Page 25 - IB AUG 2017

The Region
Recovery
Priest is Vanuatu President

Big shoes was performed to honour a son of the is-
land and province for being elected to the
to fill for Tallis presidency before Chief Temas of Ambrym
presented a custom leaf namele to signify
that the new Head of State is a symbol of
peace to the nation.
President Tallis replaces Baldwin Lons-
dale who died suddenly of a heart attack
in the early hours of Saturday, June 17th
2017 aged 67.
By Michele McConell-Wilson The much-loved President Lonsdale
was elected in September 2014 and was
ON Thursday July 6, 2017, the people the first President from the Torba province.
of Vanuatu welcomed their ninth Head Lonsdale was instrumental in oversee-
of State. ing the rebuilding of parts of Vanuatu in
Obed Moses Tallis became the new the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Pam
elected President of the Republic of Vanu- New Vanuatu President, Obed Moses Tallis. which hit the island nation in March
atu after the Electoral College sat for three Photo: Supplied 2015, leaving an estimated 75,000 people
days of voting at the Parliament Chambers. from 1991 to 1996. homeless.
One of 16 candidates which included an He also served as a pastor in Luganville, In October of the same year, he vowed
impressive list of former prime ministers Santo, from 1997 to 2005 to clean up corruption in Vanuatu after
and public servants, Tallis won the bal- Prior to this,he was heavily involved a scandal involving his deputy, Speaker
lot after four rounds of voting, securing in the teaching profession, teaching in Marcellino Pipite.
his position by 19 votes, giving him 39 numerous schools around Vanuatu. Pipite was one of 14 Members of Parlia-
votes, one more above the required 38 Tallis was sworn in as Vanuatu’s new ment, convicted of giving and receiving
votes needed. Head of State by Vanuatu Chief Justice Vin- corrupt payments over a vote of no confi-
Born in 1954, in Port Vato, West Am- cent Lunabek and immediately addressed dence in a previous government.
brym in the Malampa Province, the 9th the nation and Electoral College with a Pipite, who was acting president while
Head of State did his primary and second- quote from the Bible and paid tribute to Lonsdale was out of the country, used
ary school years in Port Vato from 1964 his predecessor, the late President Baldwin his interim executive powers to pardon
to 1970. Lonsdale calling for a minute silence to himself and the other 13 MPs, a pardon
He then took up teaching services from remember him. Lonsdale revoked on his return.
1971 to 1972. Tallis also paid homage to all of Vanu- One thing is for sure, the new President
Obed Moses Tallis attended Tangoa atu’s leaders before and after Indepen- has big shoes to fill, but is already well
Presbyterian Bible Institute in South Santo dence, then called for unity amongst all on his way to making his mark having
from 1977 to 1978. He studied at the leaders at national and provincial level already called for members of Parliament
Sydney Missionary and Bible College in and the people of Vanuatu. and leaders to continue to pray in a bid
Australia from 1980-81, graduating with While addressing the nation, President to enhance peace and unity throughout
a Diploma in Divinity and Mission. acknowledged the Electoral College for the country.
He moved on to study at Talua Bible their deliberations leading up to and dur- He has also called for an end to violent
College in Vanuatu between 1985 and ing the election, giving special attention crime amongst a sudden increase in the
1986 picking up another Diploma in The- to honouring the Chief Justice Vincent country, especially domestic violence,
ology. Tallis then moved back to Australia Lunabek in his role as returning officer reminding the people of Vanuatu to be
in 1989 studying at Alan Walker School of during the four rounds of voting. serious in God’s will in maintaining to-
Evangelism, where he graduated in 1989 He also acknowledged Prime Minister getherness and unity.
with a Certificate of Merit. Charlot Salwai and Leader of the Opposi- In his first speech to the people of Vanu-
In 1987,Tallis got his first appointment tion Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau; Malvatu- atu at Paton Memorial Church, President
on the island of Erromango as a pastor, a mauri National Council of Chiefs president Tallis said: “Do the people of Vanuatu see
position he held until 1990. Chief Senimao Tirsupe, chiefs and leaders. themselves in God? This is to be trans-
Playing a huge role in both the spiri- Prime Minister Salwai congratulated formed into his likeness…to love and not
tual and physical life in the Presbyterian Tallis on behalf of the Government and kill each other. To see God is to live in peace
Church in Vanuatu as a whole, President the people of Vanuatu and did a customary and not in violence in the homes and in
Tallis also took on the roles of Clerk of the toast of kava. the streets”
Ambrym Presbytery on his home island A special custom dance from Ambrym q michkwilson@gmail.com

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Islands Business, August 2017 25