n article: Politics of Kiribati The Former Kiribati House of Assembly Kiribati Parliament House The Kiribati Constitution, promulgated July 12, 1979, provides for free and open elections. The executive branch consists of a president (te Beretitenti), a vice president and a cabinet (the president is also chief of the cabinet and has to be MP). Under the constitution, the president, nominated from among the elected legislators, is limited to three 4-year terms. The cabinet is composed of the president, vice president and 10 ministers (appointed by the president) who are members of the House of Assembly. The legislative branch is the unicameral Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (House of Assembly). It has elected members, including by constitutional mandate a representative of the Banaban people in Fiji (Rabi Island, former Ocean Islanders), in addition to the attorney general, who serves as an ex-officio member. Legislators serve for a four-year term. The constitutional provisions governing administration of justice are similar to those in other former British possessions in that the judiciary is free from governmental interference. The judicial branch is made up of the High Court (in Betio) and the Court of Appeal. The president appoints the presiding judges. Local government is through island councils with elected members. Local affairs are handled in a manner similar to town meetings in colonial America. Island councils make their own estimates of revenue and expenditure and generally are free from central government controls. Presidential residence Kiribati has formal political parties but their organisation is quite informal. Ad hoc opposition groups tend to coalesce around specific issues. Today the only recognisable parties are the Boutokaan te Koaua Party, Maneaban te Mauri Party, Maurin Kiribati Party and Tabomoa Party. There is universal suffrage at age 18.[18] In government terms, Kiribati has a Police Force, which carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties, and which has small police posts on all islands, but no military. The police have one patrol boat.[19] Security assistance would be provided if necessary by Australia and New Zealand. Island groups Main article: Districts of Kiribati Kiribati was formally divided into districts until its independence. The country now is divided into three island groups which have no administrative function, including a group which unites the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands (ministry at London, Christmas). Each inhabited island has its own council (three councils on Tarawa: Betio, South-Tarawa, North-Tarawa; two councils on Tabiteuea). The original districts used to be: Banaba Central Gilberts Line Islands Northern Gilberts Southern Gilberts Tarawa Atoll The island groups include: Gilbert Islands Phoenix Islands, now the largest protected marine reserve in the world.[20][21] Line Islands Four of the former districts (including Tarawa) lie in the Gilbert Islands, where most of the country's population lives. Five of the Line Islands are uninhabited (Malden Island, Starbuck Island, Caroline Island, Vostok Island and Flint Island). The Phoenix Islands are uninhabited except for Kanton, and have no representation. Banaba itself is sparsely inhabited now. There is also a non-elected representative of the Banabans on Rabi Island in the nation of Fiji. Each of the 21 inhabited islands has a local council that takes care of the daily affairs. Tarawa Atoll has three councils: Betio Town Council, Te Inainano Urban Council (for the rest of South Tarawa) and Eutan Tarawa Council (for North Tarawa). Foreign relations Main article: Foreign relations of Kiribati Kiribati was admitted as the 186th member of the United Nations in September 1999. Regional relations Kiribati maintains cordial relations with most countries and has close relations with its Pacific neighbours, Japan, Australia and New Zealand; the latter three provide the majority of the country's foreign aid. Taiwan and Japan also have specified-period licences to fish in Kiribati's waters.[citation needed] In November 1999 it was announced that Japan's National Space Development Agency planned to lease land on Kiritimati (Christmas Island) for 20 years, on which to build a spaceport.[citation needed] The agreement stipulated that Japan was to pay US$840,000 per year and would also pay for any damage to roads and the environment. A Japanese-built downrange tracking station operates on Kiritimati[22] and an abandoned airfield on the island was designated as the landing strip for a proposed reusable unmanned space shuttle called HOPE-X. HOPE-X, however, was eventually canceled by Japan in 2003.[citation needed] United States relations Main article: Kiribati-United States relations The Peace Corps, an independent United States federal agency, announced plans to pull out of Kiribati in November 2008 after 35 years of working in the country.