Christopher Loeak
President of the Marshall Islands | |
---|---|
In office 10 January 2012 – 11 January 2016 | |
Preceded by | Jurelang Zedkaia |
Succeeded by | Casten Nemra |
Personal details | |
Born | Christopher Jorebon Loeak 11 November 1952 Ailinglaplap Atoll, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands |
Political party | Independent |
Spouse | Lieom Anono Loeak |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | Hawaii Pacific University Gonzaga University School of Law (J.D.) |
Christopher Jorebon Loeak
Personal life
Loeak was born on the
Political career
Loeak was first elected to the
During his time in the Nitijela Loeak took an active part in many of its committees including those for the Judiciary and Government Relations; Public Account, Health and Education and Social Services (which he chaired); Foreign Affairs and Trade; Appropriation; Resource and Development; International Protection, Peace, Security and Protection of the Environment. He was also a member of the Second and Third Constitutional Conventions, serving as vice-president of the latter, and chaired the Bill of Rights Committee.[4] Loeak was part of the team that negotiated the extension of the United States lease of the Marshallese part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site after an eight-year deadlock on talks. The Marshall Islands government agreed to accept payment of $32 million in return for extending the lease on the site.[5]
Loeak was re-elected to the Nitijela in 2007 and has held the seat of Ailinglaplap since then.[4] He re-entered the cabinet in 2008 as Minister-in-Assistance to President Litokwa Tomeing.[4]
President
Loeak became president of the Marshall Islands in January 2012 when the Nitijela
On 26 September 2013, Christoper Loeak made a speech to the General Debate of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and said:
Global efforts on climate change are falling short - and low-lying island nations such as mine are already paying the earliest costs of what is fast becoming a global crisis. In every sense, the world must build for future risks, and too often, we are still setting course for current conditions. It is the seas that are rising - not the islands that are sinking. I will not concede my own land or my nation; but nor will I rest until my fellow world leaders have signed onto to act, not just out of economic convenience, but out of a common responsibility of all to strive for upward momentum.[6]
After presidency
Loeak was appointed as the Minister in Assistance to the President by President David Kabua in January 2020.[7]
References
- ^ a b c "Marshall Islands' Parliament Elects New National Leadership". Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
- ^ a b "Loeak elected new Marshall Islands President". Radio New Zealand. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ "Nitijela of the Marshall Island: 7".
- ^ a b c d "The Honorable Minister Christopher J. Loeak" (PDF). Office of the president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ "Marshall Islands and US ink deal for missile testing". Digital Journal. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ "Statement Presented by Mr. Christopher Loeak, President of the Marshall Islands". 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly - General Debate. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ Johnson, Giff (20 January 2020). "Marshalls' President Kabua's inauguration set for Monday". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020.