administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line
Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed
to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang,
Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati,
Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea,
Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina
Independence:
12 July 1979 (from UK; formerly Gilbert Islands)
Constitution:
12 July 1979
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Executive branch:
president (Beretitenti), vice president (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti), Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal, High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President Taomati IUTA
(since 8 July 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party,
Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka
TENTOA; note - there is no tradition of formally organized political parties
in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because
they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
President:
last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held May 1995); results - Teatao
TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%
House of Assembly:
last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held May 1995); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party
NA
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP (associate), IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL,
ITU, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador (vacant) lives in Tarawa (Kiribati)
US:
the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
Flag:
the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising
sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to
represent the ocean

:Kiribati Economy

Overview:
The country has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate
deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish
now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuate