Of these 4 denominations, the Roman Catholic and Kiribati Protestant Church are well established, each with
active communities, churches and ‘mwaneaba’. The rest two are still in the process of establishing their church
and meeting facilities. The SDA has a small ‘mwaneaba’ and no church while the Bah’ai are presently carrying
out meetings in their clerics’ home as they do not yet have a church nor a ‘mwaneaba’.
4.3 POLITICAL AUTHORITY AND GOVERNANCE
4.3.1 Traditional political system – description and status
The traditional ruling system differs from region to region, but based mainly on the chiefly ruling system and the
‘Unimwane’ (mwaneaba) system. The chiefly ruling system was common in the central and northern Gilberts,
while the ‘Unimwane’ (mwaneaba) system was used in the southern Gilberts. In the chiefly system one person
enjoys the powers and privileges over his subjects and resources. In pre-colonial times the central and northern
islands of the Gilbert group were ruled by families of “Uea” (high chiefs/kings).The southern islands from
Nonouti to Arorae were ruled by councils of ‘Unimwane’ who meets in the mwaneaba to discuss and address all
kinds of social, economic and political issues. In this system the ‘Unimwane’, who consists of the head of each
kainga (extended family), is the most powerful and sole decision-making body in the community. The decisions
made by the ‘Unimwane’ are believed to be the best because they are the outcome of careful deliberation
among the oldest, wisest and most experienced members of the community.
The chiefly system of the central and northern Gilberts gradually disappeared because it was incompatible with
the new Christian belief and democratic form of Government that were introduced into the country in the late
19th and early 20th centuries. On the other hand, the ‘Unimwane’ (mwaneaba) system, due to its similarity with
the western democratic model, was encouraged and has continued to be the dominant traditional form of
authority throughout the country.
4.3.2 Local government system
The government system in Kiribati is
made up of the central government,
based in South Tarawa, and Island
Councils based on each island.
Teeraina Island Council was established
on the 1st March, 1995 under a warrant
which outlines the purpose,
responsibilities, authority, powers and
laws which govern the existence of
Councils. The functions of the Island
Council were spelled out in the Local
Government Ordinance 1966 which had been revised a few times, the most recent being in 2006 and is now
better known as the Local Government
Act.
The Island Council is made up of representatives from each village/ward who are elected every 4 years. There
are also nominated and ex-officio members who, together with elected members meet every month to discuss
matters pertaining to the operation of the Island Council and issues affecting the various wards and the island
as a whole. As already mentioned, a seat on these Council meetings is reserved for a representative from the
‘‘Unimwane’’, the women and the youth. The parliamentarian or member of parliament from the island is an exofficio member of these council meetings at which the Chief Councilor presides/chairs while the ‘Clerk’
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seconded from the Ministry of Internal & Social Affairs acts as ‘Secretariat’ and Chief Advisor.
Among its core functions as stipulated in the Local Government Act 2006, the Island Council is also responsible
for the following general areas:•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Agriculture, livestock and fisheries,
Buildings and village planning,
Education,
Forestry and trees,
Land,
Relief of famine and drought,
Markets,
Public health,
Public order, peace and safety,
Communications and public utilities,
Trade and industry
All Island Councils have management and support staff that are seconded by central government (The Ministry
of Internal and Social Affairs) in South Tarawa and stationed on the outer islands. These staff include the
Council Clerk, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, the Island project Officer, and the Assistant Social
Welfare Officer. In addition to this administrative and support team who work directly with Councils, there are
also other government personnel who are placed on the islands to assist in other important areas, such as
police officers, agricultural assistants, fisheries assistants, medical assistants, and teachers. Island Council
staff still lacking includes an Agricultural Assistant, Fisheries Assistant, KOIL and DBK agents. The Island
Council otherwise have their own typist, drivers and radio operator. The main staffing problem on the island is
not just the lack of seconded officers from relevant fields such as an Agricultural Assistant or a DBK agent but
the time it takes for a seconded officer to be replaced or reach the island. Travel to and from the island has
proven to be a real hassle as Teeraina is not only remotely placed but also lacks an air service.
Teeraina Island Council has elected members from Abaiang, Kauamwemwe/Uteute/Te Kaaitara, Matanibike,
Arabwata and Mwakeitari/Onouea, a total of 5 elected members, a ‘unimwane’ and a women’s representative
on the council.
The revised Local Government Act 2006 is aimed at transferring to Island Councils more autonomy and
responsibility, to enable them to shoulder the burden of running their islands with increased confidence and
sense of stewardship. The revision of the Local Government Act is but part of a wider plan to improve services
to people on the outer islands. In addition central government is committed to undertake, among others, the
following:
•
•
•
•
improve key development infrastructures (transport, communication, health, education, etc.) through
sustained development financing,
promote participatory planning and decision-making especially in relation to matters pertaining to the
island as a whole,
streamline operation and output of Island Councils through human resource development and stricter
management where appropriate,
develop new income generation initiatives, and secure new employment opportunities overseas, etc.
Generally, while Island Councils may welcome new initiatives of central government to assist them and their
people, it may take a long time to build the financial capability of Councils so that they could operate with
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minimum support from central government.
Central Government still provides support to the Island Councils through what is known as “Support Grant”.
According to sources from the Local Government Division of the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs, central
government provided a total of $1.24 million to Island Councils in 2007. From this grant Teeraina was given
$37,281.00 (about 3% of total grant) to assist its recurrent budget.
