Governor-General of Tuvalu

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Governor-General of Tuvalu
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Incumbent
Tofiga Vaevalu Falani
since 28 September 2021
Viceroy
StyleHis/Her Excellency
AppointerMonarch of Tuvalu
Term lengthAt Her Majesty's pleasure
Formation1 October 1978
First holderSir Fiatau Penitala Teo
SalaryAU$ 23,768 annually[1]
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The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of the Tuvaluan monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence. The constitutional convention is that the Governor-General represents the monarch and acts on the advice of the prime minister.

History[]

The office has existed since Tuvalu was granted independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1978.

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 Honolulu was the first woman to be appointed to the role (albeit for an interim period),[2][3][4] holding office from the resignation of Iakoba Italeli in August 2019,[5] until being replaced by Samuelu Teo (then also serving as Speaker of Parliament) in January 2021.[6]

The incumbent, since 28 September 2021, is His Excellency, the Reverend Tofiga Vaevalu Falani.

List of Governors-General of Tuvalu[]

Following is a list of people who have served as Governor-General of Tuvalu since independence in 1978.[7]

  Denotes Acting Governors-General
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Monarch
(Reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Insigne Tuvalum.svg Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo
(1911–1998) 		1 October
1978 		1 March
1986 		7 years, 151 days Her Majesty The Queen (1959).jpg
Elizabeth II
Coat of arms of Tuvalu.svg
(1978–present)
2 Insigne Tuvalum.svg Sir Tupua Leupena
(1922–1996) 		1 March
1986 		1 October
1990 		4 years, 214 days
3 Insigne Tuvalum.svg Sir Toaripi Lauti
(1928–2014) 		1 October
1990 		1 December
1993 		3 years, 61 days
4 Insigne Tuvalum.svg Sir Tomu Sione
(1941–2016) 		1 December
1993 		21 June
1994 		202 days
5 Insigne Tuvalum.svg Sir Tulaga Manuella
(b. 1936) 		21 June
1994 		26 June
1998 		4 years, 5 days
6 Tomasi Puapua.png Sir Tomasi Puapua
(b. 1938) 		26 June
1998 		9 September
2003 		15 years, 75 days
7 Insigne Tuvalum.svg Faimalaga Luka
(1940–2005) 		9 September
2003 		15 April
2005 		1 year, 218 days
8 Insigne Tuvalum.svg Sir Filoimea Telito
(1945–2011) 		15 April
2005 		19 March
2010 		4 years, 338 days
– Rt Hon Sir Kamuta Latasi (cropped).jpg Sir Kamuta Latasi
(b. 1936)
Acting Governor-General 		19 March
2010 		16 April
2010 		28 days
9 Iakoba Italeli May 2015.jpg Sir Iakoba Italeli
(b. ?) 		16 April
2010 		22 August
2019 		9 years, 128 days
– Insigne Tuvalum.svg Teniku Talesi Honolulu
(b. ?)
Acting Governor-General 		22 August
2019 		January
2021[citation needed] 		–
– Insigne Tuvalum.svg Samuelu Teo
(b. ?)
Acting Governor-General 		January
2021[citation needed] 		28 September
2021 		–
10 Insigne Tuvalum.svg Tofiga Vaevalu Falani
(b. ?) 		29 September
2021[citation needed] 		Incumbent 138 days

Constitutional status of the Governor-General[]

The Monarchy of Tuvalu exists in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy. As a constitutional monarch, The Queen acts entirely on the advice of her government ministers in Tuvalu.[8] The Head of State is recognised in section 50 of the Constitution of Tuvalu, as a symbol of the unity and identity of Tuvalu. The powers of the head of state are set out in section 52 (1) of the Constitution.[9]

Part IV of the Constitution confirms the head of state of Tuvalu is Queen Elizabeth II as the sovereign of Tuvalu and provides for the rules for succession to the Crown. As set out in section 54 of the Constitution, the Queen's representative is the governor-general. Section 58 of the Constitution requires the governor-general to perform the functions of the head of state when the sovereign is outside Tuvalu or otherwise incapacitated. The governor-general of Tuvalu is appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu.[10]

Reserve powers of the office[]

The position is largely ceremonial. However the holder 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.[9]

In 2003 the Chief Justice of the High Court of Tuvalu delivered directions as to how the Governor-General should proceed to take any action they considers to be appropriate under Section 116(1) of the Constitution, acting in his own deliberate judgment, rather than as advised by the cabinet.[11] That is, the Governor-General could consider whether it was appropriate to exercise their reserve powers in calling Parliament.