[23] Michael Koffman, the Peace Corps Country Director for Kiribati, cited the frequently cancelled and erratic domestic air service in the country as the main reason why the Peace Corps was leaving Kiribati.[23] Geography Main article: Geography of Kiribati Kiribati consists of about 32 atolls and one island (Banaba), with at least three in each hemisphere. The groups of islands are: Banaba: an isolated island between Nauru and the Gilbert Islands Gilbert Islands: 16 atolls located some 930 miles (1,500 km) north of Fiji Phoenix Islands: 8 atolls and coral islands located some 1,100 miles (1,800 km) southeast of the Gilberts Line Islands: 8 atolls and one reef, located about 2,050 miles (3,300 km) east of the Gilberts Caroline Atoll channel between west side of Long Island and Nake Island. Banaba (or Ocean Island) is a raised-coral island which was once a rich source of phosphates, but it was mostly mined out before independence. The rest of the land in Kiribati consists of the sand and reef rock islets of atolls or coral islands which rise but a few metres (half a dozen feet or so) above sea level. The soil is thin and calcareous, making agriculture very difficult. Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in the Line Islands is the world's largest atoll. Based on a 1995 realignment of the International Date Line, Kiribati is now the easternmost country in the world, and was the first country to enter into the year 2000 at Caroline Island, which, not coincidentally, has been renamed Millennium Island.[24] According to the South Pacific Regional Environment Program, two small uninhabited Kiribati islets, Tebua Tarawa and Abanuea, disappeared underwater in 1999. The islet of Tepuka Savilivili (Tuvalu; not a Gilbertese name) no longer has any coconut trees due to salination.[25] The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that sea levels will rise by about half a metre (20 in) by 2100 due to global warming and a further rise would be inevitable. It is thus likely that within a century the nation's arable land will become subject to increased soil salination and will be largely submerged.[26] Kiribati is the only country in the world to be located in both hemispheres and lying on both sides of the 180th meridian. Economy Main article: Economy of Kiribati A supermarket in Kiribati Kiribati is one of the world's poorest countries. It has few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits on Banaba were exhausted at the time of independence. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP. Kiribati is considered one of the least developed countries in the world. Foreign financial aid, largely from the United Kingdom and Japan, is a critical supplement, equal in recent years to 25% to 50% of GDP. Agriculture accounts for 12.4% of GDP and 71% of labour; industry 0.9% of GDP and 1.9% of labour; trade 18.5% of GDP and 4.1% of labour; commercial trade 5.7% of GDP and 1.4% of labour; and service industries 5.7% of GDP and 1.4% of labour. The main trading partners are Australia, USA, France, Japan, Hong Kong and Germany.[citation needed] In 1956 Kiribati established a sovereign wealth fund to act as a store of wealth for the country's earnings from phosphate mining. In 2008 the Revenue Equalization Reserve Fund was valued at US$ 400 million.[27] Balance of payments Kiribati's narrow export base and its enormous need for imports contribute to the country’s large deficit in the merchandise trade balance. However, the country has several sources of external income, including fishing licence fees, investment income, seamen’s remittances and external grants.[citation needed] These inflows are usually more than sufficient to finance the large trade deficit. As a result, Kiribati’s current account balance has been in surplus most of the time in the past decade. International reserves have remained at around US$300 million since 2001.[citation needed] Demographics Main article: Demographics of Kiribati The native people of Kiribati are called I-Kiribati. The word Kiribati is the local spelling of the word Gilbert and the original name of this British colony was the Gilbert Islands. The indigenous format of the name was adopted when independence was gained in 1979. Ethnically, the I-Kiribati are Micronesians. Recent archaeological evidence indicates that Austronesians originally settled the islands thousands of years ago. Around the 14th century, Fijians and Tongans invaded the islands, thus complicating the ethnic range; people of Polynesian ancestry further diversified the ethnic typologies. Intermarriage among all ancestral groups, however, has led to a population reasonably homogeneous in appearance and traditions. The people of Kiribati speak an Oceanic language called "Gilbertese". Although English is the official language, it is not used very often outside the island capital of Tarawa. It is more likely that English is mixed in its use with Gilbertese. Older generations of I-Kiribati tend to use more complicated versions of the language. Christianity is the major religion, having been introduced by missionaries in the 19th century. The population is predominantly Roman Catholic, although a substantial portion of the population is Congregationalist Protestant. Many other Protestant denominations, including more evangelical types, are also represented. The Bahá'í religion also exists in Kiribati, along with Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), the latter numbering 11,511 at the end of 2005.