Kiribati General Information Area: 810.5 sq km (312.9 sq miles). Population: 83,976 (1998). Population Density: 103.6 per sq km. Capital: South Tarawa. Population: 29,028 (1990). GEOGRAPHY: Kiribati (pronounced ‘Kiribass’, formerly the Gilbert Islands) consists of three groups in the central Pacific: Kiribati (including Banaba, formerly Ocean Island), the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands. The 33 islands, scattered across two million square miles of the central Pacific, are low-lying coral atolls with coastal lagoons. The exception is Banaba, which is a coral formation rising to 80m (265ft). The soil is generally poor, apart from Banaba, and rainfall is variable. Coconut palms and pandanus trees comprise the main vegetation. There are no hills or streams throughout the group. Water is obtained from storage tanks or wells. Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1979. Head of State and Government: President Teburoro Tito since 1994. Language: Kiribati and English. Religion: Christianity (50 per cent Roman Catholic), the Bahai Faith and Islam. Time: GMT + 12, except as follows: Canton Island, Enderbury Island GMT +13; Christmas Island GMT +14. Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:  The Government provides radio and postal services to all inhabited islands. Telephone Country code: 686. Outgoing international code: 0. Most international calls from Kiribati have to go through the operator. IDD is available throughout urban Tarawa. Radio telephone calls can be arranged to most outer islands. Mobile telephone GSM 1800 and 900 networks in use. Network providers include Telecom Service Kiribati Ltd. Fax This is available at the local Telecoms Office. Telegram Available in Betio Mon-Fri 0800-1900 and on outer islands Mon-Fri 0800-1600. Telegrams may take several days to reach Europe. Internet ISPs include VPM Internet Services. There are no Internet cafes in Kiribati currently. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes up to two weeks. There is a weekly postal service for overseas mail. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500. Press The weekly papers are Te Uekera and Kiribati Newstar, published in English and Kiribati. Kiribati Business Link is published in English. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.36 9.740 6.195 3.915 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes 1 Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes 2 Yes USA Yes Yes Yes OtherEU Yes 1 Yes Japanese Yes Yes Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for six months required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) 1. nationals of Spain, Sweden and the UK (irrespective of endorsement in passport regarding national status) for stays of up to 28 days. All other EU nationals do require a visa; (b) 2. nationals of Canada for stays of up to 28 days; (c) nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Botswana, Cyprus, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe for up to 28 days; (d) nationals of Korea (Rep) and Nauru for up to 30 days; (e) nationals of the Philippines for up to 21 days; (f) nationals of American Samoa, Ecuador, Guam, Marshall Islands, Pacific Islands of Micronesia and Palau for up to 20 days; (g) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport (some nationalities always require a transit visa; enquire at the Consulate). Note: (a) Nationals of the following countries require permission to enter the country from the Principal Immigration Officer: Albania, Algeria, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, CIS, China (PR), Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Iraq, Jordan, Korea (Dem Rep), Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Mongolia, Morocco, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Visa application will take an additional two weeks. The nationals of some countries require references along with their visas. Check details with the Consulate (or the Consular section at the Embassy or High Commission). (b) On arrival, visitors may apply for a Visitor’s Permit to stay for a maximum of four months; a visa, return or onward travel tickets and sufficient funds for the duration of stay are required. Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business: A$50 (single- and multiple-entry). Validity: From 20 days to four months depending on nationality. Enquire at nearest Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission). Application to: The Honorary Consulate or Consular section at the Embassy (see Contact Addresses section). Application requirements: (a) Completed application form. (b) Passport. (c) Travel itinerary. (d) Stamped and self-addressed envelope. (e) Appropriate letters from company/sponsors if on business. (f) Fee. Working days required: Allow three weeks for postal applications. An additional two weeks is required when permission needs to be obtained from the Principal Immigration Officer in Tarawa. Temporary residence: Apply to Office of the President, PO Box 68, Bairiki, Tarawa, Kiribati. Money Currency: Australian Dollar (A$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of A$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of A$2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Currency exchange: Currency may be exchanged at the Bank of Kiribati Ltd or local hotels. Credit & debit cards: MasterCard and Visa have very limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Accepted in hotels, some shops and at the Bank of Kiribati Ltd. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Australian Dollars. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Australian Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 2.62 2.80 2.80 2.66 $1.00= 1.80 1.84 1.77 1.67 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1500. The Bikenibeu branch is open 0900-1400. Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Kiribati by persons over 21 years of age without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 225g tobacco or cigars; 1l of spirits and 1l of wine; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use (subject to declaration); 1 pair of binoculars, 1 camera and 6 rolls of film, 1 cine camera and 200m of film, 1 radio, 1 broadcast receiver, 1 tape recorder, 1 typewriter, sports equipment for personal use. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Apr 18 Good Friday; Health Day. Jul 12 Independence Day. Aug 7 Youth Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 18 Health Day. Jul 12 Independence Day. Aug 7 Youth Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A Malaria No N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. 2: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is often recommended. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as a potential health risk. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Hepatitis A and B are reported. Diarrhoeal diseases are common. Dengue fever, including its haemorrhagic form, occurs in epidemics. Diphtheria and tuberculosis may all occur. Health care: Health insurance is strongly recommended. Tungaru Central Hospital on Tarawa provides medical service to all the islands. Government dispensaries on all islands are equipped to handle minor ailments and injuries. Visitors are advised to bring their own supply of basic medicines with them. Travel - International AIR: Kiribati is mainly served by Air Nauru, Air Fiji and Air Marshall Islands. The national airline, Air Kiribati, flies to Honolulu (Hawaii) and Fiji. Air Kiribati provides a weekly connection between Christmas Island and Honolulu. Approximate flight times: From London to Tarawa via Sydney and Nauru is 30 hours 30 minutes (excluding stopover time). International airports: Tarawa (Bonriki) (TRW) lies 11km (7 miles) northeast of Bikenibeu. Buses operate every 3-4 minutes from the airport to the capital. Other airports include Christmas Island (CXI). Departure tax: A$20, except for children under two years of age and transit passengers. SEA: International ports are Tarawa, Banaba and Christmas Island. Kiribati is served by Norwegian Cruise Lines, which call at Fanning Island. Travel - Internal AIR: Air Kiribati operates an internal scheduled service to nearly all outer islands, linking them with Tarawa. SEA: Several passenger ferries run between the smaller islands. Boats are available for hire to some of the more remote outlyng islands. ROAD: Traffic drives on the left. All-weather roads are limited to urban Tarawa and Christmas Island. Privately owned buses and taxis are available on urban Tarawa only. Buses are fairly cheap (A$15 is the maximum fare), but taxis are expensive (A$25 for a journey from the airport to urban Tarawa). Car hire: Available on urban Tarawa and Christmas Island only. Documentation: International Driving Permit required. Accommodation HOTELS: There are few hotels in Kiribati, the major ones being on Tarawa, Christmas Island and Abemama. The small island of Kirimati also has a few hotels. Accommodation is good but not luxurious. There are also plans to build a luxury 150-room hotel on Christmas Island. A ten per cent service charge is added to all hotel bills. Further information is available from the South Pacific Tourism Organisation or the Honorary Consulate (see Contact Addresses section). REST HOUSES: Inexpensive rest houses can be found on all the other islands, for example Otintai, Tarawa; Robert Louis Stevenson, Abemama; Captain Cook, Christmas Island. However, cooking facilities are limited and visitors should take what they need with them. Prices for accommodation in rest houses vary considerably. Introduction Kiribati is remote and tourism is very much in its infancy. However, after Kiribati changed the International Dateline to make its uninhabited Caroline Island the ‘first to see the year 2000’ (causing hefty arguments with neighbouring ‘first-dawn’ contenders Fiji and Tonga in the process), the country has moved further into the tourist spotlight. The islands boast superb white sandy beaches and crystal-clear lagoon waters. There are excellent facilities for snorkelling and deep-sea fishing. It is also possible to charter boats for sailing across the Tarawa Lagoon. The capital of Kiribati, Tarawa is fast becoming one of the most densely populated areas in the Pacific, being similar in density to Hong Kong. The President’s Office, Parliament building and International Airport are all situated on Bonriki. A number of war relics can be seen on Betio and visits to World War II battlegrounds and natural history expeditions can be organised. Stretching for almost half the land mass of Kiribati, Christmas Island is covered in lakes and ponds and boasts some of the largest colonies of birds. Trips with studies of the local birdlife are available. The main towns are London, Paris and Banana. Game fishing is extremely popular on the island. There are also trips to see outrigger canoe races and dancing contests. Visitors are always welcome in the maneaba, a traditional community meeting house, where they may enjoy traditional dancing, singing and storytelling – local culture is still the dominant influence in these islands. A fine way to get the whole picture of Kiribati is to take a ‘flight-seeing’ trip on board frighteningly small planes. Tours take in the islands of Abaiang, Abemama, Maiana and Tarawa – other islands can be visited on request. Sport & Activities Hotels offer canoeing, fishing and snorkelling facilities. Scuba divers are advised to bring their own equipment. Birdwatching is popular, especially on Christmas Island where millions of birds swarm everywhere. Game fishing on Christmas Island is also becoming popular. A fishing licence is unnecessary and charters are easily available. For swimming, numerous beaches offer safe bathing. Golf can also be played on Ambo Island (part of Tarawa) where the green of the golf course is actually rolled sand. Social Profile Food & Drink: Restaurants are few in number and are situated mainly in the larger towns. Local specialities in the southern islands include the boiled fruit of pandanus (screwpine), sliced thinly and spread with coconut cream. A Kiribati delicacy is palu sami, which is coconut cream with sliced onion and curry powder, wrapped in taro leaves and pressure cooked in an earth-oven packed with seaweed. It can be eaten on its own or served with roast pork or chicken. As in many of the islands of the South Pacific, there is a tendency amongst local people to regard imported canned products as luxuries. Nightlife: There are ‘Island Nights’ which feature traditional Polynesian music and dancing, film shows and feasts in maneabas (local meeting houses) which can be found throughout the islands. Shopping: Handicrafts include baskets, table mats, fans and cups made from pandanus leaves, coconut leaves, coconut shells and sea shells. Sea-shell necklaces are popular, as are models of Gilbertese canoes and houses. A prized item is the Kiribati shark-tooth sword made of polished coconut wood with shark teeth, filed to razor sharpness, lashed to the two edges. These days, most examples are modern reproductions. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1900 (some shops open until 2030), Sun 0800-1900 (most small shops). Social Conventions: Like the other Pacific islanders, the people are very friendly and hospitable and retain much of their traditional culture and lifestyle. In this casual atmosphere, European customs still prevail alongside local traditions. Although in official correspondence the Western convention of signing names with initials is adopted, it is more polite (and customary) to address people by their first name. Bikinis should not be worn except on the beach. Tipping: Not expected. Business Profile Economy: The main agricultural crop is coconut, from which copra, the principal export commodity, is derived. Bananas, breadfruit and papayas are also produced, largely for domestic consumption. The local fishing industry has declined drastically, particularly after the closure of the state fishing company, but the sale of licences to foreign fleets is an important source of government revenue. Phosphate mining, previously an important industry, ended during the closing stages of the 1980s. Despite its remoteness, Kiribati has managed to develop a tourism industry which now accounts for about one-fifth of GDP. Kiribati remains heavily dependent on foreign aid and remittances from the relatively large proportion of the workforce employed overseas. Kiribati is a member of the Pacific Community, the South Pacific Forum and the Asian Development Bank. Kiribati is also involved with various regional initiatives to promote economic development. Most trade takes place with Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, the USA, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Kiribati is also one of the 14 signatories to the Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement, agreed in 2001, which plans measures to boost regional trade. Business: Shirt and smart trousers or skirt will suffice most of the time; ties need only be worn for formal occasions. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1230 and 1330-1615. Climate Maritime equatorial in the central islands of the group. The islands to the north and south are more tropical. The trade winds blow between March and October, making this the most pleasant time of the year, while the highest rainfall (December to May) is concentrated on the northern islands. November to February is more wet and humid than the rest of the year. History and Government History: There are indications of prehistoric migrations from South East Asia, but the present inhabitants of Kiribati descend mainly from a Samoan influx during the 13th to 15th centuries. Following European discovery, Kiribati came into contact with other Pacific islanders and the Chinese; traces of this intermixing remain in both the population and culture. Village government in Kiribati continues in the pre-colonial mode. In 1892, Kiribati became part of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and was administered by the West Pacific High Commission in Fiji. The islands were occupied by the Japanese during World War II, and were the site of some of the fiercest fighting between Japan and the USA. The transition to independence began in 1963 with the formation of legislative and executive councils under the supervision of a British Governor General, who performed the functions previously exercised by the High Commissioner. The Legislative Council later evolved into the Maneaba ni Maungatabu (see Government section). In 1975, the Ellice Islands seceded from the main group to form the separate territory of Tuvalu. The remaining Gilbert Islands, along with a few smaller islands which the colonial authorities had tacked onto the group, became the independent republic of Kiribati in July 1979. Ieremia Tabai, a veteran of Kiribati politics, won the first three post-independence presidential elections, held in 1982, 1983 and 1987. Constitutional restraints prevented him from standing at the election held in late 1991, but he continued to exert considerable influence on the Government through his successor, former Vice President Teatao Teannaki, until the latter was turned out of office in September 1994. The victor, Teburoro Tito, was a member of the Maneaba Te Mauri (MTM), which had been in opposition to the dominant National Progressive Party (NPP), to which Tabai and Teannaki were both affiliated. Tito was re-elected at the election in November 1998. Simultaneous Maneaba elections returned the MTM as the largest bloc once again, although independents continued to hold the balance of power. The policy issues preoccupying Kiribati at present are economic and environmental. The weakness of the economy has led to what is widely seen as an over-dependence on foreign aid (see Business Profile section). The Government is also deeply concerned by the prospect of global warming as none of Kiribati’s land lies more than 2m above sea level. A further issue, that of overpopulation, has been tackled by resettling several thousand people – along with several hundred asylum seekers rejected by Australia – on the relatively remote Line Islands and Phoenix Islands. Government: Kiribati has a unicameral chamber legislature, Maneaba ni Maungatabu, with 41 members: 39 of these are directly elected for four years; the Attorney-General is an ex-officio member; there is also a representative of the Banaban community (inhabitants of Ocean island). The Beretitenti (president) is head of both state and government, and is also directly elected. The president appoints a cabinet from the incumbent members of the Maneaba, with whom he shares executive power. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.