Bwebwetake Areieta

Last updated
Bwebwetake Areieta
Minister of Communications, Works and Utilities
In office
1974–1978
Preceded by Naboua Ratieta
Succeeded by Babera Kirata
Member for Social Services
In office
1971–1974
Member of the House of Assembly
In office
1974–1980
Constituency Maiana
Member of the Legislative Council
In office
1971–1974
Preceded by Tem Jacob
Constituency Maiana
Personal details
Died8 March 1980 (aged 37)
Ambo, Kiribati

Bwebwetake Areieta (died 8 March 1980) was an I-Kiribati politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly from 1971 until his death, also holding the posts of Member for Social Services and Minister of Communications, Works and Utilities during the 1970s.

Biography

Originally from Maiana, Areieta married Matereti from Onotoa and the couple moved to Bairiki. [1] He began work in the civil service in 1963 and became editor of the Colony Information Notes weekly newsheet, [2] In 1966 he was seconded to the Public Relations Office of the Fijian government for a short spell. [1] He became an assistant broadcasting officer for Radio Tarawa and attended a BBC producers course in the UK. [1] He later rose to become officer-in-charge of the broadcasting department. [3]

In 1971 he was elected to the Legislative Council of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and was appointed Member for Social Services. [4] After being re-elected to the new House of Assembly in 1974 he was appointed Minister of Communications, Works and Utilities by Chief Minister Naboua Ratieta. Although he was re-elected again in 1978, Ratieta lost the election for Chief Minister and Areieta was left out of the new cabinet. [3]

He died in March 1980 in a motorcycle accident. [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 People Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1970, p93
  2. ↑ People Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1969, p105
  3. 1 2 3 Bwebwetake Areieta Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1980, p98
  4. ↑ New-look Gilbert and Ellice politics may spark ailing public interest Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1971, p24
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