David Christopher Explained

David Christopher
Constituency Mp9:Rabi Island
Parliament9:Kiribati
Term Start9:7 January 2016
Term End9:26 February 2022
Predecessor9:Paulo Vanualailai
Term Start10:1994
Term End10:1998
Predecessor10:Rongorongo Terubea
Successor10:Bureia Samuela
Constituency Mp11:North Eastern General
Parliament11:Fijian
Term Start11:September 2001
Term End11:13 May 2006
Predecessor11:Leo Smith
Successor11:Robin Irwin
Death Date:26 February 2022[1]
Death Place:Suva, Fiji
Party:Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua

David Ariu Christopher, also known as Kariamakin Airu Christopher (died 26 February 2022) was a politician of Banaban descent, who has held office in two countries — Fiji[2] and Kiribati.

Christopher was educated at Niusawa Primary School, Queen Victoria School, Lelean Memorial School and then the University of the South Pacific.[1] He worked for the Fiji Sugar Corporation, and then for Rabi Holdings, the investment company of the Rabi Council of Leaders.[1] He was appointed to the Kiribati House of Assembly in 1994, serving a term of four years as representative of the Banaban people living on Rabi Island in Fiji.[3]

At the 2001 Fijian general election, he won the North Eastern General electorate for the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) of Laisenia Qarase, becoming the first Banaban elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji. He lost his seat to Robin Irwin at the 2006 election. Christopher's former constituency was one of three reserved for "General Electors" - Fijian citizens who are not of ethnic Fijian, Indian, or Rotuman descent. Following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état and the dissolution of the SDL he returned to work for the Rabi Council as executive director.[1]

In 2016 Christopher was again appointed to fill the nominated seat for Rabi Island in the Kiribati House of Assembly. He was renominated at the 2020 Kiribati parliamentary election.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former MP, Rabi Council of Leaders Executive Director, David Christopher Dies At 74 . Fiji Sun . 2 March 2022 . 31 January 2023.
  2. Book: Frankel. Yehonatan Shimʻon. Frankel. Jon. Firth. Stewart. From election to coup in Fiji: the 2006 campaign and its aftermath . 2007 . Asia Pacific Press . Canberra, Australia . 978-0-7315-3812-6. xxvi-xxvii. j.ctt24hbbn.29 .
  3. Web site: Find a Member by Parliament . Parliament of Kiribati . https://web.archive.org/web/20120327012104/http://www.parliament.gov.ki/content/find-member-parliament#8th . 27 March 2012.