Frederick Pitcher
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Frederick Pitcher is a Nauruan political figure. In December 2007, Pitcher was appointed Finance Minister of Nauru, to serve in the Administration of President Marcus Stephen.
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[edit] Background and earlier career
Educated in Australia, 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.
[edit] 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, 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.[1] On March 28, Adeang ordered Pitcher and another minister, Kieren Keke, to vacate their seats in Parliament, since they both hold dual Nauruan and Australian citizenship.[2] The two ministers refused to do so, and Adeang suspended the sitting.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Nauru government rejects citizenship ruling", Radio New Zealand International, march 26, 2008
- ^ "Nauru braces for more political uncertainty", ABC Radio Australia, March 31, 2008
- ^ "Nauru Speaker fails to stop two ministers from entering Parliament", Radio New Zealand International, March 29, 2008