Apart from the support grant that the Government gives to the outer island councils, Island Council projects are
also funded by the government and donors most notably the Taiwan embassy in South Tarawa who gives out
AU$10 million every year to fund these island council priority projects.
Table 11: Teeraina Island Council priority projects
Year
Project Name
Approved funds
2004
Council Truck
$
58,500.00
2005
New Council office
$
149,010.00
2006
Guesthouse renovation
$
30,000.00
2007
Housing project
$
267,300.00
$
504,810.00
4.3.3 Interface between Local Government and Traditional Political System
The leadership role of the ‘Unimwane’ is well appreciated and continues to be respected by the society and
hence central government. The modern legal system is indeed crucial to the maintenance of peace and order
in Kiribati, but there are many instances where modern law fails to provide a solution to certain situations, and
this is where the community under the leadership of the ‘Unimwane’ intervenes to provide the solution. To
avoid confrontation between central government and the traditional leaders, it is therefore resolved that the
‘Unimwane’ association must be represented in local government, not as an elected councilor but as a
nominated member who assists, advises and in many instances instructs Council to make the required
decisions.
Councils and other institutions cannot disengage themselves from the ‘Unimwane’ who basically hold the power
to community support and/or resources. The cultural respect for ‘unimwane’ as decision makers is not lost on
Teeraina, even though the islanders are now a mixture of people from Polynesia during the copra years and
those from all over the Gilbert group that were later re-settled on the island. The ‘Unimwane’ association is still
active, strong and influential in making decisions concerning the island as a whole such as in representation of
Teeraina in national functions such as inter-island sports championships and keeping the peace on the island.
Although the ‘Unimwane’ association is represented by a single member on the Council, such a member has
the full support of the ‘Unimwane’ Association thus the island community.
Clashes of opinions and decisions between the Council and Unimwane has not been experienced since the
establishment of the Council in 1995 thus the interface between the Local Government and the tradition
systems is presently working well on Teeraina.
4.3.4 Crime and Justice System
A Court Clerk from the Judiciary in Tarawa is also stationed on the island to administer the court system on the
island. Duties of the Court Clerk include recording minutes of the magistrate court proceedings, executing the
order of the court, collecting court fees, and processing claims and appeals to the High Court located in South
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Tarawa.
Table 12: Committed offenses 2006
G/Age
Charge
1 M/15 yrs
Criminal trespass
2 M/16 yrs
Damaging property
3 M/17 yrs
Damaging property
4 M/17 yrs
Cycling without a light
Sentence
3 mth imprisonment
3 mths imprisonment
3 mths imprisonment
$20.00 fine
Table 13: Committed offenses 2007
G/Age
Charge
1 M/15 yrs
Criminal trespass
2 M/15 yrs
Criminal trespass
3 M/17 yrs
Criminal trespass
Sentence
6 mths imprisonment
6 mths imprisonment
6 mths imprisonment
The above cases were as extracted from his records but others were not mentioned in the book, clarified by the
court clerk as normal minor offences such as riding pushbikes or motorbikes at night without lights or driving
motorbikes without licenses. These are normal occurrences throughout Kiribati, however, the offenders which
are males have never failed to meet their sentence fines.
Imprisonment is carried out at the Police headquarters where the convicted stays with the residing police officer
and does community work daily for as long as the sentence dictates. Most of the time, due to these offences
being minor in nature, most offenders are allowed to stay with families but required to show up/report to the
Police station daily whence he can assist with tasks assigned by the residing police officer. As can be seen from
the above court cases, Teeraina suffers minimal crimes and only from teenage males who are on the edge of
turning into men and still hot-blooded as the locals would say.
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CHAPTER 5: TE TABOMOA – ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES,
INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES
5.1 ISLAND ECONOMY
5.1.1 Subsistence Economy
A subsistence economy is one where people perform traditional activities to meet their individual and group
needs for security, and have no reason to accumulate wealth except to ensure their future survival. In such a
system, the concept of wealth does not exist hence there is a high degree of reliance on existing natural
resources, development and maintenance of the natural environment and the skills to harvest and maintain
these resources. The nature of the subsistence economy is reflected in the social organization of families, who
join together to form large kinship
groups (kaainga) which survives
according to a set of rules and
roles. Each member of a kaainga
performs a different set of activities
which are assigned on the basis of
sex and age. It is important for the
survival of the group that each
member fulfils the roles and
responsibilities assigned to
him/her.
Typical subsistent activities include
fishing, toddy cutting, cultivation
and harvesting of food crops
mainly coconut, pandanus,
breadfruit and bwabwai. These
activities are performed by the
adult members of a family, while the younger members are expected to collect firewood and fetch water, clean
the dishes and kaainga’s compound, and assist the adult members to do the easy part of their chores.
Unfortunately, subsistence living cannot be upheld in the whole of Kiribati due to the increasing need of money
to pay for the basic necessities but instead has now been merged with the now trading/commercial trend.
Where most of the fishing was done for subsistence, it is now sold and where there is a surplus, it is either given
freely to relatives or preserved for later consumption or sale.
Due to the increasing dependence on imported goods which are sold to the general public by small stores, the
importance of cash as a medium of exchange, though a dominant trend in this age, barter trading is still carried
out on Teeraina. Monetary institutions such as the banks and other financing institutions are not available on
the island and thus the availability of money can be affected, setting the way for the existing customs of
borrowing (tangobwai), asking (bubuti) and or bartering. While some people may be more skilled in one thing
compared to others, the concept of specialization which is a strong feature of cash-based economies is absent
on the islands topped up by the isolation of the island and thus the slow inter-changes of products and cash.
- 55 -
5.1.2 Copra cutting
Copra production remains the most important commercial activity on the outer islands or rural areas that
provides a reliable and sustainable source of income for most islanders especially those in the Line group of
islands. Other than private or business leased lands, the rest of the islands are Government owned and
therefore anybody can cut copra where they like
– kind of a first come first serve system. This
way, coconut collection is similar to that of Makin
and Butaritari where family lands prevent a
single family member to own a piece of land but
instead the lands are opened for family members
to collect their livelihoods from. Copra cutting
provides the main income generating activity on
Teeraina including a lot of other uses such as
fuel for cooking and night fires for lighting.
Figure 15 describes the annual copra production
for Teeraina for the past 11 years, showing that
in general copra production on the island has
been fluctuating between 400 to 1400 metric
tonnes with the highest production achieved in 2005, a whopping 1241 tonnes and the highest production of all
the islands in the whole country on record for the year 2005. This soar in production from 699 tonnes (2004), is
accredited to the new Government coming into power and increasing the price of copra from AU$0.50 to
0.60/kg of copra. In contrast, the sharp decline in 2001 could have been caused by a nationwide drought that
lasted for more than a year or the increase in other income earning opportunities such as sea cucumber
exportation.
Copra cutting provides the main source of income for households on Teeraina. At $0.60 cents a kilogram, the
total revenue from copra production in 2005 was AU$744,600.00 (Total production*cost/kg) bringing in an
estimated average income per household of $3,760.60 (Total copra income/total household) in the year 2005.
By looking at the graph on copra production and price, there is a discernible relationship between price and
production, for which it can be said in general that copra production fluctuates when price is low, but rises
steadily or swiftly when price increases. Teeraina however due to its rough seas most of the time have to await
good weather for harvested copra to be loaded onto visiting ships. In these cases, copra storage becomes a
problem and copra is not bought from the communities awaiting the transfer of those in storage to ships. The
council mwaneaba at these times is normally in Teeraina to store the copra before convenient loading onto
visiting ships.
Table 14: Copra production and revenue 2000-2005
Year
2000
2001
Production
1,181
717
Income
$496,020
$301,140
Av. Income/HH
$2,505.15 $1,520.91
Source: National Statistics Office, 2007
2002
811
$340,620
$1,720.30
- 56 -
2003
757
$317,940
$1,605.76
2004
699
$349,500
$1,765.15
2005
1,241
$744,600
$3,760.61
0.70
1,400
0.60
1,200
0.50
1,000
0.40
800
0.30
600
0.20
400
Copra prices AUD
0.10
Copra production in metric tonnes
Copra prices AUD
Fig. 12: Teeraina copra production
200
Copra production (Tonnes)
0.00
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Year
Source: National Statistics Office, 2007
Compared to copra production with its neighboring islands, Kiritimati and Tabuaeran, Teeraina out-produces
Kiritimati island by 184 tonnes and Tabuaeran by 8990 tonnes since 1990. One would have expected Kiritimati
to have the highest production of the Line islands since it is the biggest atoll in the world, but then, where
Teeraina has been naturally covered in coconut forest and has a high rainfall, Kiritimati was naturally covered
with saltbush (Scaevola sericea), beach dodder (Cassytha filiformis) and heliotropes (Messerschmidia) and is
still being planted with coconut trees.
Fig 13: Line group copra production
Copra production by individual Line Islands
2500
2000
1500
1241
1181
Tabuaeran
1038
939
1000
Teeraina
897
811
600
728
555
500
331
491
Christmas
717
757
699
343
320
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
0
Years
Based on the last census it was found that 92% households in Teeraina own coconut and ’bwabwai’ trees which
are two of the most important traditional food crops in Kiribati. 81% of the households own and grow pandanus,
- 57 -
72% own and grow breadfruit, 1-9% owning and growing banana, pawpaw,, local fig, ‘kumara’ (sweet potato
and cabbages. 46% of these households also cut toddy (coconut sap), traditionally used as a drink mix
(cordial), medicine, boiled into a syrup or fermented into a local brew. Among the food crops and extract
mentioned, coconut trees are the main income generating providers for people on Teeraina.
5.1.3 Employment
The Island Council serve as the biggest employer for Teeraina
islanders, employing about 20 islanders as village wardens,
village nurses, drivers, hotel keepers, and office (typing,
treasurer, clerk) assistants. Depending on the need, Council
may from time to time engage contractors to undertake short
carpentry or auto-mechanical jobs. Seasonal employment is
usually available when Government or large Council projects are
undertaken, especially those which require the service of casual
laborers.
Manual labor is also regularly needed in the stevedoring of
visiting supply ships, which make monthly or more regular runs
to Teeraina carrying food, fuel, timber, and other general goods.
These are offloaded on reaching the island thus requiring casual
laborers. On the return trip, these ships are loaded with copra,
empty fuel drums and some local bagged produce like ’bwabwai’
or de-husked coconuts. Stevedoring provides an alternative way to earn income and in Teeraina, priority labor
selection can be given to those requiring funds for a community project such as in youth requiring funds to
attend the 2007 Line Inter-island Championship in Kiritimati.
Apart from a handful number of jobs offered by the Island Council in its limited service, the opportunity for paid
employment for the islanders is otherwise non-existent. The Cooperative also employs a few other people to run
the main branch of its wholesaling activities in Matanibike as well storekeepers for other Cooperative branches
in the villages. There are also government employees stationed on Teeraina such as teachers and medical
nurses, Island Project Officer whose jobs are not available to the islanders due to most islanders not meeting
the minimum qualification requirements that these jobs entail. The Island Council can only recruits a typist,
assistant treasurer, assistant clerk, village aides, drivers, mechanics, and carpenters, to name a few.
To solve the high unemployment problem in the country Government is now increasing its effort to look for and
exploit overseas employment markets especially the Pacific-rim countries of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and
the United States. Casual work such as fruit picking, elderly homecare attendants, peace keeping and sailors
are some of the employment markets being explored. To this end, Teeraina, like the rest of the islands in the
country can only await the outcomes and decisions of the Government as they come and go. The lack of
opportunities to generate income in order to be self-reliant is a far off goal as all Island Councils including
Teeraina Island Council rely heavily on central Government to support their administration which is provided
annually in support grants.
- 58 -
5.1.4 Trade and Commerce
Commercial/cash trading is an introduced concept in Kiribati society and has become an important part in the
lives of the people. To carry out any business activity involving trade on Teeraina, requires that one purchases
a business license of which the cost varies depending on the type of business to be carried out. The most
common business licenses on record are those of wholesaling, retailing, hawkers and fishing. Wholesaling and
fishing licenses cost $150.00/annum while retailing and hawker licenses cost $60.00/annum. Bigger companies
wishing to establish themselves on the island such as BKL, MOEL or TAOTIN would need to pay a $300 dollar
fee per annum. The latter three companies though have yet to think of establishing themselves on the island.
The isolation of Teeraina, though beneficial in maintaining their environment could also be a factor in slowing
down the island and the people’s development. Whichever way it is looked at, Teeraina will still thrive and
flourish if development planning is carried out with due consideration of its land, lake and ocean resources and
the impacts that overpopulation can do.
In Teeraina, the barter system still exists and is used widely by the people on the island. In this system, where
cash is not available, other things of importance are traded amongst each other to get what each other needs
and is very much widely practiced in stores and other fundraising activities. A 25kg bag of rice will normally cost
a 50kg bag of sun-dried copra or 8 coconuts can get one a cup of rice. Since copra is the main income
generating product for the islands, the island’s barter system is therefore confined to exchanging of goods and
products for certain amounts of dried copra or coconuts. A 50kg bag of dried copra will bring AU$30.00 (50*.60
copra price), nearly twice the price of a bag of rice if it were paid for with cash
Fig 14: Types of businesses on Teeraina
16
14
14
No. of Business types
12
10
10
8
6
4
2
2
2
1
1
1
Both fishing
and retailing
Bakery
0
Wholesaler
Retailer
Hawker
Fishing sales Both fishing
and
bwakaukau
Types of Business
As a small island with undeveloped infrastructure and a dualistic economy characterized by a high dependency
on imported consumables, trade and commerce on Teeraina is an important activity. The bulk of supplies that
are normally shipped to Teeraina on MV Momi consist of rice, sugar, flour, tinned food, tobacco and fuel. Most
of the times, these are transported as ordered from the island. . It is also important to note that products or
- 59 -
consumer goods tend to be costly in Teeraina owing to transporting costs from the Gilbert group to the Line
group. All cargo ships from overseas only bring imported products to Betio in South Tarawa which are then
distributed to the rest of the islands all over Kiribati. Compared to product prices in the Gilbert group, product
prices in the Line group generally tend to be higher especially during times when ships have not been visiting
with cargos for some time. Prices at such times can double e.g. An Irish cake can be sold for $10.00 a piece in
Teeraina when it normally costs AU$3.25 in the Gilbert group.
Retailers have a shop to support and confine their activities in whereas hawkers (‘bwakaukau’) do not have a
shop made specifically for their trade but instead use their homes. Where retailers sell products such as rice,
flour, sugar, tinned food and other general shop stuff, the hawker products are limited to 1-5 products. A survey
carried out for the Trade & Commerce in Kiritimati showed that typical hawkers on Teeraina can sell only rice
and local cigarettes (imported tobacco rolled in peeled pandanus leaf – ‘rauara’), while another can sell rice,
sugar, flour, tobacco and plastic bowls/basins and yet another only sold tobacco, rice and sugar.
Orders are forwarded to major supply companies in Kiritimati such as BKL, TAOTIN Trading and MOEL from
the Teeraina Cooperative who then distributes these to its branches or sells it to other existing stores on the
island. Nonetheless, the existence of this Cooperative has not stopped other private retailers and hawkers from
ordering their own supplies from the same companies in Kiritimati or boarding the visiting ships to purchase
their own supplies from the ‘floats’. These floats are basically the supply companies going for roundtrips during
ship-runs taking with them new supplies to promote or supplies that may have been overlooked by the importers
from the islands which they then sell to the island customers waiting for such floats. All trade on these floats are
paid for in cash without credit contrasting to orders made to the suppliers in Kiritimati which are all paid later
after receipt by TTs (telegraphic transfers).
Some retailers prefer to go to
Teeraina to purchase their own
supplies as there are always
issues of misplaced/missing
orders, orders taking too long to
come and orders not being what
they were intended to be. A
return trip to Kiritimati from
Teeraina is AU$110.00 yet,
despite this, the traders most of
the time think it worthwhile as
they could then get what they
wanted, in the form they wanted
and also learn or update
themselves of trade news and
also family news. Due to it’s
remoteness, Teeraina suffers a
lot from lack of cargoes and
though they can and do live
without being affected wholly, tobacco most of the time has been reported to be the only product in the shops
whose price can soar so high as to triple or quadruple its normal price but still be purchased. It is normal to
hear Teeraina people say that money is not an issue yet as the land and marine resources on the island are still
abundant for the locals to live wholeheartedly on imported foodstuff or money for that matter.
