Revision on Kiribati

Kiribati is comprised of three main Island groups;

• The Gilberts (in the west - 17 islands - straddling the equator)
• The Phoenix Islands (centre - 8 islands - south of the equator) 
• The Line Islands (in the east - 8 islands - straddling the equator)

The Gilberts include the Capital, Tarawa. the Phoenix Islands are where it is suspected Amelia Erhardt went down, and the Line Islands, including Kiritimati (Christmas Island) are the first to see the new day. The Line Islands also have Millenium Island which changed its name from Caroline Island in 2000.
 

From east to west the country is wider than Australia and covers 3.5 million square kilometres of the Pacific. I-Kiribati are great sailors and it is thought the common language was established through their frequent travel between Islands.

Taborio Community Mwaneaba collects water

No water collection 

South Tarawa is densely populated and comparisons are often made with Bangladesh. The lagoon is heavily polluted as are sections of the artesian water supply. Recent concerns about fresh water availability seem strange given the continual rain since Christmas. It is a catchment issue! Roofs are thatch and tanks are limited; nothing which could not be solved. Many of the large Mwaneabas (meeting places) in Tarawa have iron roofs.

Betio is the Port at the western end of South Tarawa, government offices are spread over South Tarawa but most are at Bairiki near Betio. Health (admin and the hospital) and Education are at the eastern end as is the Bonriki International Airport.

Kiribati has a 42 seat Assembly, with the President elected by popular vote from 3-4 candidates proposed by the parliament. There is no tradition of party politics, rather interest groups or factions. The constitution is a blend of the Westminster system and traditional values. The Minister for Education is currently a woman, but they are rare in politics. Currently 3 of the 42 are women. Parliament House is representative of the traditional mwaneaba. They should have stuck with the real thing which is architecturally very pleasing.