Bernard Dowiyogo
Encyclopedia
HE Bernard Annen Auwen Dowiyogo (February 14, 1946 – March 9, 2003) was President
of the Republic of Nauru
.
Dowiyogo was seen as an opponent of Nauru
's first post-independence President, Hammer DeRoburt
.
.
Over the next 25 years, Dowiyogo served as President several times, for periods as long as six years (1989–1995) and as short as 15 days (in November 1996). He was the youngest president in Nauru.
During the 1980s, he sharply criticized France
and the United States
for atomic weapons testing in Nauru.
He died in office in March 2003 (having been president on this occasion since January 2003) at George Washington University Hospital
in Washington, D.C.
from heart complications brought on by his struggle with diabetes, a common ailment on Nauru. At the time of the deterioration of his final illness, he had been engaged in protracted negotiations with the United States
Government.
in 1976, but at his death in 2003 which ended a political career spanning about 30 years he was regarded as something of an elder statesman.
Valdon Dowiyogo
, son of Bernard Dowiyogo, was appointed Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru
in 2005.
President of Nauru
The President of Nauru is elected by Parliament from amongst its members. He is both the head of state and head of government of Nauru. Nauru's unicameral Parliament has 18 members, with an electoral term of 3 years. Political parties only play a minor role in Nauru politics, and there has often...
of the Republic of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
.
Background and early career
He first became an elected member of Nauru's 18-seat parliament in 1973. Particularly in his earlier years in the Parliament of NauruParliament of Nauru
The Parliament of Nauru has 18 members, elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies. The President of Nauru is elected by the members of the Parliament.The members of the Parliament of Nauru are elected by a positional voting system....
Dowiyogo was seen as an opponent of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
's first post-independence President, Hammer DeRoburt
Hammer DeRoburt
Hammer DeRoburt, KBE was the founding President of the Republic of Nauru, and ruled the country for most of its first twenty years of independence.-Background and early career:...
.
President of Nauru
He served his first term as President from 1976 to 1978 after ousting Hammer DeRoburtHammer DeRoburt
Hammer DeRoburt, KBE was the founding President of the Republic of Nauru, and ruled the country for most of its first twenty years of independence.-Background and early career:...
.
Over the next 25 years, Dowiyogo served as President several times, for periods as long as six years (1989–1995) and as short as 15 days (in November 1996). He was the youngest president in Nauru.
During the 1980s, he sharply criticized France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for atomic weapons testing in Nauru.
He died in office in March 2003 (having been president on this occasion since January 2003) at George Washington University Hospital
George Washington University Hospital
The George Washington University Hospital is a hospital in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It opened on On August 23, 2002, with 371 beds in a 400,000 sq. ft. building, housing than $45 million of medical equipment and cost more than $96 million to construct...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from heart complications brought on by his struggle with diabetes, a common ailment on Nauru. At the time of the deterioration of his final illness, he had been engaged in protracted negotiations with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Government.
Personal legacy
He was one of the youngest heads of state in the world when elected as President of NauruPresident of Nauru
The President of Nauru is elected by Parliament from amongst its members. He is both the head of state and head of government of Nauru. Nauru's unicameral Parliament has 18 members, with an electoral term of 3 years. Political parties only play a minor role in Nauru politics, and there has often...
in 1976, but at his death in 2003 which ended a political career spanning about 30 years he was regarded as something of an elder statesman.
Valdon Dowiyogo
Valdon Dowiyogo
Valdon Kape Dowiyogo is a political figure from the Pacific nation of the Republic of Nauru.-Family and political background:His father, Bernard Dowiyogo, served as President of Nauru on seven occasions between 1976 and 2003...
, son of Bernard Dowiyogo, was appointed Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru
Parliament of Nauru
The Parliament of Nauru has 18 members, elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies. The President of Nauru is elected by the members of the Parliament.The members of the Parliament of Nauru are elected by a positional voting system....
in 2005.