[28] Human development The people of Kiribati mostly live in villages with populations between 50 and 3,000 on the outer islands. Most houses are made of materials obtained from coconut and pandanus trees. Frequent droughts hinder reliable large-scale agriculture, so the islanders have largely turned to the sea for livelihood and subsistence. Most are outrigger sailors and fishers. Copra plantations serve as a second source of employment. In recent years, large numbers of citizens have moved to the more urban island capital of Tarawa.[citation needed] Health The population of Kiribati has a life expectancy at birth of 60 years (57 for males, and 63 for females) and an infant mortality rate of 54 deaths per 1,000 live births. Tuberculosis is present in the country. [29] Government expenditure on health was at US$ 268 (PPP) in 2006. [30] In 1990-2007, there were 23 physicians per 100,000 persons. [31] After the arrival of Cuban doctors, the infant mortality rate has decreased massively. [32] Education Primary education is free and compulsory for the first six years, now being extended to nine years. Mission schools are slowly being absorbed into the government primary school system. Higher education is expanding; students may seek technical, teacher or marine training, or study in other countries. To date, most choosing to do the latter have gone to Fiji, and those wishing to complete medical training have been sent to Cuba.[33] Transport Bonriki International Airport Beginning in January 2009, Kiribati has two domestic airlines: Air Kiribati and Coral Sun Airways. Both airlines are based out of Tarawa's Bonriki International Airport and serve destinations across the Gilbert Islands only.[citation needed] Neither the Phoenix nor Line Islands are served by the domestic carriers. Fiji's national carrier Air Pacific provides an international service from Fiji's main airport, Nadi International Airport. Our Airline, the national airline of Nauru, formerly provided service to Nauru International Airport, connecting to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, and further to Brisbane, Australia, but this service was cancelled in June 2008.[34] Culture Main article: Culture of Kiribati Songs (te anene) and above all dances (te mwaie) are held in high regard. Music Kiribati folk music is generally based around chanting or other forms of vocalizing, accompanied by body percussion. Public performances in modern Kiribati are generally performed by a seated chorus, accompanied by a guitar. However, during formal performances of the standing dance (Te Kaimatoa) or the hip dance (Te Buki) a wooden box is used as a percussion instrument. This box is constructed so as to give a hollow and reverberating tone when struck simultaneously by a chorus of men sitting around it. Traditional songs are often love-themed, but there are also competitive, religious, children's, patriotic, war and wedding songs[citation needed]. There are also stick dances (which accompany legends and semi-historical stories[citation needed]. These stick dances or 'tirere' (pronounced seerere) are only performed during major festivals. See also: Music of Kiribati Dance A welcome display The uniqueness of Kiribati when compared with other forms of Pacific island dance is its emphasis on the outstretched arms of the dancer and the sudden birdlike movement of the head. The Frigate bird (Fregata minor) on the Kiribati flag refers to this bird-like style of Kiribati dancing. Most dances are in the standing or sitting position with movement limited and staggered. Smiling whilst dancing is generally considered vulgar within the context of Kiribati dancing. This is due to its origin of not being solely as a form of entertainment but as a form of storytelling and a display of the skill, beauty and endurance of the dancer.