Vete Sakaio Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Vete Sakaio
Honorific-Suffix:OBE MP
Office1:Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Term Start1:5 August 2013
Term End1:10 April 2015
Primeminister1:Enele Sopoaga
Predecessor1:Kausea Natano
Successor1:Maatia Toafa
Office2:Minister of Public Utilities
Term Start2:5 August 2013
Term End2:10 April 2015
Primeminister2:Enele Sopoaga
Predecessor2:Kausea Natano
Successor2:Enele Sopoaga
Office3:Minister of Works and Natural Resources
Term Start3:29 September 2010
Term End3:24 December 2010
Primeminister3:Maatia Toafa
Predecessor3:Tavau Teii
Successor3:Isaia Italeli
Office4:Member of Parliament
Term Start4:16 September 2010
Term End4:31 March 2015
Served with Fauoa Maani
Predecessor4:Tavau Teii
Tomu Sione
Successor4:Fauoa Maani
Samuelu Teo
Constituency4:Niutao
Party:Independent

Vete Sakaio OBE is a Tuvaluan politician.

A civil engineer by trade,[1] [2] he was described in 2008 as a "leader of the community" on his home island of Niutao.[3] He is also the Vice President of the Tuvalu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee,[4] and a leading member of the Tuvalu Amateur Sports Association.[5]

In 2010, he went into politics, standing for Parliament in the general election. He was elected MP for Niutao.[6] [7] [8] Following the election, he was appointed as Minister for Works and Natural Resources in Prime Minister Maatia Toafa's Cabinet.[9] [10] He lost office just three months later, when Toafa's government was brought down by a motion of no confidence.[11]

Vete Sakaio was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Utilities on 5 August 2013 following Enele Sopoaga becoming prime minister.[12]

On 28 September 2013, Vete Sakaio concluded his speech to the General Debate of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly with an appeal to the world, "please save Tuvalu against climate change. Save Tuvalu in order to save yourself, the world".[13]

In the 2015 New Year Honours, Sakaio was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Vete Sakaio was not re-elected in the 2015 Tuvaluan general election.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://alofatuvalu.tv/FR/03_alofa_tuvalu/page_03_fr.html Alofa Tuvalu
  2. http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2007/01/tmti_upgrading.html "TMTI Upgrading"
  3. http://www.mofa.gov.tw/webapp/ct.asp?xItem=30851&ctNode=1905&mp=6 "Taiwan Indigenous Television Reporters Visited Tuvalu"
  4. http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3862-0-0-0&sID=39956 Tuvalu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee
  5. http://fspisecretariat.net/affiliates/Tuvalu/membership.htm Tuvalu Association of NGOs
  6. Web site: The Parliament of Tuvalu. Current Members (including Ministers and Private Members). 7 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130305104520/http://www.parliament.gov.tv/members/current-members/. 5 March 2013. dead.
  7. http://www.tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2010/2010-09-16.html "Tuvalu Election Results"
  8. http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=14479791734c983cab2207a816693f&PHPSESSID=20578fa5d1a11d27c13b4934aa1bfefb "Tuvalu to form new government early next week"
  9. News: New-look government for Tuvalu . 29 September 2010 . . 26 November 2011.
  10. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201009/s3025304.htm "New Tuvalu PM Maatia Toafa names cabinet"
  11. News: Willie Telavi the new prime minister in Tuvalu . 24 December 2010 . . 26 November 2011.
  12. Web site: Islands Business . Enele Sopoaga Sworn-in Today as Tuvalu's New PM . 5 August 2013 . 5 August 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054326/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2209/enele-sopoaga-sworn-in-today-as-tuvalus-new-pm/ . 21 September 2013 .
  13. Web site: Statement Presented by Deputy Prime Minister Honourable Vete Palakua Sakaio . 28 September 2013. 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly – General Debate . 4 November 2013.
  14. Web site: Radio New Zealand . Election looks set to return Sopoaga as Tuvalu's PM. 2 April 2015. 2 April 2015.