For these problems relating to lack of cargo and foodstuff from the shops due to lack of transportation, the
Government assigned the ‘Betiraoi’, a fisheries vessel to be based in Kiritimati island with the intention of also
providing transport services for the Line Islands and including Kanton in the Phoenix group.
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5.1.5 Local Finance
In 1995, the Village Bank project was initiated by Government to serve as a micro credit facility for village
communities in the outer islands. The objective of the project is to enable families to have easy access to a
credit facility from which they could borrow money to start a small business. Funding for this project was
provided by Government and shared among the islands and its village communities on a population basis. In
the villages, a committee, consisting of a chairman, a secretary and a treasurer, is established to manage and
administer the Village Banks funds. The Island Project Officer (IPO) based at each Island Council provides
auditing and monitoring services to this project to ensure proper use of funds and sustainability. The operations
of the Village Banks are governed under the Village Bank Act.
Table 7 illustrates the distribution of funds that have been made to Teeraina’s Village Banks under this project.
Altogether Teeraina has received to a total of AU$6,446.50 (total of the first, second, and third shares) between
1995 and 2007. In 2007, a team comprising the Kiritimati IPO, an officer from the PWD and another from the
Works & Energy from Kiritimati were assigned by RPD from the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs to visit
Teeraina as part of a national exercise to review the performance of the Village Banks. Based on this review
Government will be able to decide what step(s) need to be taken next.
Table 15: Village Bank share per district (Get village figures from RPD)
KIRIBATI GOV'T FUND OF 1$MILLION
1ST 75% SHARE
UNDP GRANT OF $90,000
2ND 25% SHARE
DATE
PAID
DATE
DW
NO:
8/6/2004
66/04
$ 460.70
22/10/01
383/01
Uteute
$ 215.70
22/10/01
383/01
Mwakeitari
$ 246.80
22/10/01
383/01
Abaiang
$ 131.60
22/10/01
383/01
Kauamwemwe
$ 257.75
22/10/01
383/01
$ 475.30
22/10/01
383/01
Arabata
PAID
DATE
$ 3,493.99
18/06/99
94/99
3RD SHARE
DW
NO:
Bank Name
DW
NO:
PAID
$ 1,164.66
Tangkore
$ 3,493.99
$ 1,164.66
$ 1,787.85
Source: RPD, MISA 2007
5.1.6 Remittances
With limited employment, copra income-generating activities make up the flow of cash to households. Unlike
people on some other islands depending to a great extend on remittances sent to them by relatives working in
Tarawa or overseas, Teeraina locals are presently self-reliant money wise. Their only issue is the lack of things
in general such as fishing equipment, cooking accessories, planting equipment and foodstuff. Remittances are
therefore not relied on heavily by those in Teeraina as a means income generation. Even so, only two people
collect remittances from their sons working on German ships as is the system from SPMS – SPMS seamen
employees are required to send a portion of their salaries to their parents when alive.
The general flow of seafarer’s remittances into the country is continuous and has increased over the years with
more engaged in seafaring employment. There are now two major employers of seafarers from Kiribati;
1. South Pacific Marine Services (SPMS) and;
2. The Kiribati Fishing Services (KFS)
- 61 -
Seafarers are employed as general deck workers on German ships through SPMS while Japanese employees
are employed to be fishermen on the Japanese fishing vessels through KFS. The seafarer’s salaries are paid
straight into the individual accounts in Kiribati or family accounts. Money is also sent back to churches
depending on individual seafarer obligations. Families are dependent on decisions made by their seafarer
husband or son on how much remittance they will receive (M. Borovnik 2006).
Whitley (1980) reported that the amount of remittance sent back to Kiribati in 1974 was AU$800,000 with an
additional AU$200,000 brought back in the form of leave pay at the end of contracts. Remittances grew to $1.3
million in 1979, $9.7 million in 1998 and $12.29 million in 2003 (MFED 1987). Of this $12.29 million, 86% came
from those employed by SPMS while 14% came from those employed by KFS.
Remittances sent to parents and wives differ. Parents usually receive more money from their son when he is
not married yet but once married, the son generally sends more money to his wife and family than his parents.
There is also a tendency for smaller amounts being sent to the outer islands as most families tend to move to
South Tarawa especially the wife and children while the parents are more happy to stay back home.
Remittances can be sent directly to families or they can be given after a special request (bubuti) to other
extended family members for sudden needs such as ‘botaki’s (feasts) or for school fees. These kinds of
requests usually vary and directed to straight to the members of the family employed by SPMS or KFS. A lot of
these remittances have also been invested in homes (permanent buildings), cars, motorbikes businesses, home
equipment (TV, media players, instruments) and to a big extent, school fees.
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5.2 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
5.2.1 Agriculture
One only needs to get on Teeraina to see that the potential for agricultural development and land resources is
high given that the island is not that populated as yet. Not only does it have high annual rainfall and very fertile
soil, but it is also free from most major pests and predators that are found in Kiribati especially in the Gilbert
Group. Beside coconut, a good variety of fruit and vegetable crops such as breadfruit, banana and pumpkin
also grow well on the island without or with little cultivation. Imported vegetable crops such as English
cabbages, corn, rock melons, eggplants etc are cultivated presently by the Agricultural nurseryman on the
island, an Agricultural Officer being absent. The ‘bwabwai’ beetle (taro beetle), scale insect, sooty moulds are
but some of the pests and plant ailments that are still to reach Teeraina thus only with strict quarantine
measures established and maintained for visitors and visiting ships can this pest free environment of Teeraina
be achieved. There are no proper inspection codes as yet for transport of foodstuff, plant materials and animals
on the ships on arrivals between the islands in the Line Group. Most people therefore have no second thoughts
of taking out or bringing to the island such foodstuff, plant materials and animals that takes their fancy.
