8 Jan 2016

More Kiribati ministers lose seats

2:56 pm on 8 January 2016
No caption

Kiribati parliament Photo: RNZ

Two more Kiribati government ministers have lost their seats in the national election.

Preliminary results from the second round of voting show that the labour minister Martin Moreti and the environment minister Tiarite Kwong failed to be re-elected.

19 seats were filled in last week's first round and the remaining 25 were voted on yesterday.

A former president, Teatao Teannaki, lost his seat on Abaiang, where Dr Teuea Toatu and Tekena Tiroa were elected as new MPs.

Two former presidents, Ieremia Tabai and Teburoro Tito, have retained their seats.

On Onotoa island, Kouraiti Beniato was re-elected while on Maiana island new MPs David Collins and Kaure Baabo were elected.

In North Tarawa, Boutu Baterikiand two new MPs Atarake Natara and Emile Schutz were elected.

Nabuti Mwemwenikarawa, who is a former leader of the Maurin Kiribati party and who once ran for president, missed out.

On Kiritimati Island, Kirata Temwamwaka and Jacob Teem were elected.

Uriam Tirae Iabeta won Teraina seat in the Line and Phoenix Group.

Results from five islands are yet to be tallied.