Baddeley Devesi

Sir Baddeley Devesi GCMG GCVO (October 16, 1941 – February 16, 2012) was a Solomon Islander politician who served as the first Governor-General of the Solomon Islands for two consecutive terms.[1]

Sir Baddeley Devesi
GCMG GCVO
1st Governor-General of the Solomon Islands
In office
7 July 1978 – 7 July 1988
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterPeter Kenilorea
Solomon Mamaloni
Ezekiel Alebua
Preceded byOffice Established
Succeeded bySir George Lepping
Personal details
Born(1941-10-16)16 October 1941
Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands
Died16 February 2012(2012-02-16) (aged 70)

He was born in Guadalcanal.[1] He served as the first Governor-General of the Solomon Islands from July 7, 1978 to July 7, 1988. Later, he served as Foreign Minister from 1989 to 1990, Interior Minister from 1990 to 1992, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1990 to 1993 and 1997 to 2000, until the government was removed by a coup d'etat.[2]

As a leader during the independence, he criticized Britain for its lack of preparation for the handover of autonomy, which ultimately led to the political crises the Solomons have suffered following independence. He quipped that "the empire was leaving behind a system of British justice and Parliament, but for an island nation with 4 volcanoes and 70 languages."[3] In particular he was concerned about the absence of preparation for economic development.[2]

In 1993, he addressed the United Nations General Assembly with concerns that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change did not sufficiently address the issue of global warming.[4] He was also a strong advocate of the Treaty of Rarotonga.[5]

Leading up to the coup, he had strongly recommended to the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioner that they send peacekeepers.[2] He encouraged election observers to ensure an orderly formation of a government after the 2006 election.[6]

Baddeley was also, briefly, a teacher and acting head teacher at the Diocese of Melanesia (Anglican) Vera'na'aso Primary School, Maravovo during 1966–67. I remember him well as being immensely proud of his island heritage. (MRDJ, former VSO teacher at Maravovo) He died on 16 February 2012, aged 70.[7]

References
  1. Kabutaulaka, Tarcisius Tara (September 1998). "Pacific Islands Stakeholder Participation in Development: Solomon Islands". World Bank. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  2. Mary-Louise O'Callaghan (July 14, 2003). "Solomon Islands crisis dates back to hasty British handover". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on March 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  3. "Asia Regional: Multinational Intervention Force to Arrive in Embattled Solomon Islands Tomorrow" (PDF). World Markets Research Centre. July 23, 2003. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  4. "The nations speak; caught in the throes of pervasive change, seeking effective and swift responses – United Nations General Assembly". UN Chronicle. March 1993. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  5. "Asia and the Pacific: the quest for peace pacts ... tempered optimism in '89. (state-of-the-world review)(The Nations Speak)". UN Chronicle. March 1990. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  6. "Solomons call for observers to monitor PM's election". Radio New Zealand International. March 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  7. "First Solomons GG Devesi dies". RNZ. February 17, 2012.


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