Apisai Ielemia
| Apisai Ielemia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Prime Minister of Tuvalu | |
| In office 14 August 2006 – 29 September 2010 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Filoimea Telito Iakoba Italeli |
| Preceded by | Maatia Toafa |
| Succeeded by | Maatia Toafa |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Trade, Labour and Tourism | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 24 December 2010 |
|
| Prime Minister | Willy Telavi |
| Preceded by | Enele Sopoaga (Foreign Affairs, Environment and Labour) |
| Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Vaitupu |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office ? |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 April 1955 |
| Spouse(s) | Sikinala Ielemia[1] |
Apisai Ielemia (born August 19, 1955) is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.
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[edit] Background
Ielemia was elected to serve in the Parliament of Tuvalu by the constituency of Vaitupu on a non-partisan basis: his lack of alignment is not unusual in the politics of Tuvalu, since political parties have not emerged in the country.
[edit] Prime Minister of Tuvalu
In general elections held on August 3, 2006 prime minister Maatia Toafa's government was defeated and opposition MP Ielemia was approved by the new parliament on August 14 to become the new prime minister. He also became foreign minister.
Ielemia has continued Tuvalu's pursuit of close relations with Republic of China, and in December 2007 visited that country, when various bilateral issues were addressed. He gained a higher international profile during the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen by highlighting the dangers of rising sea levels.[2] In September 2008 Ielemia and the President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, attended a conference to improve relations with Cuba.[3]
[edit] Prospects for stability
In a country which had in recent years seen frequent changes of government through the use of the parliamentary no confidence device, Ielemia's government, in office since 2006, seemed at the beginning of 2009 to offer somewhat of a rarity: the prospect of a government of Tuvalu running somewhat of its full course. Prior to Ielemia's appointment as Prime Minister, the average length of Prime Ministerial terms of office had been considerably shorter; this experience served as an indicator of the relative stability of his government, and by extension, the underlying parliamentary system which supported it.
Ielemia was one of 10 MPs who were re-elected to their parliamentary seat in the 2010 general election.[2]
[edit] Government Members
As of September 2006, the government of Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia consisted of the following members [1]
- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources: Hon. Tavau Teii - represents Niutao
- House Speaker: Hon. Sir Kamuta Latasi - represents Funafuti
- Minister of Home Affairs: Hon. Willy Telavi - represents Nanumea
- Minister of Finance & Economic Planning: Hon. Lotoala Metia - represents Nukufetau
- Minister of Public Works, Water & Energy: Hon. Kausea Natano - represents Funafuti
- Minister of Communications, Transportation & Tourism: Hon. Taukelina Finikaso - represents Vaitupu
- Minister of Education, Youth & Sports: Hon Falesa Pitoi - represents Nanumaga
- Minister of Health: Hon. Iakoba Italeli - represents Nui
- Chairman of the Caucus: Hon. Sir Tomu Sione - represents Niutao
[edit] Subsequent political career
In December 2010, Prime Minister Maatia Toafa's government was ousted in a vote of no confidence, and Willy Telavi was elected to the premiership by a slender majority in Parliament (eight votes to seven).[4] Ielemia was among Telavi's supporters, and was appointed to Telavi's Cabinet as Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Trade, Labour and Tourism.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ "37th Pacific Leaders Forum". Tuvalu News. 2006-12-27. http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2006/10/37th_pacific_leaders_forum.html. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
- ^ a b "Tuvalu PM re-elected, seeks to form govt". Sydney Morning Herald. 2010-09-17. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/tuvalu-pm-reelected-seeks-to-form-govt-20100917-15f3f.html. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ^ "Cuba-Pacific ministerial meeting underway in Havana", ABC Radio Australia, September 17, 2008
- ^ "Willie Telavi the new prime minister in Tuvalu". Radio New Zealand International. 24 December 2010. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=57873. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Tuvalu - Heads of Government Listing", Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
[edit] External links
- "A threat to our human rights: Tuvalu's perspective on climate change", Apisai Ielemia, UN Chronicle, June 2007
- Tuvalu News: Article regarding appointment of Ielemia's government in 2006
- East West Center: Article regarding Ielemia's Taiwan visit, December 2007
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Maatia Toafa |
Prime Minister of Tuvalu 2006–2010 |
Succeeded by Maatia Toafa |
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