Frederick Pitcher
Encyclopedia
Frederick William "Freddie" Pitcher (born 5 February 1967) is a Nauru
an political figure. In December 2007, Pitcher was appointed Finance Minister of Nauru
, to serve in the Administration of President Marcus Stephen
.
Pitcher became the President of Nauru
on November 10, 2011, following the resignation of his predecessor, former President Marcus Stephen
. He lost a parliamentary vote of confidence and lost the presidency on 15 November 2011 after only 6 days in power.
, where Pitcher also has many family connections, he was viewed as a young reformist during the preceding Administration of President Ludwig Scotty
, and was perceived as close to Kieren Keke
, who joined the Stephen Administration as Foreign Minister. Pitcher was elected to the Parliament of Nauru
in 2004, and served in the second Administration of President Ludwig Scotty
.
In March 2008, the speaker of the Parliament of Nauru
, David Adeang
, attempted to have Pitcher expelled from Parliament, by summoning a Parliamentary session, allegedly without informing members of the government, which resulted in the passing of a law forbidding Members of Parliament to hold dual citizenship. President Stephen argued that the law was unconstitutional; Adeang said it was not. On 28 March, Adeang ordered Pitcher and another minister, Kieren Keke
, to vacate their seats in Parliament, since they both hold dual Nauruan and Australian citizenship. The two ministers refused to do so, and Adeang suspended the sitting.
deal. Specifically, opposition leader David Adeang
accused Stephen of soliciting potential kickbacks from Thai
businesspeople looking to buy phosphates in Nauru. Stephen called the charges "unwarranted and mischievous." He resigned the presidency, but remained in parliament.
Frederick Pitcher, who had previously served as Minister for Commerce, Industry and Environment, became the new President of Nauru
on the same day as Stephen's resignation. Pitcher was elected President by the same nine members of parliament who had supported the outgoing Stephen government. Mathew Batsiua
, the former health minister, was also named Nauru's new foreign minister, replacing Kieren Keke
. Pitcher retained Stephen in his cabinet reshuffle.
Pitcher dismissed corruption allegations against Stephen as baseless upon taking office, telling reporters, "There was no evidence or proof. I think Marcus himself felt that this whole discussion had become a distraction to parliament and to government and he offered to resign. I think he did a noble thing and I applaud him for it. So far allegations [go] I think they were only allegations. I saw nothing to prove they were anything other than false allegations."
Pitcher's presidency was not expected to affect the Australia
n opposition's plan to open a new immigration center in Nauru. After the defection of one of his supporters Pitcher lost a parliamentary vote of confidence and the presidency on November 15. Sprent Dabwido
was elected as his successor.
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...
an political figure. In December 2007, Pitcher was appointed Finance Minister 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...
, to serve in the Administration of President Marcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen was President of the Republic of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. In addition to the presidency, he held the offices of Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust, Minister for Police, Prisons, & Emergency Services, and Minister for Public...
.
Pitcher became the President of Nauru
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...
on November 10, 2011, following the resignation of his predecessor, former President Marcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen was President of the Republic of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. In addition to the presidency, he held the offices of Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust, Minister for Police, Prisons, & Emergency Services, and Minister for Public...
. He lost a parliamentary vote of confidence and lost the presidency on 15 November 2011 after only 6 days in power.
Background and earlier career
Educated in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where Pitcher also has many family connections, he was viewed as a young reformist during the preceding Administration of President Ludwig Scotty
Ludwig Scotty
Ludwig Derangadage Scotty is a two-time former President of the Republic of Nauru. He served as President from 29 May 2003 to 8 August 2003, then from 22 June 2004 to his ousting in a vote of no confidence on 19 December 2007....
, and was perceived as close to Kieren Keke
Kieren Keke
Kieren Aedogan Ankwong Keke is a Nauruan politician and medical doctor. He is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has previously been speaker of the Nauruan Parliament.-Background:...