The extensive coconut stands on the island crosses out the need for coconut rehabilitation programs that have
been and are still being carried out throughout Kiribati also notably in Kiritimati island. Exotic breeds of pigs and
chicken have yet to be introduced for cross-breeding with the local breeds. The most in demand are the exotic
breeds of pigs that locals would like to own and cross with their own local pigs and to a lesser extent, exotic
chicken breeds. Understandably, pigs are more popular as domestic animals as they are the major source of
meat during family, church and island feasts, which are a lot as it is the way of life in Kiribati. Whole baked pigs
grace these feasting tables and is the most sought after food at these feasts and other important functions.
Fig 15: Access to food trees
Tree Crops Access
Num ber of Tree crops on Teeraina
160
140
120
Breadfruit
Babai
100
Banana
Pawpaw
80
Other Vegs.
60
Kumala
Toddy
40
20
0
Breadfruit
Babai
Banana
Pawpaw
Tree Crops
Other
Vegs.
Kumala
Toddy
The predominant food crops on
Teeraina are coconut, ‘bwabwai’;
breadfruit and pandanus. Even though
Teeraina is government owned, locals
have, through habit of always
harvesting and cultivating bwabwai
from one site, assigned themselves
with bwabwai areas amidst the
‘bwabwai’ swamps on the outer rim of
the freshwater lake. Like the harvesting
of coconuts being a ‘first come first
serve’ system, so are the ‘bwabwai’
swamps. Home gardening presently
does not seem to be a popular
household activity as was observed in
the 2007 visit to the island
Source: 2005 Census of Population
5.2.2 Livestock
The main animals reared by the islanders are pigs and chickens, for home consumption and every now and
then, for sale as and when required during big village or church feasts. In 2005 the total number of pigs on
Teeraina was approximately 766, with 53% of households owning at least 3 pigs, 40% owning at least 4 or more
pigs, 6% of the households do not own pigs and the last 1% not stated. Only two households own cross bred
pigs while the rest own the general local pig breeds (a typical local pig breed – pictured right below).
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There were approximately 1134 local chickens
of which 52% do not own chickens, 12% own at
least three chickens, 35% owning 4 or more
chickens and 1% was not stated most probably
out of the home during the census interviews.
Chickens are free ranged and never kept in
houses. Chicken eggs are rarely eaten if at all
but left to hatch and grow into more chickens.
As free range chickens, they inter-mingle with
chickens from other households and at times
cannot be told apart. It is therefore not an
unusual sight to see chickens with claws clipped
off or have ribbons or tags tied onto their legs or
feathers as if they are being marked for
research. This has been a local practice of
marking free range chickens for better recognition especially during times when they are needed to grace feast
tables. Pigs on the other hand used to be free ranged but with the establishment of the island councils in 1995,
free ranging of pigs is now an offense against the law, liable with fines or confiscation of the pigs. The
confiscated pigs can be released to owners at a fee of $10.00 and where not, they are auctioned off to the
general public. Owing to the difficulty in accessing building materials such as mesh wire and steel posts, most
pigs spend their lives tethered to trees come rain, sun or wind.
Both pigs and chickens are kept for own consumption but sale opportunities are never passed by especially
when one has a lot of pigs and does not have a coming family or village function. Pigs are sold at $2.50/kg live
weight as most would rather buy them live due to pig blood at slaughter being a local delicacy when cooked.
Agricultural activities on the island are
carried out by a nurseryman as there is
no Agricultural assistant on the island
yet. Agricultural quarantine or safety
measures are carried out from Kiritimati
Island and there are no regulations or
quarantine inspection routine work as
yet on the island. People and visitors
alike can therefore bring in or take out
animals and plant material as they
wish. These green cockroaches are
new to the island as observed by the
nurseryman who first observed them in
2007. Sample specimens are now with
the Division of Agriculture for
identification and further advice to the
Teeraina nurseryman. General vegetable plants are grown in the Agricultural nursery such as English cabbage,
Chinese cabbage, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, rock and water melons and egg plants amongst others and
these are all sold for consumption to the general public. Seeds are provided from Kiritimati who are kept in
supply from the Agricultural department in South Tarawa.
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5.2.3 Fisheries
Teeraina is without a real lagoon, however, the freshwater lake is what must have once been a lagoon and it
also harbors marine resources
such as the ‘tuna’ (Anguilla
marmorata), the ‘barebuu’
(Caranx sp.) tilapia
(Oreochromis sp.) and milkfish
(Chanos sp). Ocean fishing
and reef flat fishing also
provide other fishing
alternatives for the islanders
and are the most popular
forms of fishing. The 2005
census records show that out
of the 198 households on
Teeraina, 143 (72%) fish on
the ocean flat, 154 (78%)
venture out in small canoes
and boats to fish in the deep ocean surrounding the island, 72 (38%) also fish in the lake and 6 (3%) fish on the
lake flats. (See fishing patterns graph – Fig 5).
Fishing is a routine activity for the men which they carry out when the seas are calm and whenever home fish
reserves have run out.
