Rimeta Beniamina

{{Short description|Kiribati politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Rimeta Beniamina

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|12|29|df=y}}

|image = Rimeta Beniamina 2014.jpg

|caption = Beniamina in 2014

|birth_place =

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Maurin Kiribati Party {{small|(Before
2013)}}
Pillars of Truth {{small|(2013–present)}}

|alma_mater = University of Tasmania

}}

{{Politics of Kiribati}}

Rimeta Beniamina (born 29 December 1960) is an I-Kiribati politician and a former leader of the defunct United Coalition Party.{{cite news|title=Parliament Nominates 3 Candidates for Kiribati President |url=http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2011/November/11-28-04.htm |work=The Kiribati Independent |publisher=East–West Center's Pacific Islands Report |date=2011-11-25 |access-date=2012-01-14}} Beniamina, who is from the island of Nikunau in southern Kiribati, is the son of former Vice President Beniamina Tinga.

Beniamina was one of three candidates nominated for President of Kiribati by parliament in November 2011. However, Beniamina lost to incumbent President Anote Tong on January 13, 2012, placing third in the presidential election.{{cite news|title=Kiribati's Tong beats challengers to win third term |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65522 |work=Radio New Zealand International |date=2012-01-14 |access-date=2012-01-13}}

In mid-October 2013, he was appointed to Tong's government as Minister for Communications, Transport and Tourism, following the resignation of the incumbent Taberannang Timeon, who had been accused of receiving an excessive allowance payment.[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=79834 "Kiribati gets three new ministers"], Radio New Zealand International, 15 October 2013