Tarawa’s Tabai Strikes Back

The beleagured president struggles to survive. Bataua Batiri explains his strategy to serve a final term in office.

WITH support slipping away and his government suffering defeat in most of the resolutions at the last sitting of Parliament, President lere mia Tabai has moved to strengthen his position.

The first move was a press release in mid-July from the president’s office which said his nine ministers had resigned in or

der to reorganise the government. No other explanation was given.

The President’s tactics were revealed when he accepted only three of the nine resignations. The three resigning minis ters are Mr Boanareke Boanareke, Mr Ti wau Awira and Mr Baitika Toum. All have now become backbenchers.

They have been replaced by the MP from Arorae, Mr Raion Bataroma, who was given the portfolio of Trade, Industry and Labour; MP leruru Karotu from Ar anuka who will be the new Minister for Works and Energy; and MP Tekinaiti Kai teie from Abemama, who is the new Min ister for the Line and Phoenix Group.

Minister Babera Kirata was allocated the Ministry for Home Affairs and Decen tralisation. He was formerly responsible for Works and Energy.

All three new ministers appeared hos tile to Mr Tabai during the last parliamen tary sitting. They were seen to have moved from the government side to join six other independents who have formed a new political party called the Liberal Party, under the guidance of newly appointed president, MP Willie Yee On from Fan ning Island.

Vice-president of the opposition Chris tian Democratic Party, Dr Harry Tong, strongly opposed the new changes in

government, describing it as “a very dan gerous move”.

He commented that President Tabai made the changes because he was losing support in the last house, adding “this really shows how Mr Tabai wants to hold power in his hands”.

At that meeting, the President and his Ministers rejected a move to increase the price of copra, but were defeated by the House. In another instance, the Education minister was not in favour of a proposal for the provision of free school materials, but the House voted in favour of the move.

It is speculated that the newly formed Liberal Party will move a vote of no con fidence in the government at the next meeting of the House, which is likely to be supported by the Christian Democratic Party. If the vote of no confidence is passed, it will be necessary to elect a new president.

However, with the recent changes to the government, it is unlikely the President will be defeated.

President Tabai is serving his last term in office as the Constitution forbids a fifth term. D

The resigning ministers, Tbum, Awira and Boanareke (front row, third from left, fourth from left, second from right, respectively).