National Trade Data Bank ITEM ID : ST BNOTES KIRIBATI DATE : Oct 28, 1994 AGENCY : U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE PROGRAM : BACKGROUND NOTES TITLE : Background Notes - KIRIBATI Source key : ST Program key : ST BNOTES Update sched. : Occasionally Data type : TEXT End year : 1994 Date of record : 19941018 Keywords 3 : Keywords 3 : | KIRIBATI BACKGROUND NOTES: KIRIBATI PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS US DEPARTMENT OF STATE JANUARY 1994 Official Name: Republic of Kiribati PROFILE Geography Area: 719 sq. km. (266 sq. mi.). Capital: Tarawa. Terrain: Archipelago of low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs. Climate: Hot and humid, moderated by trade winds. People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Kiribatian(s). Population (July 1992): 74,788; Tarawa (1988): 22,000. Annual growth rate (1992): 2.1%. Ethnic groups: Predominantly Micronesian, with some Polynesian. Religions: 48% Roman Catholic, 45% Protestant (Congregational), some Seventh-day Adventist and Baha'i. Languages: English (official), Gilbertese. Education (1985): Compulsory through age 11. Literacy--90%. Health (1990): Infant mortality rate--99/1,000. Life expectancy--52 yrs. male, 56 yrs. female. Work force: 7,800. Government Type: Republic. Independence: July 12, 1979, from the United Kingdom; formerly Gilbert Islands. Constitution: July 12, 1979. Branches: Executive--president, vice president, cabinet. Legislative--unicameral house of assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu). Judicial--court of appeal, high court. Administrative divisions: Three units--Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands. Political parties: Gilbertese National Party; Christian Democratic Party. Suffrage: Universal at 18. Flag: Upper half red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun; lower half blue with three wavy bands. Economy GNP (1992 est.): $36.8 million. Per capita GNP (1992 est.): $525. Natural resources: Fish. Agriculture: 30% of GDP (including fishing); copra and fish make up 95% of exports; subsistence farming predominates; food crops--taro, coconuts, bananas, pandanus, papayas, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables. Industry: fishing, handicrafts. Trade (est.): Exports--$6 million: fish 55%, copra 42%. Principal partners--EC, Marshall Islands, U.S., American Samoa. Imports (1990 est.)--$27 million: foodstuffs, fuel, transportation equipment. Principal partners--Australia, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, U.S. Exchange rate (1992): U.S.$0.70= Aus$1. PEOPLE Kiribatians 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. Due to frequent droughts and the lack of large crops, the islanders have found it necessary to turn to the sea for livelihood. Most are outrigger sailors and fishers. Copra plantations serve as a second source of employment. In recent years, large numbers of Kiribatians have moved to the more urban island capital of Tarawa. To increase the opportunities of the islanders, the government has placed greater emphasis on education. Primary education is free and compulsory for the first six 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 (usually in Fiji). HISTORY Kiribatians are Micronesians, but recent archeological evidence indicates that the islands were originally settled by Austronesians thousands of years ago. Around the 14th century A.D., the islands were invaded by Fijians and Tongans. Intermarriage led to a population reasonably homogeneous in appearance and traditions. The first recorded European encounter with Kiribati was by the Spanish explorer Quiros in 1606. By the 1820s, all of the islands had been charted. At that time, the Russian hydrographer A.I. Krusenstern gave the group the name Gilbert Islands. Until about 1870, many British and American whaling vessels sought sperm whales in Gilbertese waters. Starting in 1850, trading vessels passed through, seeking first coconut oil and then copra. In the 1860s, "black- birders" (slave ships) carried off islanders to work on plantations in Peru and, later, in Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, and Australia. Not only did this practice reduce the number of men on the islands, it also introduced European diseases, such as measles, against which the islanders had little resistance. With the people's consent, the Ellice groups (now Tuvalu) and the Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892, in the hope of eradicating slave raids and incessant tribal warfare. In 1900, phosphate was discovered on Ocean Island. A surge of British interest in the area resulted, and more islands were placed under the British protectorate. Phosphate was the predominant source of income for Kiribati until 1979, when deposits were exhausted. Japan seized the islands in 1941. On November 21, 1943, American forces launched their first penetration of Japan's ring of island defenses by attacking the Tarawa islet of Betio. Tarawa Atoll was the setting for one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific and was a major turning point in the war for the Allies. One of the most important post-war moves in the main islands was the strengthening of the cooperatives. New rules made it unprofitable for overseas trading firms to reestablish themselves. Kiribatians gained a stronger voice in the affairs of the colony during the 1950s and 1960s, when an advisory council and, later, a house of representatives with powers of recommendation were created. In 1974, the colony moved forward to a ministerial form of government. In 1975, the Ellice Islands seceded from the colony and became the independent nation of Tuvalu. On July 12, 1979, Kiribati obtained its own independence from the United Kingdom and became a republic within the Commonwealth. GOVERNMENT Kiribati's constitution, promulgated July 12, 1979, provides for free and open elections. The executive branch consists of a president, a vice president, and a cabinet. Under the constitution, the president, nominated from among the elected members of the House of Assembly, is limited to three four-year terms. The president does not represent a political party. The cabinet is composed of the president, vice president, and no more than eight members of the House of Assembly (appointed by the president). The legislative branch is the unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu). The legislature consists of 35 elected members, including a representative of the Banaban (Ocean Islanders) people and the attorney-general as an ex-officio member. The constitutional provisions governing the 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 and the court of appeal. The presiding judges are appointed by the president. 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 are generally free of central government controls. Principal Government Officials President and Minister of Foreign Affairs--Hon. Teatao Teannaki V.P./Minister of Finance and Economic Planning--Taomati T. Iuta POLITICAL CONDITIONS Traditionally, Kiribati had no formally organized parties. Instead, ad hoc opposition groups tended to coalesce around specific issues. Today, the only recognizable parties are the Gilbertese National Party and the Christian Democratic Party. There is universal suffrage at 18. A major source of conflict has been the protracted bid by the residents of Banaban Island to secede and have their island placed under the protection of Fiji. The government's attempts to placate the Banabans include specific provisions in the constitution, such as giving them a seat in the house of assembly and returning to them land on Banaban acquired by the government for phosphate mining. ECONOMY Kiribati's economy is very small and has fluctuated widely in recent years. The country has few natural resources. Phosphate deposits had already been exhausted by the time of independence in 1979. Most people are engaged in subsistence agriculture but are not self-sufficient in food. In the 12 years since independence, the government has focused on private sector involvement in development, extensive use of joint ventures, and a stable partnership with business. The islands' isolation and meager resources, including poor soil and limited arable land, severely limit prospects for economic development. Moreover, development efforts are hampered by transportation difficulties, overcrowding on Tarawa and shortages of trained workers and management. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports (95%). Real GDP declined about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell by 75% from 1986 levels, and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GDP increased 1% in 1989 and 1990. Efforts are being made to diversify the economy, primarily through fisheries projects and tourism. The creation of the 200-mile economic and fisheries zone has given islanders hopes of developing their marine resources to a point where fish could be the country's main source of revenue through export earnings and licensing fees paid by fishing nations like Japan and the United States. A regional survey of fish resources by the South Pacific Commission has revealed large stocks of tuna in Kiribatian waters. FOREIGN RELATIONS Kiribati maintains cordial relations with most countries and has close relations with its Pacific neighbors, the United Kingdom, and Japan; the latter two provide the majority of the country's foreign aid. Taiwan and Japan also have specified-period licenses to fish in Kiribati's waters. U.S.-KIRIBATI RELATIONS In September 1979, a treaty of friendship was signed between the Republic of Kiribati and the United States. In 1983 the U.S. Senate approved recognition of Kiribati's sovereignty over the Line and Phoenix island groups. The United States has no consular or diplomatic offices in Kiribati. Officers of the American embassy in Suva, Fiji, are concurrently accredited to Kiribati and make periodic visits. There is little trade between the United States and Kiribati. The U.S. Agency for International Development administers a modest regional aid program that benefits Kiribati. Peace Corps volunteers teach and provide technical assistance throughout Kiribati. Principal U.S. Officials Charge d' affairs: Michael W. Marine Public Affairs Officer--Charla Hatton Military Attache: Lt. Col. Kip Naugle (USMC) Consul--Linda Brown Peace Corps Co-Directors: David and Paulette Hassel The Peace Corps co-directors are resident in Kiribati, but all other officials are in Suva, Fiji. The U.S. embassy at Suva, Fiji, is located at 31 Loftus Street (P.O. Box 218), Suva (tel. 314-466). Travel Notes Customs: A passport and visa are required for entry and exit. In addition, travelers must have a ticket to leave with confirmed onward reservations and necessary documentation to depart to a third country. Climate and clothing: Temperatures remain constant at 80OF. Modest light-weight casual clothing, preferably cotton, is recommended. During the winter months, westerly gales bring rain and sticky discomfort. Health: Drink only bottled or boiled water. Cholera and yellow-fever inoculations are required. Published by the United States Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs Office of Public Communication Washington, DC Managing Editor: Peter Knecht. Department of State Publication 10104. January 1994 Background Notes Series Contents of this publication are not copyrighted unless indicated. If not copyrighted, the material may be reproduced without consent; citation of the publication as the source is appreciated. 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