Despite its small size (land and reef) Teeraina’s offshore tuna, flying fish and other ocean fish resources are
plentiful. Teeraina’s households have been harvesting the sea in one way or another, both for domestic sale, to
satisfy their own subsistent needs and to send salted fish (fish jerky) to relatives in other parts of Kiribati mostly,
Kiritimati and South Tarawa.
Table 16: Households by Village and the location of fishing 2005
VName
Abaiang
Kauamwemwe
Uteute
Kaaitara
Tangkore
Matanibike
Arabata
Mwakeitari
Onauea
Ocean flat Lag. Flat Ocean
Lagoon
1
1
16
1
5
0
16
5
12
0
12
12
8
0
5
2
31
0
29
29
23
0
25
20
26
0
25
18
12
1
9
8
25
4
17
15
143
6
154
110
Source: Population Census 2005, Statistic Office Bairiki
Net
1
3
2
4
5
9
24
11
13
72
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development supports fisheries development on the outer
islands through:
the provision of technical staff for training, advisory and resource monitoring/evaluation purposes;
research and trialing of new fishery-related projects;
the sourcing of funds for implementation of national projects (such as cold storage, etc.)
the provision of affordable fishing gear.
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Owing to it’s rough seas and remote proximity, Teeraina has not as yet been surveyed for fishery and marine
resources, catches and marketing. However, with the recent establishment of Kiritimati island as an urban and
administrative centre for the Line group, there should be increased opportunities for such surveys and studies
for Teeraina and other islands in the Line & Phoenix group.
5.2.4 Handicrafts
Unlike Tabuaeran and Kiritimati, Teeraina does not have a thriving handicraft market as hardly anybody goes to
the island owing to the lack of air service and rough sea landing. Its situation is relatively similar to that of the
outer islands in the Gilbert group where handicrafts for commercial purposes remain insignificant, mainly due to
the lack of a market to sell them. Those with families in Tabuaeran, a touring site for the Norwegian Cruise
Lines, make attempts every now and then to send some locally made handicraft for their families to sell during
these cruise line island calls. The most popular handicraft are the mats, woven by the women from processed
pandanus leaves. These mats never cease to be wanted in markets mostly because it is something that
everyone, despite age, race and religion can use. These local handicrafts also make great giveaway gifts from
the islanders to visitors as is the tradition in Kiribati to always present visitors with gifts to remind them of their
stay on the islands.
A few years ago Government established the Kiribati Handicraft and Local Produce Company (KHLP) to
encourage people to make handicrafts and local products for commercial purposes. The company buys
materials from the outer islands and then re-sells them to the urban population, as well as foreigners. However,
despite the existence of KHLP, the level of production is still very small. Among other reasons, KHLP faces
staffing and funding difficulties that results in its inability to adequately absorb production from the outer islands.
Unfortunately, Teeraina is too far off to benefit from the company’s activities.
5.3 INFRASTRUCTURE
The establishment and maintenance of development infrastructure on the island is the responsibility of
government. The central government normally takes responsibility of implementing new development projects
while the local government is given the responsibility of maintaining such projects upon completion. Local
government authorities are allocated some money every year under a “Support Grant” to enable them to
perform this role. The project funds from donors and Government for island council priority projects have also
assisted greatly in the development of infrastructure on the outer islands including Teeraina. Council priority
projects since 2004 have been infrastructural in nature.
5.3.1 Land Transport
Well known for its isolation and high waves, Teeraina is one of the least favorite islands to travel to as the only
way to get there is by ship/boat as there is no airfield on the island yet. The Council records show that in 2007,
only 5 trucks are in operation on the island, two owned by the Council and one owned by each of the island
Cooperative store, Try Store (a privately owned store) and the KPC ‘Tetaobe’ (not the KPC boat also called
TeTaobe). Twenty five (25) motorbikes have been registered as well as 96 pushbikes. Some of the pushbikes
are not registered according to the Assistant Treasurer and therefore the 96 registered pushbikes are not the
actual number of pushbikes on the island. Two more motor bikes have been registered since the 2005 census
according to Council records 2007.
Council trucks provide the main transport for Primary and JSS students to and from their schools and general
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use by the Council. The other trucks are used for the respective services by the owners such as in
transportation of cargo and other products from docks and to other branches while the KPC Tetaobe is used to
support the KPC members in their church activities and functions. They are also hired by the general public for
transportation as and when required.
Table 17: Vehicles hire costs
Vehicle
Hire
Truck
Local – hired by islanders
Government visiting officials
Big companies – Copra Society
etc
Fare
Motorbike
Council
Private
Boat
Council
Pushbike
Private
Private
Cost in AU$
$12.50/day
$20.00 + $0.50/km
$70.00/day
$0.20 (students and others)
$10.00/day (24 hrs)
$30.00/day (working day)
$15.00 + $10.00 Boatman fee +
gas used
$160.00/trip in the lake
$10.00/day
Source: Assistant Treasurer, Teeraina Island Council
The most common form of land transport is the bicycle, of which there were 211 in 2005. Motorcycles ranks
second in popularity, with a total of 23
motorcycles recorded in 2005. Due to the
high cost of truck vehicles, difficulty in
transportation and remoteness of
Teeraina, there were only 5 trucks on
Makin during the census survey. Two of
these trucks are owned by the Island
Council of which one was donated by the
people of Taiwan for the purpose of
transporting primary and junior secondary
pupils to and from school. The other is
used generally for local hire and other
council work. Council charges a small
fare for pupils and inter-village travelers in
order to raise funds to meet the truck’s
operational cost and future maintenance $0.20/trip. Apart from this, the truck can
be hired out to meet the need of the general public and visiting officials.
