Teburoro Tito

Teburoro Tito
Tito in August 2019
Permanent Representative of Kiribati to the United Nations
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 September 2017
President	Taneti Maamau
3rd President of Kiribati
In office 1 October 1994 – 28 March 2003
Vice President	Tewareka Tentoa Beniamina Tinga
Preceded by	Ata Teaotai (acting)
Succeeded by	Tion Otang (acting)
Personal details
Born	25 August 1953 (1953-08-25) (age 70) Tanaeang, Tabiteuea, Gilbert and Ellice Islands (now Kiribati)
Political party	Christian Democratic Party (1994–2002) Protect the Maneaba (2002–)
Spouse	Keina Tito

Teburoro Tito (born 25 August 1953) is an I-Kiribati politician who served as the third president of Kiribati and foreign minister from 1 October 1994 to 28 March 2003. He was elected for the first time in 1994. He was reelected in 1998 with 52% of the vote. His main opponent was Harry Tong. Tito was reelected again in February 2003 with 50.4% of the vote. Tito, however, was deposed by the Parliament in a no confidence vote just one month after his reelection.

President Tito, through his speeches at the UN, interviews with international news media and his active participation at International Climate conferences, began the process of highlighting the detrimental effects of global warming on his and other South Pacific island nations.

He also brought his country into the limelight during the 2000 Millennium festivities, by causing it to be the first country to "see tomorrow," after moving the international date line in 1995.

He was appointed by President Taneti Maamau as Ambassador to the United States (24 January 2018) and Kiribati Permanent Representative to the United Nations (13 September 2017).

Early life and career

Teburoro Tito was born in Tanaeang, a village in Tabiteuea North, on 25 August 1952 or 1953. In 1971, Tito received a government scholarship to attend the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. He was the president of the students' association in 1976 and 1977. Tito graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science and a Certificate in Education. Afterwards, he stayed at the university until 1979 as the student coordinator.

In 1980, Tito returned to Kiribati and became a Scholarship Officer for the Ministry of Education. In 1982, he went on a thirty-day study tour in the US "for future leaders." Tito served as Senior Education Officer from 1983 to 1987. Tito, a keen soccer player, also chaired the Kiribati Football Association from 1980 to 1994.

In 1987, Tito was elected to represent the constituency of South Tarawa in the House of Assembly. He was opposition leader until 1990 and then deputy leader until 1994. Tito was part of the Christian Democratic Party, a Protestant party.

Presidency

1994–1998

In 1994, Tito and three other candidates, all from the MTM, were nominated for the presidential election. There had been claims of misconduct against the outgoing government, and a brief constitutional crisis ensued when acting president Tekiree Tamuera was forcibly removed. Tito won the election with 51% of the votes.

1998–2003

The Christian Democratic Party and the main opposition both lost seats in the 1998 parliamentary election. On 27 November, Tito was re-elected with 52% of the vote, while Harry Tong received only 46%.

In February 2003, Tito was re-elected over Taberannang Timeon by 547 votes. A major election issue was the Chinese satellite tracking station on Tarawa. Set up in 1997, it was China's only offshore satellite facility and played a role in the Chinese space program by tracking the first person they sent into space. However, there were concerns about potential military use and allegations that it was used to monitor the US Kwajalein Missile Range. When MP Harry Tong asked Tito to release details about China's 15-year lease, Tito refused. He also asked Tito about Chinese ambassador Ma Shuxue acknowledging that the Chinese government had donated $2,850 to a cooperative society linked to Tito. There was another controversy when Tito leased an ATR-72-500 aircraft at the government's expense, losing A$8 million during the first six months. In March, parliament was dissolved after a 40–21 vote of no confidence against the Tito government.

Bibliography

• East, Roger; Thomas, Richard J. (2003). Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders. Routledge. ISBN 9781317639404.
• Piano, Aili; Puddington, Arch (eds.). "Kiribati". Freedom in the World 2004: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 308–310. ISBN 0-7425-3644-0.