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.[12] Tuvalu's opposition then requested the governor-general to intervene against the prime minister's decision.[13] On 3 July, Italeli exercised his reserve powers in ordering parliament to convene, against the prime minister's wishes, on 30 July.[14]

When the Parliament met on 30 July, the Speaker (Sir Kamuta Latasi) refused to allow a debate on a motion of no confidence in the government of Willy Telavi. After further political maneuvers,[15] the then Governor-General, Sir Iakoba Italeli, then proceeded to exercise his reserve powers to order Telavi to stand down as prime minister and appointed Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister.[16] The governor-general also ordered that parliament sit on Friday 2 August to allow a vote of no-confidence in Telavi and his government.[17] Telavi then proceeded to write to Queen Elizabeth II (as the head of state of Tuvalu) informing her that he was dismissing Italeli from his position as Governor-General.[16] Her Majesty made no reaction at all, thus leaving Sir Iakoba secure in his post.[18]

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.[19] On 4 August the parliament elected Enele Sopoaga as prime minister.[19][20][21]

Civil awards and decorations[]

Tuvalu awards orders of chivalry for distinguished service to the government, the community, society or humanity, which are orders of the British honours system. Governor-Generals have been awarded the Order of St Michael and St George. Former Governor-General Faimalaga Luka had thus far been the only holder of this office to decline a knighthood.

Other Tuvaluans have been awarded the Order of the British Empire.

The Tuvalu Order of Merit[22] was founded on 1 October 2016, on the 38th anniversary of Tuvaluan independence.[23]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Tuvalu. "PRESCRIPTION OF SALARIES ACT, 2008 Revised Edition" (PDF). tuvalu-legislation.tv.
  2. ^ "United Nations – Heads Of State" (PDF). United Nations – Protocol and Liaison Service. 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ Lansford, Tom, ed. (2021). Political Handbook of the World 2020-2021. CQ Press (Sage Knowledge).
  5. ^ "The Embassy Held a Reception to Celebrate the 108th National Day of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and the 40th Anniverary 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.
  6. ^ "LCT 'Moeiteava' Christened And Commissioned". Kitiona Tausi, Tuvalu Paradise – Issue No. 06/2021. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  7. ^ http://www.archontology.org/nations/tuvalu/00_1978_td_g.php
  8. ^ "The Queen's Role in Tuvalu". Official website of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  9. ^ a b "The Constitution of Tuvalu". PACLII. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Amasone v Attorney General [2003] TVHC 4; Case No 24 of 2003 (6 August 2003)". PACLII. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Parliament needs one yearly meeting only says defiant Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand International. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  13. ^ Coutts, Geraldine (2 July 2013). "Tuvalu opposition demands parliament be allowed to sit after weekend by-election". Radio Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Matau, Robert (5 August 2013). "Tuvalu govt bombshells". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  16. ^ a b AFP (2 August 2013). "Dismissal crisis rocks Tuvalu". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  17. ^ Cooney, Campbell (1 August 2013). "Tuvalu government faces constitutional crisis". Australia News Network. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  18. ^ "Dismissal crisis rocks Tuvalu". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  19. ^ a b Cooney, Campbell (4 August 2013). "Tuvalu parliament elects new prime minister". Australia News Network. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  20. ^ Cooney, Campbell (5 August 2013). "Sopoaga elected new PM in Tuvalu". Radio Australia. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ Palmer, Richard (30 March 2017). "William and Kate to receive highest Tuvalu award... for just VISITING the nation". Express. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Government of Tuvalu 2017 National Budget" (PDF). Presented by the Hon Maatia Toafa Minister for Finance and Economic Development. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
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