Ralph John Regenvanu | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Regenvanuga in 2018 | |
| Minister of Climate Change | |
| Assumed office 4 November 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Ishmael Kalsakau |
| Preceded by | Bruno Leingkone |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
| In office 19 December 2017 – 20 April 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Charlot Salwai |
| Preceded by | Bruno Leingkone |
| Succeeded by | Marc Ati |
| Minister of Lands and Natural Resources | |
| In office 11 February 2016 – 19 December 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Charlot Salwai |
| Preceded by | Paul Telukluk |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Maos |
| In office 23 March 2013 – 11 June 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Moana Carcasses Kalosil Joe Natuman |
| Preceded by | James Bule |
| Succeeded by | Paul Telukluk |
| Minister of Justice and Social Affairs | |
| In office 26 June 2011 – 16 January 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Sato Kilman |
| Preceded by | Bakoa Kaltonga (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Charlot Salwai |
| In office 13 May 2011 – 16 June 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Sato Kilman |
| Preceded by | Yoan Simon |
| Succeeded by | Bakoa Kaltonga (interim) |
| In office 10 March 2011 – 24 April 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Sato Kilman |
| Preceded by | Yoan Simon |
| Succeeded by | Yoan Simon |
| Minister of Lands | |
| In office 18 February 2011 – 10 March 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Sato Kilman |
| Preceded by | Harry Iauko |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Carlot |
| Minister of Cooperatives and ni-Vanuatu Business Development | |
| In office 2 December 2010 – 18 February 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Sato Kilman |
| Preceded by | Dunstan Hilton |
| Succeeded by | Esmon Sae |
| Member of the Vanuatu Parliament for Port Vila | |
| Assumed office September 2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 September 1970 Suva, Fiji |
| Political party | Independent, then Land and Justice Party |
Ralph John Regenvanu[1] (born 20 September 1970 in Suva, Fiji[2]) is a Ni-Vanuatu anthropologist, artist and politician. He has been a Member of Parliament since September 2008, was a member of Cabinet for most of the period from December 2010 to January 2012 and then from March 2013 to June 2015, and was the Director of the Vanuatu National Cultural Council from 1995 until December 2010.
He has been a leading figure in Vanuatu's cultural world, primarily as a promoter of cultural knowledge preservation and sustainable development as a researcher, but also, to a lesser extent, as a painter and illustrator. He has represented Vanuatu and its culture in the international sphere, notably through UNESCO. His transition to politics came suddenly in 2008, at a comparatively young age; his successful campaign to be elected to Parliament generated popular and media support. As a Member of Parliament, he sought to publicise his activities and discuss political issues directly with members of the public; he also used his parliamentary allowance to help finance student scholarships and youth business projects. Three months after his election, he was arrested and charged with aiding prisoners who had escaped from gaol. The charges were later dropped. In late 2010, he launched his own political party, shortly before being appointed to Cabinet.
From December 2017 to April 2020, he served as Vanuatu's Minister for Foreign Affairs, and sought in particular to mobilise the international community in support for the right to self-determination for the people of West Papua. Since April 2020, he has been Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
- ^ Laef Blong Mi: From Village to Nation, Sethy Regenvanu, Suva: University of the South Pacific, 2004, ISBN 982-02-0367-8, p. 76
- ^ Laef Blong Mi, Sethy Regenvanu, op.cit., p. 76