Kausaanek Malaati

Kausaanek Malaati TRM
Kausaanek in June 2023.
10th Leader of Mava Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 March 2023
Deputy	Nukavik Piitaaq
Preceded by	Paqtuq Maagamarak
Cabinet positions
Health and Wellbeing	2021-2023
Families, Communities, and Lifelong Learning	2017-2021
Member of Mava Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 May 1997
Personal details
Born	(1952-08-10) 10 August 1952 Paas, Mava Islands Colony
Education	University of Chalatenango (BA) Chalatenango Teachers' College (Dip.S.Ed.)

Kausaanek Salaaq Malaati (/koʊsaːnek salaːk malaːti/; born 10 August 1952) is a Mavean politician. He is currently Leader of Mava Council, the oldest to hold the position. He previously served as Deputy Leader of Mava Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Finance from 2019 to 2023.

Biography

Kausaanek was born in Paas (then called Ariza) on 10 August 1952. His father, Malaati Kaaganatak, was a general practitioner and, in the absence of Atitlanese medical personnel, the most senior doctor on the island. His mother, Amuniq Ikinqipaagmik, was born in Atlalilco and was a quarter Atitlanese. He was educated at Paas Catholic School, before moving to moving to Atitlan in 1970.

He served in the Atitlanese Navy for five years, the first indigenous Mavean to do so. He left the navy in 1976. Kausaanek returned to Mava in 1977, joining Uujutajap Paas Kamaqjuukutmuqtun as a reporter. He became deputy editor in 1985 and editor in 1987.

He first ran to be a member of Mava Council in 1991 but was not elected. In 1997, he ran again and won, being the 13th highest-ranked of 16 winning winning candidates. He was won re-election in each subsequent election, increasing his percentage of the vote each time.

In 1998, he was appointed to the Committee on Administration, becoming its chairman in 2004. As chairman, he led efforts to abolish the office of Representative of the Government. Whilst his attempts were unsuccessful, the Atitlanese government removed all remaining political powers from the position.

In 2019 he was elected Deputy Leader of the Council with responsibility for economy and finance, becoming the oldest first-time member of the cabinet. As the island's economy minister, he led negotiations with the Atitlanese government over development grants, and led the creation of the Mava Islands Development Corporation.

In 2022, council leader Paqtuq Maagamarak announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He confirmed that he would not seek re-election as council leader, and Kausaanek became acting council leader in January 2023. Following 2023 council elections, Kausaanek became the most-voted candidate and, according to convention, became council leader.

Personal life

Kausaanek is unmarried, living in Paas with his sister. He speaks Mavean, Almagrian, and Anglish.

See also

• List of leaders of Mava
• Mava Council
• Politics of Mava