Isaia Italeli Explained

See also: Politics of Tuvalu.

Isaia Italeli Taeia
Death Date:20 July 2011
Death Place:Apia, Samoa
Office:Minister for Works and Natural Resources
Primeminister1:Willy Telavi
Term Start1:24 December 2010
Term End1:20 July 2011
Predecessor1:Vete Sakaio
Successor1:Willy Telavi[1]
Office2:Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu
Primeminister2:Maatia Toafa
Term Start2:29 September 2010
Term End2:24 December 2010
Predecessor2:Kamuta Latasi
Successor2:Kamuta Latasi
Constituency Mp3:Nui
Parliament3:Tuvaluan
Successor3:Pelenike Isaia
Term Start3:16 September 2010
Term End3:20 July 2011
Party:Independent

Isaia Italeli Taeia (1960s  - 19/20 July 2011), more commonly known as Isaia Italeli, was a Tuvaluan politician.

He was elected to Parliament as MP for Nui in the September 2010 general election, at which time his elder brother, Sir Iakoba Italeli Taeia, was serving as Governor-General.[2] [3]

On 29 September 2010, he was elected Speaker of Parliament.[4] He joined the Opposition to Prime Minister Maatia Toafa's government in December 2010, along with a backbencher and Home Affairs Minister Willy Telavi, enabling the latter to oust Toafa in a motion of no confidence, and replace him. As Prime Minister, Telavi appointed Italeli Minister for Works and Natural Resources.[5] [6]

Death

He was found dead in his room at the Hotel Elisa in the Samoan capital, Apia, on 20 July 2011.[7] He was in Samoa to attend a Forum Fisheries Agency Ministers' Meeting. The Samoan police stated that, although the death was sudden, and Italeli was only in his 40s, the death was "likely" to be of natural causes.[8] He was buried on Nui on 25 July 2011 following a state funeral.[7]

His widow, Pelenike Isaia, succeeded him to Parliament in the resulting by-election the following month, stating she would continue his work, and thus becoming only the second woman ever to sit in the Tuvaluan Parliament.[9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Italeli's widow Pelenike Isaia was appointed to Cabinet in his place, but as Minister for Home Affairs. The Works and Natural Resources portfolio was then taken on by the incumbent prime minister.
  2. News: Brian. Cannon. Tuvalu Election Results. Tuvalu News. Tuvaluislands.com. 16 September 2010. 2010-09-17.
  3. http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=19569/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl "Meetings can be held, but…"
  4. Web site: Inter-Parliamentary Union. Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu) . 2010. 7 March 2013.
  5. http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=19569/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl "Meetings can be held, but…"
  6. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-t/tuvalu.html Tuvalu: Cabinet
  7. Web site: State Funeral for the Minister of Natural Resources, Hon Isaia Taeia Italeli . Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau Newsletter (TPB: 01/2011) . 25 July 2011 . 20 November 2012.
  8. News: Samoa police rule out foul play in death of Tuvalu minister . 21 July 2011 . . 5 October 2011.
  9. http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201108/3302279.htm "Tuvalu Government set to retain power"
  10. http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=5173 "Women Need Support to Overcome Barriers Entering Parliament"