, who joined the Stephen Administration as Foreign Minister. Pitcher was elected to 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 2004, and served in the second Administration of President Ludwig Scotty
Ludwig Scotty
Ludwig Derangadage Scotty is a two-time former President of the Republic of Nauru. He served as President from 29 May 2003 to 8 August 2003, then from 22 June 2004 to his ousting in a vote of no confidence on 19 December 2007....
.
Finance Minister, 2007
On coming to office, as Finance Minister, Pitcher inherited the burden of the austerity measures associated with the outgoing Scotty Administration.In March 2008, the 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....
, David Adeang
David Adeang
David Waiau Adeang is a Nauruan politician, and a former Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru, and a former Foreign Minister of Nauru. He is a founding member of the Naoero Amo , currently the only successful political party on the island.-Background and Early career:David Adeang's father is Kennan...
, attempted to have Pitcher expelled from Parliament, by summoning a Parliamentary session, allegedly without informing members of the government, which resulted in the passing of a law forbidding Members of Parliament to hold dual citizenship. President Stephen argued that the law was unconstitutional; Adeang said it was not. On 28 March, Adeang ordered Pitcher and another minister, Kieren Keke
Kieren Keke
Kieren Aedogan Ankwong Keke is a Nauruan politician and medical doctor. He is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has previously been speaker of the Nauruan Parliament.-Background:...
, to vacate their seats in Parliament, since they both hold dual Nauruan and Australian citizenship. The two ministers refused to do so, and Adeang suspended the sitting.
President of Nauru
On November 10, 2011, incumbent Nauru President Marcus Stephen resigned from the presidency amid corruption allegations. Opposition MPs had accused Stephen of seeking to illegally profit from a phosphatePhosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
deal. Specifically, opposition leader David Adeang
David Adeang
David Waiau Adeang is a Nauruan politician, and a former Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru, and a former Foreign Minister of Nauru. He is a founding member of the Naoero Amo , currently the only successful political party on the island.-Background and Early career:David Adeang's father is Kennan...
accused Stephen of soliciting potential kickbacks from Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
businesspeople looking to buy phosphates in Nauru. Stephen called the charges "unwarranted and mischievous." He resigned the presidency, but remained in parliament.
Frederick Pitcher, who had previously served as Minister for Commerce, Industry and Environment, became the new President of Nauru
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...
on the same day as Stephen's resignation. Pitcher was elected President by the same nine members of parliament who had supported the outgoing Stephen government. Mathew Batsiua
Mathew Batsiua
Mathew Jansen Batsiua is a Nauruan politician. Batsiua, a former health minister, was named Foreign Minister of Nauru on November 10, 2011, replacing Kieren Keke.-Parliamentary role:...
, the former health minister, was also named Nauru's new foreign minister, replacing Kieren Keke
Kieren Keke
Kieren Aedogan Ankwong Keke is a Nauruan politician and medical doctor. He is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has previously been speaker of the Nauruan Parliament.-Background:...
. Pitcher retained Stephen in his cabinet reshuffle.
Pitcher dismissed corruption allegations against Stephen as baseless upon taking office, telling reporters, "There was no evidence or proof. I think Marcus himself felt that this whole discussion had become a distraction to parliament and to government and he offered to resign. I think he did a noble thing and I applaud him for it. So far allegations [go] I think they were only allegations. I saw nothing to prove they were anything other than false allegations."
Pitcher's presidency was not expected to affect the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n opposition's plan to open a new immigration center in Nauru. After the defection of one of his supporters Pitcher lost a parliamentary vote of confidence and the presidency on November 15. Sprent Dabwido
Sprent Dabwido
Sprent Jared Dabwido is a Nauruan politician. He became the President of Nauru on 15 November 2011.-Background:Dabwido is a close relative of former parliamentarian Audi Dabwido, who served in the first parliament of Nauru in 1968.-Parliamentary role:Dabwido was elected to parliament in the 2004...
was elected as his successor.