Dowiyogo

Nauru

Dowiyogo ... out for a few hours

THE government of Nauru fell for a few hours in September, and promptly bounced back later that day. It all started in a dispute over a small item in Nauru’s AS96,583,000 budget. Despite the island’s phosphate wealth, the budget showed a deficit of about A$34 million.

Kennan Adeang, a member of parliament and the former finance minister, moved to strike the salaries of the three people in Nauru’s New Dehli office (presumably on the grounds that they were not needed now that Nauru had sold its interest in an Indian phosphate mill). He also wanted to eliminate A$ 14,300 for a new automobile. He carried the vote eight to seven in the 18-member House.

President Bernard Dowiyogo promptly resigned. The House then held an election for a new president between Dowiyogo and another

parliamentarian, Buraro

Detudamo. Voting by secret ballot the House chose Dowiyogo 10-6, meaning that at least two members who had voted against the govern ment on the New Dehli issue switched to the government on the presidential ballot. At sundown that day the new cabinet was sworn in by chief secretary Kelley Emiu; there were no changes in the cabinet. D

Nauru President Dowlyogo: had resigned