[35] See also: Dance in Kiribati Outside perspectives Edward Carlyon Eliot, who was Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert & Ellice Islands (now Kiribati & Tuvalu) from 1913 to 1920 describes this period in his book "Broken Atoms" (autobiographical reminiscences) Pub. G. Bles, London, 1938. Sir Arthur Grimble wrote about his time working in the British colonial service in Kiribati (then the Gilbert Islands) from 1914 to 1932 in two popular books A Pattern of Islands (1952) and Return to the Islands (1957). He also undertook academic studies of Gilbertese culture. J. Maarten Troost's more recent autobiographical experiences on the Tarawa Atoll are documented in his book The Sex Lives of Cannibals (2004). See also Kiribati portal Main article: Outline of Kiribati Commonwealth of Nations List of international rankings Outline of geography Communications in Kiribati Law enforcement in Kiribati Transportation in Kiribati Kiribati Scout Association List of islands belonging to Kiribati References ^ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009) (.PDF). World Population Prospects, Table A.1. 2008 revision. United Nations. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-12.  ^ a b c d "Kiribati". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=826&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=105&pr.y=9. Retrieved 2009-10-01.  ^ kiribati - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary ^ Reilly Ridgell. Pacific Nations and Territories: The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. 3rd Edition. Honolulu: Bess Press, 1995. p. 95 ^ "Cinderellas of the Empire", Barrie Macdonald, IPS, University of the South Pacific, 2001, p. 1 ^ I-Kiribati Ministry of Finance and Economic Development: "History" ^ a b "BBC Timeline:Kiribati". BBC. 15 May 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/2944816.stm. Retrieved 2008-07-29.  ^ see reference note n°3 ^ Reilly Ridgell. "Pacific Nations and Territories: The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia". 3rd Edition. Honolulu: Bess Press, 1995. p. 95 ^ http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/58/statements/kirieng031001.htm ^ http://www.electionguide.org/country.php?ID=113 ^ Kiribati News | World | Page 1 ^ "Leader of disappearing island nation says climate change an issue of survival, not economics", International Herald Tribune, June 5, 2008 ^ "Kiribati leader warns the world that it may already be too late", TV3, June 5, 2008 ^ "Kiribati's President: 'Our Lives Are At Stake': For the Islands of Kiribati, Global Warming Poses Immediate Dangers", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, April 2, 2007 ^ "Paradise lost: climate change forces South Sea islanders to seek sanctuary abroad", The Independent, June 6, 2008 ^ "Tiny atoll in Pacific cries out for help", The Times of India, June 6, 2008 ^ http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/erc/bgnotes/eap/kiribati9506.html ^ Pacific Forum class patrol boat ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP231103 Reuters ^ Russell, Christine (2 2009). "First Wave". Science News 175 (5): 25–29.  ^ FDSN Station Info - XMAS ^ a b Bataua, Batiri (2008-07-03). "Peace Corps To Quit Kiribati". Pacific Magazine. http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/07/03/peace-corps-to-quit-kiribati. Retrieved 2008-07-02.  ^ Harris, Aimee (April 1999). "Millennium: Date Line Politics". Honolulu Magazine. http://www.trussel.com/kir/dateline.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-14.  ^ [1][dead link] ^ Debate on Climate Shifts to Issue of Irreparable Change - washingtonpost.com ^ Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute ^ Global Mormonism » Kiribati at globalmormonism.byu.edu ^ http://apps.who.int/globalatlas/predefinedReports/TB/PDF_Files/kir.pdf ^ http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_KIR.html ^ http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/population-health/variable-1297.html ^ http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=33793 ^ Pacific Magazine: I-Kiribati Students Perform Well In Cuba ^ "Nauru’s airline cooperates with Solomons as fuel price hikes bite". Radio New Zealand International. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=40540. Retrieved 2008-07-23.  ^ See Robert Louis Stevenson's In the South Seas and the Montana New Zealand Book Awards winner Akekeia! by Tony & Joan Whincup, Wellington, 2001. (1997) Pancorbo, Luis: "Kiribati existe" Pp. 29–43; y "De Abemama a Madrid" Pp. 43–54 en "Son los mares del Sur". Maeva, Madrid. ISBN 84-86478-60-X External links Find more about Kiribati on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews Learning resources from Wikiversity Kiribati National Tourism Office [2] Parliament of Kiribati Kiribati National Climate Change Portal Chief of State and Cabinet Members General information Kiribati entry at The World Factbook Kiribati from UCB Libraries GovPubs Kiribati at the Open Directory Project Wikimedia Atlas of Kiribati Kiribati travel guide from Wikitravel Phoenix Islands Protected Area Paradise Lost? (A recent PBS/NOW program on global warming) v • d • e Republic of Kiribati Gilbert Islands Abaiang · Abemama · Aranuka · Arorae ·