Tuiloma Neroni Slade
Tuiloma Neroni Slade | |
---|---|
Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum | |
In office 13 October 2008 – 4 December 2014 | |
Preceded by | Feleti Teo (acting) |
Succeeded by | Meg Taylor |
3rd Samoan Ambassador to the United States[1] | |
In office 3 May 1993 – 4 December 2003 | |
Prime Minister | Tofilau Eti Alesana Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi |
Preceded by | Tuaopepe Fili Wendt |
Succeeded by | Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia |
Personal details | |
Born | Samoa | 8 April 1941
Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington |
Occupation | Judge |
Tuiloma Neroni Slade (born 8 April 1941) held the post of secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat from 2008 to 4 December 2014. He was elected to the position for three years on 20 August 2008.[2] Slade was reappointed to a second term by the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum on 8 September 2011.[3][4]
Biography[]
Tuiloma Neroni Slade was born in Samoa on 8 April 1941.[5] He graduated with a LL.B. from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.[5]
Career[]
Slade began his career as a Samoan lawyer, serving as the senior prosecutor for the attorney general and the Parliamentary Counsel to the Samoan government.[3] He became the Attorney-General of Samoa in 1976 and remained in office until 1982.[3]
Slade became the Samoan ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the United Nations and a judge of the International Criminal Court. He was elected to the International Criminal Court in 2003 for a three-year term, and served as presiding judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II.[6]
Before beginning a diplomatic career in 1993, Slade became the assistant director of the legal office for the Commonwealth Secretariat, based in London.
Slade served as a Samoan diplomat from 1993 until his appointment to the International Criminal Court in 2003.[4] He was appointed as Samoa's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York City.[4] Slade concurrently served as both the Samoan Ambassador to the United States and the High Commissioner to Canada.[4]
He has also served as chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) from 1997 to 2003.[3]
International Criminal Court[]
In 2003, Slade was elected to a three-year term as a justice of the International Criminal Court.[4][6] During his tenure, Slade served as a Presiding Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber II at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands.[4] He practised law as an international legal consultant from 2007 to 2008 after leaving the court.[4]
Secretary general[]
Tuiloma Neroni Slade was appointed secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on 20 August 2008 for a three-year term[3] and took office on 13 October 2008.[7] He was elected following the death of Secretary General Greg Urwin on 9 August 2008. He succeeded acting Secretary General Feleti Teo, who also sought appointment to a full term.[4]
He announced his intention to seek reappointment to a second term in 2011. Slade's reappointment was openly opposed by the government Frank Bainimarama of Fiji, which has been suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum since 2009.[8] Bainimarama put forth another candidate for nomination, former Fijian foreign minister Kaliopate Tavola, with the initial support of the members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.[3][8] Fiji released statements touting the opposition of the Pacific Islands Forum's Melanesian members to Slade's reappointment.[9]
Despite Tavola's nomination, the leaders of the Pacific Island Forum unanimously reappointed Slade for a second term on 8 September 2011, following a leaders' retreat on Waiheke Island in Auckland, New Zealand.[3][4][9] He received full support from all members, including the Melanesian Spearhead Group.[9] It is unknown if any Melanesian members put forth Tavola's nomination during the retreat.[9] Slade thanked leaders for his renomination in a statement, "I sincerely thank the Forum Leaders for having confidence in me to lead their Secretariat for a second term. I will of course work to the best of my abilities to serve the Forum membership in pursuit of aspirations in the Leaders' Vision for a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity, so that all our people can lead free and worthwhile lives."[3]
Following his retirement, Slade was appointed to Samoa's Judicial Service Commission.[10]
Awards and recognitions[]
Slade received the in 2001.[3] He was the recipient of the Elisabeth Mann Borgese Medal and the , both in 2003 for his work on behalf of the oceans and developing, small island states.[3] In 2005, he was awarded the .[3] In November 2016 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Victoria University of Wellington.[11]
References[]
- ^ Chief of Protocol of the United States Department of State, Samoa
- ^ "Pacific Islands Forum chooses new Secretary General". Radio New Zealand. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Vula, Timoci (9 September 2011). "Slade back at the helm". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Baselala, Elenoa (10 September 2011). "Riding the wave of success". Fiji Times. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Tuiloma Neroni Slade Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Curriculum Vitae. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ a b International Criminal Court. "Judge Tuiloma Neroni Slade". Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2007.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Retrieved 5 September 2007.
- ^ New Forum Secretary General Commences 3-Year Contract, PIFS Press Statement (108/08) of 9 October 2008.
- ^ a b "MSG Seeks Removal of Slade". . 1 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Forum renews Slade's term as secretary general". Radio New Zealand. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (28 August 2019). "Tuiloma appointed to Judicial Service Commission". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Tuiloma Neroni Slade to receive honorary doctorate". Victoria University of Wellington. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- Living people
- 1941 births
- International Criminal Court judges
- Secretaries General of the Pacific Islands Forum
- Ambassadors of Samoa to the United States
- High Commissioners of Samoa to Canada
- Permanent Representatives of Samoa to the United Nations
- Attorneys General of Samoa
- Samoan judges
- Samoan lawyers
- Victoria University of Wellington alumni
- Samoan judges of international courts and tribunals
- Order of Samoa