Governor-General of Tuvalu
Governor-General of Tuvalu | |
---|---|
Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani since 28 September 2021 | |
Viceroy | |
Style | His Excellency |
Residence | Government House, Funafuti |
Appointer | Monarch of Tuvalu on the advice of the prime minister |
Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
Constituting instrument | Constitution of Tuvalu |
Formation | 1 October 1978 |
First holder | Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo |
Salary | AU$ 45,262 / US$ 29,760 annually[1] |
Tuvalu portal |
The governor-general of Tuvalu is the representative of the Tuvaluan monarch, currently King Charles III, in the country of Tuvalu.
The governor-general performs the monarch's duties in Tuvalu. The
The office of the governor-general was created on 1 October 1978, when Tuvalu gained independence from the United Kingdom as a sovereign state and an independent constitutional monarchy. Since then, 10 individuals have served as governor-general. The incumbent, since 28 September 2021, is
Constitutional status and appointment
The monarchy of Tuvalu exists in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy. As a constitutional monarch, the King acts entirely on the advice of his government ministers in Tuvalu.[2] The monarch is recognised in section 50 of the Constitution of Tuvalu, as a symbol of the unity and identity of Tuvalu. The powers and functions of the head of state are set out in Part IV of the Constitution.[3]
As set out in section 55 of the Constitution, the King's representative in Tuvalu is the governor-general. Section 59(1) of the Constitution requires the governor-general to perform the monarch's functions when the sovereign is outside Tuvalu or otherwise incapacitated.[3] The governor-general is appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the Tuvaluan prime minister.[4]
Functions
The governor-general has constitutional responsibilities and reserve powers in relation to the ordering the Parliament of Tuvalu to convene and the appointment and dismissal of the prime minister.[3]
Exercise of reserve powers
In 2003, the Chief Justice of the
The then Governor-General, Sir Iakoba Italeli was called on to exercise the reserve powers when Prime Minister Willy Telavi refused to recall parliament after the 2013 Nukufetau by-election. A constitutional crisis developed when Prime Minister Telavi responded that, under the Constitution, he was only required to convene parliament once a year, and was thus under no obligation to summon it until December 2013.[6] Tuvalu's opposition then requested the governor-general to intervene against the prime minister's decision.[7] On 3 July, Italeli exercised his reserve powers in ordering parliament to convene, against the prime minister's wishes, on 30 July.[8]
When the Parliament met on 30 July, the Speaker (Sir
The constitutional crisis was resolved by a motion of no confidence in the government of Willy Tevali, which was held on 2 August 2013: the voting was eight for the motion, four against and one abstention.[13] On 4 August the parliament elected Enele Sopoaga as prime minister.[13][14][15]
Symbols and privileges
The governor-general uses a personal flag, which features a
All governors-general have been awarded the Order of St Michael and St George. Faimalaga Luka had thus far been the only governor-general to decline a knighthood.
Residence
Government House in Funafuti is the official residence of the governor-general of Tuvalu.
List of governors-general
Following is a list of people who have served as Governor-General of Tuvalu since independence in 1978.[16]
A total of ten people have held the position on a permanent basis, while an additional three people have held it on an interim basis due to a vacancy. Teniku Talesi was the first woman to be appointed to the role (albeit for an interim period),[17][18][19] holding office from the resignation of Iakoba Italeli in August 2019,[20] until being replaced by Samuelu Teo (then also serving as Speaker of Parliament) in January 2021.[21]
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Monarch (Reign) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
1 | Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo (1911–1998) |
1 October 1978 |
1 March 1986 |
7 years, 151 days | Elizabeth II (1978–2022) | |
2 | Sir Tupua Leupena (1922–1996) |
1 March 1986 |
1 October 1990 |
4 years, 214 days | ||
3 | Sir Toaripi Lauti (1928–2014) |
1 October 1990 |
1 December 1993 |
3 years, 61 days | ||
4 | Sir Tomu Sione (1941–2016) |
1 December 1993 |
21 June 1994 |
202 days | ||
5 | Sir Tulaga Manuella (born 1936) |
21 June 1994 |
26 June 1998 |
4 years, 5 days | ||
6 | Sir Tomasi Puapua (born 1938) |
26 June 1998 |
9 September 2003 |
5 years, 75 days | ||
7 | Faimalaga Luka (1940–2005) |
9 September 2003 |
15 April 2005 |
1 year, 218 days | ||
8 | Sir Filoimea Telito (1945–2011) |
15 April 2005 |
19 March 2010 |
4 years, 338 days | ||
– | Sir Kamuta Latasi (born 1936) Acting Governor-General |
19 March 2010 |
16 April 2010 |
28 days | ||
9 | Sir Iakoba Italeli (b. ?) |
16 April 2010 |
22 August 2019 |
9 years, 128 days | ||
– | Teniku Talesi (b. ?) Acting Governor-General |
22 August 2019 |
January 2021[citation needed] |
1 year, 4 months | ||
– | Samuelu Teo (b. ?) Acting Governor-General |
January 2021[citation needed] |
28 September 2021 |
8 months | ||
10 | Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani (b. ?) |
28 September 2021 |
Incumbent | 2 years, 200 days | ||
Charles III (2022–present) |
See also
References
- ^ Tuvalu. "Prescription of Salaries (Amendment) Act 2020". paclii.org.
- ^ "The Queen's Role in Tuvalu". Official website of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Constitution of Tuvalu" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Taafaki, Tauaasa (1996). "South Pacific – Governance in the Pacific: the dismissal of Tuvalu's Governor-General" (PDF). Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU (No 96/5). Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ "Amasone v Attorney General [2003] TVHC 4; Case No 24 of 2003 (6 August 2003)". PACLII. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ "Parliament needs one yearly meeting only says defiant Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand International. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- ^ Coutts, Geraldine (2 July 2013). "Tuvalu opposition demands parliament be allowed to sit after weekend by-election". Radio Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Matau, Robert (3 July 2013). "Tuvalu's parliament convenes July 30". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Matau, Robert (5 August 2013). "Tuvalu govt bombshells". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ a b AFP (2 August 2013). "Dismissal crisis rocks Tuvalu". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Cooney, Campbell (1 August 2013). "Tuvalu government faces constitutional crisis". Australia News Network. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Dismissal crisis rocks Tuvalu". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b Cooney, Campbell (4 August 2013). "Tuvalu parliament elects new prime minister". Australia News Network. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Cooney, Campbell (5 August 2013). "Sopoaga elected new PM in Tuvalu". Radio Australia. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Enele Sopoaga Sworn-in Today as Tuvalu's New PM". Islands Business. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ "Tuvalu: Governors-General: 1978-2008". Archontology. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008.
- ^ "United Nations – Heads Of State" (PDF). United Nations – Protocol and Liaison Service. 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "GG's Appointment: Nanumaga Continues To Defy Government's Request". Kitiona Tausi, Tuvalu Paradise – Issue No. 44/2020. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ Lansford, Tom, ed. (2021). Political Handbook of the World 2020-2021. CQ Press (Sage Knowledge).
- ^ "The Embassy Held a Reception to Celebrate the 108th National Day of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and the 40th Anniverary [sic] of Diplomatic Relationship between the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and Tuvalu". Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Tuvalu. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "LCT 'Moeiteava' Christened And Commissioned". Kitiona Tausi, Tuvalu Paradise – Issue No. 06/2021. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.