General elections were held in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1967. All candidates ran as independents.[1]
Background
editEarlier in the year the British government promulgated a new constitution for the islands, creating a House of Representatives to replace the Advisory Council. The new House of Representatives had 30 members, of which 23 were elected (19 from the Gilberts and four from Ellice Islands),[2] five civil servants and two ex officio members.[3]
In addition, the Executive Council was replaced with a Governing Council, to consist of five members of the House of Representatives (elected by the House) and two ex officio members.[3]
Results
editOnly three of the ten members of the former Advisory Council that contested the elections were elected.[4]
Official members
edit| Position | Member |
|---|---|
| Assistant Resident Commissioner | D.G. Cudmore |
| Assistant Secretary, Personnel | J.B. McCaig |
| Attorney General | C.P. North-Coombes |
| Chief Medical Officer | E.P. Hamblett |
| Commissioner of Works | D.S. Short |
| Marine Superintendent | G.W. Sharp |
| Senior Assistant Secretary, Finance | M.D. Allen |
| Source: Pacific Islands Monthly | |
Aftermath
editThe new House of Representatives was opened by Resident Commissioner Val Andersen on 8 December 1967. Reuben Uatioa, who founded the Gilbertese National Party in 1965, was elected Chief Elected Member.[2] A Governing Council was formed, consisting of four official members (M.D. Allen, D.G. Cudmore, E.P. Hamblett, C.P. North-Coombes) and five elected members (Uatioa, Edward Martin, Buren Ratieta, Iosia Taomia and Ioteba Tamuera Uriam).[2]
A by-election was held for the Marakei seat in September 1968, which was won by Naboua Ratieta,[5] the brother of the former incumbent Buren Ratieta.
References
edit- ^ Decolonization United Nations, July 1979
- ^ a b c Top post for outstanding Gilbertese Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1968, p71
- ^ a b Howard Van Trease (1993) Atoll Politics: The Republic of Kiribati, p8
- ^ Barrie Macdonald (1971) Policy and practice in an atoll territory: British rule in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, 1892 – 1970
- ^ People Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1968, p116