Alexander Teabo

Alexander Teabo
Minister of Education
Incumbent
Assumed office 2020
President	Taneti Maamau
Preceded by	David Collins
Minister of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development
In office 2016–2020
Member of the Parliament of Kiribati
Incumbent
Assumed office 2007[1]
Constituency	Butaritari
Personal details
Born	Butaritari, Kiribati
Political party	Tobwaan Kiribati Party[2]
Alma mater	University of the South Pacific
Website	www.moe.gov.ki

Alexander Teabo is an I-Kiribati politician currently serving as the Minister of Education of Kiribati since 2020. Alongside that, he's serving as a Member of the Parliament of Kiribati from the Butaritari constituency since 2007 and has formerly served as the Minister of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development from 2016 to 2020.

Career

Alexander Teabo was first elected to the Parliament of Kiribati in 2007, as a Member of the Ninth Parliament representing the Butaritari constituency. In 2012, he was reelected and his term ended in 2015.[1]

In 2016, Teabo was reelected, as a Member of the 11th Parliament this time.[3] That year, he became the Minister of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development.[4]

In 2020, Teabo was reelected as MP and appointed as the Minister of Education of Kiribati.[5] In the 2024 Kiribati parliamentary election, his seat wasn't contested.[6]

Political views

In 2024, Teabo approved of and defended President Taneti Maamau's controversial removal of High Court Judge David Lambourne from his position during the 2022 Kiribati constitutional crisis.[7] A United Nations expert criticised the move by Maamau and called it a "major setback for justice".[8]

Climate change

Teabo has emphathised the damage Kiribati suffers from climate change and its need to have monetary contributions to the Pacific Climate Resilience Facility regarding the issue.[9]

China policy

In 2019, according to the "One China" policy, Kiribati switched its diplomatic relations from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Teabo supported and defended this change in Kiribati's foreign policy, stating that Kiribati is just to "follow the world".[9] He blamed the opposition to the PRC on "agenda from somewhere".[9]

West Papua and New Caledonia

Sympathising with indigenous people of West Papua, Teabo called them brothers. Regarding the 2024 New Caledonia unrest, he foresaw the independence of New Caledonia from France.[9]

References

1. "Members Previous Parliament". parliament.gov.ki. Parliament of Kiribati. Archived from the original on 2018-03-26.
2. "Party members". parliament.gov.ki. Parliament of Kiribati. Archived from the original on 2018-03-26.
3. "Current members". parliament.gov.ki. Parliament of Kiribati. Archived from the original on 2018-03-26.
4. "Current ministers". parliament.gov.ki. Parliament of Kiribati. Archived from the original on 2019-11-14.
5. "Cabinet members (2020 – to date)". president.gov.ki. Official website of the President of Kiribati. Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
6. Colin, Sara (2024-08-02). "Kiribati Elections 2024: A Contest of Diversity and Stakes". thediplomaticaffairs.com. Archived from the original on 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
7. Lewis, Lydia (2024-09-10). "'We don't see it as politics': Kiribati minister says David Lambourne 'has to follow the law'". rnz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
8. "Removal of Kiribati High Court judge David Lambourne a 'major setback for justice' - UN". rnz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand. 2024-04-27. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
9. Lewis, Lydia (2024-08-26). "Kiribati 'feel sorry' for barring diplomats but it 'makes sense', minister says". rnz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 2024-12-24.