Vanuatu loses its head of state, Father Baldwin Jacobson Lonsdale, a ni-Vanuatu politician and Anglican priest who has served as President of the Republic of Vanuatu since 22 September 2014.
Late Father Bani was rushed to Vila Central Hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning but was pronounced dead later.
Father Baldwin Lonsdale is Vanuatu’s new Head of State! He polled 46 of the 58 votes.
— pacnews pina (@PACNEWS1) September 22, 2014
Fr Baldwin Lonsdale passed his theological studies at the St John’s College (Auckland) and the Bishop Patteson Theological College, Kohimarama, Solomon Islands. He worked for the British National Service (1968-72).
Before becoming president he was secretary general of the province of Torba on the island of Mota Lava and was elected president in an indirect election by an electoral college consisting of members of parliament and provincial governors, the vote took eight rounds; the longest ballot in the country’s history.
In his first speech as president, Lonsdale stressed the importance of the appointment for the province of Torba, promised to uphold the constitution, and asked the people of Vanuatu to stand united.
Late Father Lonsdale is the second Anglican priest to become head of state, the first one was Father John Bani who served the office from 1999-2004.
He is an example of a renaissance man.
A LEADER
Sale Sumbe reports HE Head of State of the Republic of #Vanuatu, Fr. Lonsdale Bani entering #Hogharbor Village… https://t.co/ZAkv2iqdke
— KANDA (@ytskanda) May 18, 2017
WOMEN’S RIGHTS ADVOCATOR
Vanuatu Head Of State Calls For More Women In Parliament: Lonsdale meets with Vanuatu National Council of Women https://t.co/Jk9HYP5Koz
— PIDP-EWC (@PIDP_EWC) November 17, 2016
CLERGYMAN
Head of State Thanks Latter-day Saints for Strengthening Faith in Vanuatu https://t.co/WpdNrtoaEk
— Jean-Baptiste CALO (@jbcalo71) March 22, 2016
A JUDGE
#CC Vanuatu’s president revoked pardons issued by the parliamentary speaker while the head of state was traveling https://t.co/c09vsBBuy5
— WSJ Risk&Compliance (@WSJRisk) October 19, 2015
USP CHANCELLOR
Late Womtelo Rev. Baldwin Lonsdale, President of the Republic of Vanuatu was appointed chancellor of the University of South Pacific on 4th September 2015.
A CHIEF
Mr Lonsdale was a highest-ranking chief in Vanuatu’s Banks group of islands.
Patron of Vanuatu Red Cross Society
THE HEAD OF STATE
New Year’s messages from #Vanuatu head of state & PM call on citizens to play active role in nation’s prosperity: https://t.co/6zkFeiNHgH pic.twitter.com/qw170UwkoV
— Vanuatu Digest (@VanuatuDigest) January 3, 2017
He will be missed by his family in the Banks group, Torba Province, and the whole nation of Vanuatu.
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