to get coconut milk. He said this was cheaper than buying soft drinks. He even joked that this could be his job if he wasn't re-elected.

Soon after becoming president, Tabai attended the 1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Lusaka. He was the youngest world leader to ever attend a Commonwealth meeting. The United Kingdom gave him an honorary Order of St Michael and St George award.

A major conflict during Tabai's presidency started in 1980. The general workers union led a strike. It became violent, and many workers lost their jobs. One member of parliament, Bwebwentaratai Benson, made a motion criticizing how Tabai's government handled the strike. This was seen as a motion of no confidence (a vote to show they no longer supported the government). But it failed, with 11 votes for and 22 against. The 1982 parliamentary election became a contest between Tabai's government and the unionists. Seven of Tabai's nineteen allies in parliament lost their re-election campaigns.

The 1982 presidential election happened on May 4. Tabai's allies in the House of Assembly gained enough support to put Tabai and former Vice-President Teatao Teannaki on the ballot. The unionists and Ratieta's allies nominated Ratieta and unionist Etera Teangana. Tabai was very popular and was expected to win. He was re-elected with 48.7% of the vote. His ally Teannaki received 28.5%, showing strong support for Tabai's government.

Second Term: 1982–1983

Tabai started his next term without a majority in the House of Assembly. In December, his government introduced a bill to fix salary differences for six government officials. The opposition challenged it to attack Tabai politically. Tabai responded by linking the bill to a vote of confidence in his government. His small majority failed him, and the bill was defeated with 15 votes for and 20 against. This triggered new elections. While his government was dissolved, the Council of State took over his role as head of government. This council included the Speaker of the House, the chairman of the Public Service Commission, and the Chief Justice.

The 1983 parliamentary election was held on January 12 and 19, 1983. Tabai gained two more supporters in the House of Assembly, giving him a majority with 19 out of 32 members. Tabai and Teannaki were again nominated for the presidential election. This time, Harry Tong and Tewareka Tentoa were also nominated. Tabai did not like the political conflict around him. It is said he thought about not running until he was convinced to seek re-election. He won re-election with 49.6% of the vote. Teiwaki criticized Tabai for only appointing allies to his new cabinet instead of working with the opposition.

Third Term: 1983–1987

Tabai was the chancellor of the University of the South Pacific from 1983 to 1986.

In March 1985, Tabai began talks with the Soviet Union about fishing rights. This angered Western nations and neighboring island countries. For US$1.5 million, he allowed Soviet fishing boats into Kiribati's fishing areas for one year. Tabai said this decision would help Kiribati be self-sufficient and not need British financial support. He stated that fish were the country's only major resource. He denied fears that this was a step towards building a Soviet base in Kiribati.

The debate at home became a religious issue. The Bishop of Tarawa condemned the agreement. He gathered Catholics against it, calling it a deal with a godless nation. Protestants generally supported it. By August, the fishing agreement was signed, and the public backlash grew. Tabai refused requests for a public vote on the issue. The opposition then presented a motion of no confidence, but it failed with 15 votes for and 19 against. Tabai signed the agreement in October 1985. Once it was in place, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States started giving more money to the region. They offered financial support and rival fishing agreements. The Soviet agreement was not renewed because Kiribati and the Soviet Union could not agree on new terms.

As the 1987 presidential election neared, Tong filed a legal challenge against Tabai. He argued that Tabai's time as Chief Minister counted as a presidential term. This would mean Tabai had reached his three-term limit and could not run again. The High Court ruled that Tong did not have the legal right to stop Tabai, as candidates had not yet been officially nominated. In the 1987 parliamentary election, Tabai was re-elected in the first round of voting. Tong filed a new challenge after both were nominated for president. However, he dropped out before the court's decision. Tabai was re-elected president with 50.1% of the vote. But the opposition gained more support than in past elections, partly because of anger over the Soviet fishing agreement.

