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Kiribati National Honours and Awards Act 1989

REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI
(No. 1 of 1989)

I assent,

(Sgd: I. Tabai)
Beretitenti.
01/06/1989

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KIRIBATI NATIONAL HONOURS AND AWARDS AND FOR CONNECTED PURPOSES

Commencement:
1989

MADE by the Maneaba ni Maungatabu and assented to by the Beretitenti.

PART 1 – PRELIMINARY

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Kiribati National Honours and Awards Act 1989.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires –

"National Honours and Awards" means the National Honours and Awards referred to in section 3 of this Act;

"the Commission" means the Kiribati National Honours and Awards Commission established under section 4(1) of this Act.

PART II
KIRIBATI NATIONAL HONOURS AND AWARDS

Establishment of Kiribati National Honours and Awards

3. (1) For the purpose of according national recognition to, and rewarding and honouring–

(a) exemplary, meritorious or distinguished service in, for, or to Kiribati; or

(b) persons who otherwise by acts of exceptional merit, skill, knowledge or a display of extraordinary public-spiritedness or conduct contribute to an improvement in the common welfare, and subject to the provisions of this Act, there is hereby established a system of National Honours and Awards.

(2) The provisions of the Schedule to this Act shall have effect as to the categories of National Honours and Awards, the divisions of such National Honours and Awards, the criteria for selecting persons for such National Honours and Awards and otherwise in relation thereto.

Establishment of the Commission

4. (1) There is hereby established a Commission called the Kiribati National Honours and Awards Commission which shall consist of not less than 5 or more than 12 members one of whom shall be a Chairman.

(2) All the members of the Commission including the Chairman, shall be appointed by the Beretitenti acting in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet for a term not exceeding 3 years but shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(3) The name of any person appointed as a member of the Commission shall be laid before the Maneaba ni Maungatabu within forty eight hours of the day on which the next meeting of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu commences, and each appointment shall stand unless the Maneaba ni Maungatabu by resolution rejects it.

(4) Any member of the Commission may resign his office by notice in writing addressed to the Beretitenti and from the date of receipt of such notice by the Beretitenti such member shall cease to be a member of the Commission.

Functions of the Commission

5. (1) The Commission shall consider and advise the Beretitenti with regard to –

(a) the formulation and preparation of the format, design and other details of National Honours and Awards;

(b) the selection of persons who deserve to be given National Honours and Awards and the occasions on which such National Honours and Awards may be presented to such persons;

(c) the depriving of any person of his National Honours and Awards; and

(d) any other matter relating or incidental to National Honours and Awards which, in the opinion of the Commission, ought, in the national interest, to be considered and dealt with.

(2) In performing its functions under this section the Commission may have regard to, or request any person to provide, any relevant information or representation.

Meetings and procedure of the Commission

6. (1) Meetings of the Commission shall be held at such times and places as the Commission or its Chairman shall appoint.

(2) At any meeting of the Commission 5 members shall constitute a quorum.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Commission may regulate its own procedure.

(4) The office of the Beretitenti shall provide the Commission with secretarial and administrative services.

Saving of the Commission members from liability

7. No member of the Commission shall be liable to any action or suit whatsoever in respect of any act, error or omission in the exercise of any function conferred or imposed on the Commission or any member thereof by this or any other Act.

Remuneration of members

8. (1) Every member of the Commission who is not a full-time salaried employee of the Government shall be paid such remuneration, travelling expenses and other allowances as may from time to time be fixed by the Cabinet.

(2) All payments made pursuant to this section shall be paid out of moneys appropriated by the Maneaba ni Maungatabu.

Power of Beretitenti to give or make National Honours and Awards

9. All National Honours and Awards under this Act may be bestowed or conferred by the Beretitenti acting in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet, by order.

Regulations

10. The Beretitenti, acting in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet may make regulations generally for the purpose of carrying this Act into effect and for its due administration.