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5.3.2 Sea Transport and Shipping
Inter-village travel between the nine villages of Teeraina is done through the use of canoes and small boats,
since the villages are separated by sea.
Canoes, boats, and skiffs can be used both as transport and for fishing. According to the latest statistics, the
proportion of household owning a canoe is apparently high compared to other types of sea vessels. Makin has
48% of the household owning a canoe, while Kiebu has 37%. In comparison, those owning a skiff are typically
low in number with Kiebu having 3% while there are none on Makin.
5.3.3 Air Service
This service unfortunately is lacking in Teeraina even though literature states that at one point in time, there was
an airport built by Dr. Martin Vitousek in support of his research work on climate which required recording
rainfall data from Teeraina amongst other islands in the Line & Phoenix group. Unfortunately, the airstrip has
now been overgrown with weeds and shrubs as it has not been used since Dr. Vitousek’s research years.
5.3.4 Issues facing Transportation
Having one of the most risky landing places in Kiribati, bringing in big vehicles such as trucks, cars and buses to
Teeraina remains a challenge to transport ships. Still, there are now 5 trucks on the island that provide
transport services for inter-village travel and school. The only issue is the lack of a good road throughout the
island and especially through the coconut forest which still cannot be accessed using a truck.
Canoes and boats are used as such to transport copra from other parts of the forest that otherwise cannot be
transported through the forest by pushbikes or manual carrying. At these times, the canals become the issue
especially during dry spells when the lake and canal waters go down. The canal beds are full of coconut and
pandanus leaves, logs, wood and mud obstructing the passages and blocking the engines system. One of the
locals interviewed remembered a time when the canal passages used to be cleaned up by the Council boatman
but could not remember the exact year. The clean up activity comprised taking new fallen leaves out of the
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canals as well as removing logs and loose rocks. However, the boatmen have lived there long enough to know
the dangers of these canals to attempt stepping into the canal. The canals are full of soft mud/peat that one
can sink into and thus is a danger to step into the canal unknowing or alone.
5.3.5 Communication
Kiribati is a nation of fragmented islands dispersed over a vast ocean area that extends almost 3,000 kilometers
across the central Pacific, bordering the Marshall Islands in the east and French Polynesia in the west. This
fragmentation and vastness of ocean give rise to major communication and transport problems that have been,
and will continue to be the greatest development challenge for government. Shipping is a critical service that
needs to be provided and maintained between Tarawa and the outer islands, in order to facilitate the
transportation of supplies to and from the islands. Government has been the major shipping operator since
colonial times, and still continues to dominate this service, although private businesses have secured an
increasing share of the market. Still, central government attempts, through its shipping line – Kiribati Shipping
Services Limited (KSSL) – to serve all islands in the country near and far.
Due to their isolation from the rest of the Gilbert group of islands, the Line Islands have been provided with MV
Momi, to be their main means of transport to and from Tabuaeran and Teeraina alike as both these island do
not usable airports or a plane service as yet. Instead MV Momi serves as a freight and passenger ship for the
Line Islands. ‘Betiraoi’ is owned by the Fisheries and it serves to carry out fisheries requirements as scheduled
by the Fisheries Division in the Line islands. Even so, other ships from the KSSL still make trips the Line
Islands as required eventually returning while MV Momi serves only those group of islands including Kanton in
the Phoenix group and is based in Kiritimati island
The improvement of both airport and seaport facilities across the country is a priority development objective of
central government, with focus to be given to islands which hold the potential for viable economic operations.
Kiritimati island in the Line Group is a major tourist attraction with visitors having to fly through Hawaii or Fiji to
get to it and is already being planned for development. The improvement utilized potential of air services in
Kiritimati could in the long run initiate the earliest development of airstrips and services for the islands of
Teeraina and Tabuaeran who as yet need of air services.
Until a few years ago, the main mode of communication between the islands was through the use of HAM radio
communication systems operated by TSKL. Each island has one such system based at the Island Council
headquarter on the island. Members of the general public normally use this for inter-island communication, as
does the Island Council and central government in Tarawa. However, despite the fact that the system has been
dependable and effective, there were a few problems relating to its use, among which are:
•
•
•
•
the system is not safe for sharing of private
information, since the frequency used can be
accessed by anyone with such a radio, and the
radio equipment is operated by a TSKL agent.
the use of the radio is dictated by a schedule,
hence only available for 1-2 hours daily, and only
from Mondays to Fridays.
the radio operator lacks the skill to undertake
major repair works if the radio breaks down.
Communication with the island could be cut for at
least one week during which the radio is sent to
Tarawa for repairs or awaits a technician from South Tarawa.
since there is only one radio, people from distant villages must take long journeys in order to use it.
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In order to address these problems TSKL has decided to slowly introduce a new technology, a satellite-based
telephone system which connects directly to the telephone system in Tarawa. The new system also supports
the use of facsimile and internet, and therefore was considered to be a major accomplishment as far as
progress is concerned. This system on the outer islands is powered by 450 solar panels that harness this solar
to 1000 amp. batteries (Turabu pers. comm.). However, this system not only has to be extended to Teeraina,
it also costs more to use compared to the radio; connection is vulnerable to rough weather conditions, and
people still need to travel to Council headquarters to make a call. Nonetheless, it provides more privacy when
talking to relatives on other islands especially South Tarawa. It is also important to note that the government
through TSKL is making an effort to improve the communication systems for the outer islands and as such has
plans to establish telecenters on the rest of the outer islands including Teeraina. .
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