Fourth Term: 1987–1991

Without a majority in the House of Assembly, Tabai relied on an alliance with independent members of parliament. He found he did not have enough support to control parliament effectively. In July 1987, he removed three of his ministers. He replaced them with former supporters who had joined the Liberal Party. Tabai received an honorary law degree from his old university, Victoria University, during a visit in 1990.

Tabai successfully ran for re-election to his seat in the House of Assembly in 1991. However, he had reached his term limit for the presidency and could not run again in the 1991 presidential election. Instead, he used his popularity to campaign for his allies, who called themselves the National Progressive Party. Teannaki was chosen as the National Progressive Party's candidate. He campaigned on continuing Tabai's policies. Teannaki became president after winning 46.3% of the vote, showing continued support for Tabai's government. In a 2004 interview, Tabai said he was relieved when his time as president ended.

After the Presidency

Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum

Tabai was chosen as the chancellor of the University of the South Pacific in 1991. There were rumors that he wanted to be the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum. He got the position, becoming Secretary-General on January 31, 1992. In this new role, he supported making the Pacific Islands Forum stronger, rather than expanding it too much. Tabai received Kiribati's highest honor, the Kiribati Grand Order, in the same year.

In his first year as Secretary-General, Tabai was the first representative from the Pacific Islands Forum to be invited to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. He was frustrated by what he felt was a lack of attention from larger nations around the Pacific Rim. He said they saw the Pacific as "nothing but a vast empty space." As Secretary-General, Tabai traveled across the Pacific island nations. He believed the Secretariat needed to hear the concerns of member countries. He also traveled to other parts of the world to stay updated on global politics. During his time, he supported increasing foreign trade, especially with Asian nations.

Tabai's re-selection as Secretary-General in 1994 caused some disagreement with the Fijian government. They felt their own candidate, Filipe Bole, had been overlooked. Fiji claimed that Tabai did not apply for re-appointment, which gave Fiji the false idea that they could submit a candidate. In May 1996, he was given an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia award. This was for his "service to Australian-Pacific Islands countries relations." Tabai's time as Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum ended in 1998. Since it was hard to find a job in Kiribati, he decided to return to politics as a member of the House of Assembly.

Back in the House of Assembly

Tabai planned to start a radio station so the government would not control all the news. He hoped to have it running before the 1998 election. With Atiera Tetoa, the former program manager of Radio Kiribati, Tabai co-founded Newair FM 101. After checking with the government's lawyer and confirming a license was not needed, they aired a test broadcast with music. The government ordered them to stop soon after. The police started an investigation for broadcasting without a license and building a radio antenna without permission. The government refused their license request. On December 8, 1999, they were fined $A35 each after admitting guilt to importing and operating radio equipment without permission.

While working on the radio station, Tabai also started a newspaper called the Newstar. He founded it with his brother and Siau Smith. This was the first independently owned media outlet in Kiribati. He believed independent media was important because government-controlled media would never criticize the government. In 2001, the newspaper cost 60 cents and printed 1,700 copies. Tabai finally received a radio license in 2002 after taking the government to court.

As a member of the opposition, Tabai was part of the Boutokaan te Koaua party. Tabai has spoken in favor of including women in politics. In 2014, he said that the nation should encourage smaller families of only two or three children. He argued this would help with the growing population, prevent unemployment, and improve women's and children's health. He later said that encouraging smaller families would also help manage challenges from climate change.

Along with the rest of the opposition, Tabai disagreed with Kiribati's foreign policy shift to favor China in 2019. He argued that President Taneti Maamau made this decision only to help his government win the next election. Tabai also opposed Kiribati leaving the Pacific Islands Forum in 2022. He criticized the government for making this decision without asking members of parliament or the public. In 2024, he protested the deportation of Australian-born judge David Lambourne. He claimed it was meant to punish Lambourne's wife, opposition leader Tessie Eria Lambourne.

Images for kids

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  Tabai in 2009