Bernard Annen Auwen Dowiyogo (14 February 1946 – 9 March 2003) was a
Nauru
Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Ki ...
an politician who served as
President of Nauru
The president of Nauru is elected by Parliament from among its members, and is both the head of state and the head of government of Nauru. Nauru's unicameral Parliament has 19 members, with an electoral term of 3 years. Political parties only p ...
on seven separate occasions. During this time, he also served as a
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...
for the
constituency of Ubenide.
Background and early career
Dowiyogo was born in Nauru on 14 February 1946. He first became an elected member of Nauru's 18-seat parliament in 1973. Particularly in his earlier years in the
Parliament of Nauru
The Parliament of Nauru has 19 members, elected for a three-year term in multi-seat constituencies. The President of Nauru is elected by the members of the Parliament. Dowiyogo was seen as an opponent of
Nauru
Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Ki ...
's first post-independence President,
Hammer DeRoburt
Hammer DeRoburt (25 September 1922 – 15 July 1992) was the first President of the Republic of Nauru, and ruled the country for most of its first twenty years of independence.
Background and early career
Born in 1922, DeRoburt was the g ...
. Dowiyogo founded the Nauru Institute of Media and Communications which operated between 1984 and 1996 but due to financial difficulties was closed in 1997.
President of Nauru
He served his first term as President from 1976 to 1978 after ousting
Hammer DeRoburt
Hammer DeRoburt (25 September 1922 – 15 July 1992) was the first President of the Republic of Nauru, and ruled the country for most of its first twenty years of independence.
Background and early career
Born in 1922, DeRoburt was the g ...
. Over the next 25 years, Dowiyogo served as President several times, for periods as long as six years (1989–1995) and as short as 8 days (in January 2003). He was the youngest president in Nauru. During the 1980s, he sharply criticized
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and the United States for
atomic weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions ( thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bom ...
s testing in Nauru.
In 1990, Dowiyogo was awarded the
New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
The New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal was a commemorative medal awarded in New Zealand in 1990 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and was awarded to approximately 3,000 people.
Background
The New Zea ...
.
Dowiyogo closed Nauru's offshore banks in 2003 when the US alleged they were used for moneylaundering.
Death
He died in office in March 2003 (having been president on this occasion since January 2003) at
George Washington University Hospital
The George Washington University Hospital is a for-profit hospital, located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is affiliated with the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The current facility opened on ...
in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
from heart complications brought on by his struggle with
diabetes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...
, a common ailment on Nauru. At the time of the deterioration of his final illness, he had been engaged in protracted negotiations with the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
Government.
Family
Dowiyogo had eight children with his wife,
Christina Dowiyogo (died March 2008):
Clara Augusta Alefaio (née Dowiyogo) who served at the Nauru education Department but now resides in New Zealand
Valdon Kape Dowiyogo, who served as Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru,
Jesaulenko Dowiyogo, who served as diplomat and later Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority,
Junior Dowiyogo who served as Commissioner for Police in the Nauru Police Force
Peter Jason Dowiyogo who worked at the Nauru Post Office, David Dowiyogo who is employed at the Republic of Nauru Hospital
Jeff Dowiyogo who currently resides in Australia
Zita Dowiyogo who now Serves at the Nauru Immigration Office.
[ ]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowiyogo, Bernard
1946 births
2003 deaths
Deaths from diabetes
Democratic Party of Nauru politicians
Members of the Parliament of Nauru
Nauruan politicians of Japanese descent
Nauruan people of i-Kiribati descent
Presidents of Nauru
Finance Ministers of Nauru
20th-century Nauruan politicians
21st-century Nauruan politicians