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While April showers have brought May flowers here in Evanston, the rain rallies on far more in many other countries. But each of these rainy countries also a leader, making their own respective reigns of the country. But what are these rainy countries?
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So, without further ado, here are the top five countries with the most precipitation, and who falls at their helm.
Solomon Islands
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Coming in at number five is the Solomon Islands, an island chain in the Pacific Ocean. While they are a constitutional monarchy, ruled by King Charles III, Sir David Vunagi performs the monarch’s duties in the Solomon Islands, as their Governor-General. Their Prime Minister is Jeremiah Manele, elected May 2. He is the second consecutive Prime Minister out of the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party. Upon founding, one of the party’s primary goals was to invest in the development of the Solomon Islands’ rural economy. However, in February, the party created a new Manifesto, outlining their plan to reach greater Ownership, Unity, and Responsibility.
Manele himself is a former high school teacher, who went on to complete a B.A. at the University of Papua New Guinea and a graduate degree from the University of Oxford in the U.K. He was first elected to the Parliament of the Solomon Islands in 2014.
Papua New Guinea
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At spot number four is Papua New Guinea, the second-largest country in Oceania by land area. Papua New Guinea also has a governor-general by the name of Sir Bob Dadae. With a population just north of ten million, their prime minister is James Marape, their ninth total since the position’s creation in 1975. Marape grew up in the church, as the child of a pastor. He and his wife now have six children.
Marape recently held a press conference with Antony Blinken, where the two discussed the partnership between their nations.
ANTHONY BLINKEN:In Papua New Guinea specifically, we’re working with congress to provide over $45 million in the new program on sustainable and inclusive development, public health, and energy security.
Marape, however, also put an emphasis on safety and defense for Papua New Guinea.
JAMES MARAPE:We cannot forever remain in a powerless system as far as our defense force is concerned. Our defense forces need to be stepped up and supported.
São Tomé and Príncipe
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The second and third place countries are actually tied. We’ll start out, however, with Sao Tome and Principe. A small island nation off the western coast of Africa, the man behind their reign is President Carlos Vila Nova. Like many others on this list, Vila Nova went abroad for his education, attending the University of Oran in Algeria.
He led a journeyman career before his life as a politician, working in government statistics as well as sales and later Director of two hotels. Vila Nova even began his own travel agency at one point.
Tuvalu
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The other country tied for second on this list is the small island nation of Tuvalu, nestled in the Pacific Ocean. While they are also constitutional monarchy, Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani is their Governor-General. Feleti Teo is their Prime Minister, elected in February. This was done in a secret ballot by the parliament’s sixteen members to elect one prime minister amongst themselves.
Teo has labeled the Tuvaluan government’s top priority as climate change, and has already acted on this in his short stint as PM. Tuvalu and Australia have worked to expand the Falepili Union, which allows a clear path for hundreds of Tuvaluans to migrate to Australia. In a press conference, Teo said that in the previous administration, he was one of many who “built the groundwork of the Treaty.”
Teo is a career politician with experience across countries. He was educated in both New Zealand and Australia, and has worked for the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, located in the Solomon Islands, and is a longtime diplomat.
Colombia
And coming in at the number one most precipitous country…
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Colombia!
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The one leading this South American country is President Gustavo Petro. The nation’s 34th president, Petro is the first one on this list to receive a degree in his own country, earning an economics degree in Colombia. He later received a graduate degree in Belgium and a doctorate in Spain.
Petro has perhaps the most interesting background of any politician on this list. In the 1980s, he was arrested and served 18 months in prison for illegal arms possession. He later turned to a strategy of peace, beginning his career in politics. He first held public office over 20 years ago, working his up to now being the country’s president.
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Well, with that, it seems time for an umbrella. For WNUR News, I’m Gabe Shumway.