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SCHEDULE
(Section 32)

KIRIBATI SYSTEM OF HONOURS AND AWARDS

1. Civil Category

The Orders listed hereunder are hereby created as Kiribati National Honours and Awards which may be awarded to persons who satisfy the criteria outlined hereunder in relation to each such Order –

(a) THE KIRIBATI GRAND ORDER (K.G.O.) – ANA TOKABETI KIRIBATI (A.T.K.)

This Order shall be the highest Honour and Award in Kiribati. It may be bestowed or conferred upon former Beretitenti who have served a minimum of two full Presidential terms.

It may also be bestowed or conferred upon such other persons who in the opinion of the Commission deserve to be bestowed or conferred with such Order.

(b) THE KIRIBATI NATIONA ORDER (K.N.O) – ANA KAMOAMOA KIRIBATI (A.K.K)

This Order may be bestowed or conferred upon persons who have made outstanding or exceptional contributions to the common welfare in Kiribati in their respective professions, callings, vocations or other fields of human endeavour or activity.

(c) THE KIRIBATI CROSS (K.C) – ANA KAIBANGAKI N NINIKORIA KIRIBATI (A.K.N.K)

This Order may be bestowed or conferred upon persons who perform deeds of exceptional bravery, selflessness or deeds involving risks to their lives or personal safety in the interest or for the benefit of other persons.

(d) THE KIRIBATI ORDER OF MERIT (K.O.M) – BOUTOKAN TORONIBWAIN KIRIBATI (B.T.K)

This Order may be bestowed or conferred upon persons who contribute to the reputation or the common welfare of Kiribati by the display or extraordinary talent, skill or knowledge in traditional, scientific, artistic or similar fields.

2. Disciplined Forces Category

Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Schedule the Awards listed hereunder are hereby created as the National Honours and Awards which may be bestowed or conferred upon any member of the disciplined force.

(a) THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD (DISCIPLINED SERVICES) (M.S.A) – RAOIROIN RAKAN TE MWAKURI (R.R.M)

This Award may be bestowed or conferred upon a member of the disciplined force who has performed exceptional service during the course of his duties.

(b) THE KIRIBATI LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT AWARD (K.L.S.G.C.A) – KANIKINAEAN TE BEKUMWAKA MA TE KAKAONIMAKI (K.B.K)

This Award may be bestowed or conferred upon any member of the disciplined force of Kiribati who has served in such disciplined force for a minimum continuous or aggregate period of 20 years with good conduct.

3. Nothing in the provisions of this Schedule shall be construed as affecting or limiting or derogating from the functions of the Commission under section 5 of this Act.

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THE KIRIBATI NATIONAL HONOURS AND AWARDS BILL 1989

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

This Act seeks to establish a system of National Honours and Awards for Kiribati.

The purpose of such Honours and Awards is to accord national recognition to, and reward and honour, deserving persons who serve Kiribati with distinction, merit, etc., or who otherwise contribute to an improvement in the common welfare by a display of outstanding public spiritedness, etc.

Section 3 together with the Schedule to the Act establishes the Kiribati National Honours and Awards and, among other things, outlines, the criteria for selecting persons for such National Honours and Awards.

Sections 4 and 5 of the Act establish the Kiribati National Honours and Awards Commission whose functions are, among other things, to advise the Beretitenti with regard to the selection of persons who deserve to be given National Honours and Awards. Section 4 in particular provides that the name of any person appointed as a member of the Commission shall be laid before the Maneaba ni Maungatabu and such appointment shall only stand if the Maneaba ni Maungatabu does not, by resolution, reject it.

Section 9 of the Act provides that all National Honours and Awards may be bestowed or conferred by the Beretitenti acting in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet. Section 10, on the other hand, empowers the Beretitenti to make regulations generally for the purpose of carrying the Act into effect and for its due administration.

Michael N. Takabwebwe
Attorney General