Tabai: testing new waters

lEREMIA Tabai wants to go fishing in Fiji. But he has to find someone to show him the waters.

The former President of Kiribati enjoys nothing more than fishing when at home in Tarawa. However, he wants to be shown where the fish bite best. “I don’t know the fishing areas here but I hope in time I will make friends who may offer to take me out fishing,” said Tabai.

Tabai, 42, took over as secretary general of the Suva-based Forum Secret ariat when Henry Naisali’s term ended on January 31.

Tabai is no stranger to the Forum and its work. He chaired in the 11th South Pacific Forum in Tarawa in 1980, and again in 1989 when Kiribati hosted for the second time. He is familar with other regional organisations and was a chair man of the Standing Committee of the Pacific Islands Conference. Last year he

was appointed pro vice-chancellor of the University of the South Pacific.

Born on December 16, 1949 at Nonouti, in what was then the Gilbert Islands, Tabai did most of his primary and secondary education in Tarawa before spending 1967 and 1968 at Si Andrew’s College in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1972 he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree frorr Victoria University in Wellington. Ir 1973 he returned home and worked as a senior accountant in the country’: treasury. In 1978 he was elected Chie Minister in the first national election anc at independence from Britain in 1979, h( became the first President of Kiribati. H( was President until last year’s nationa election when after four terms he did no qualify to contest the presidency a fiftl time. However, he retains his Nonout seat a constituency he has held for 1'

years.

Tabai says his basic role a: secretary general is to mak< sure the decisions taken by tin Forum leaders are carried out The “basic thrust” of th« Secretariat’s work is economi< development, he said.

“It will not be an task,” he said. “Henry Naisal has done his job very well anc I will do my best. It will be i

challenge. Previously I deal

with one country; now it i much more sensitive. Yoi have not one, but many bosse all the presidents and prirm ministers and you have t< get the support of the variou leaders ... My constituency i now the region rather thai Kiribati, whatever I do shouk be in pursuit of a regiona

objective”.

Tabai realises that as th< new man in the position h( will be under extra scrutiny “I am sure they will keep ai eye on me, it is human nature Being new they will listei more closely and open thei: eyes wider to see what’s hap pening,” he said. “I have th< determination to do the jol and it’s up to them to make i

judgement.”

This will be the first thru Tabai lives outside Kiribat since being a student in Nev Zealand. He will approach th< challenge of a new locitioi and a new job in the same wa? as he will approach his passior for fishing slowly but sureb testing the waters. L

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