Teburoro Tito (born 25 August 1953) is an I-Kiribati politician and diplomat who served as the third president of Kiribati from 1994 to 2003.
[2] In March 1987,[5] Tito was elected as member of parliament for the Teinainano Urban Council constituency in South Tarawa.
[2][6] Opposition leader Harry Tong had originally been considered as a candidate, but he stepped aside in favour of Tito.
[7] It was speculated that Teannaki, an ally of Tabai, split the Catholic vote in a way that made him a spoiler candidate for Tito.
There had been claims of misconduct against the outgoing government, and a brief constitutional crisis ensued when acting president Tekiree Tamuera was forcibly removed.
[2][10] Tito has called attention to the detrimental effects of global warming on Pacific Island nations.
"[12] Still, Tito is sceptical of scientists and politicians who say that rising sea levels will inevitably submerge Kiribati, citing Genesis 9:11.
Fulfilling a campaign promise, Tito declared that the Date Line would run along his country's eastern border effective 1 January 1995.
The decision attracted little attention until other Pacific countries disputed the claim after the millennium celebrations approached.
[2] On 14 April 1999, Tito wrote a letter requesting Kiribati's admission to the United Nations,[17] which was accepted.
BBC News' Mike Donkin reported that Tito spoke with emotion as his country found itself at the centre of attention.
Kiribati struck a deal with The Metals Company to secure mining access to Pacific Ocean sectors governed by the Seabed Authority, which would be thwarted if conservation-minded Carvalho was successful.