Telavi Ministry

Telavi Ministry
13th Cabinet of Tuvalu
Date formed	24 December 2010
Date dissolved	2 August 2013
People and organisations
Head of government	Willy Telavi
Deputy head of government	Kausea Natano
Head of state	Queen Elizabeth II (represented by Iakoba Italeli)
Member party	Independent
Opposition leader	Enele Sopoaga
History
Election(s)	2010
Predecessor	Second Toafa Ministry
Successor	Sopoaga Ministry

The Telavi Ministry was the 13th ministry of the Government of Tuvalu, led by Prime Minister Willy Telavi. It succeeded the Second Toafa Ministry upon its swearing in by Governor-General Iakoba Italeli on 24 December 2010 after a vote of no confidence in former Prime Minister Maatia Toafa.^[1][2] Following Telavi's removal as prime minister, his ministry was subsequently brought down by the opposition's vote of no confidence and was succeeded by the Sopoaga Ministry, led by Enele Sopoaga, on 5 August 2013.^[3]

Cabinet

Officeholder	Office(s)
Willy Telavi MP	Prime Minister Minister for Home Affairs (until July 2011) Minister for Works and Natural Resources (from July 2011)
Kausea Natano MP	Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Communications, Transport and Public Utilities
Dr. Falesa Pitoi MP	Minister for Education, Youth and Sport
Apisai Ielemia MP	Minister for the Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour, Trade and Tourism
Lotoala Metia MP	Minister for Finance (until December 2012)
Taom Tanukale MP	Minister for Health (until July 2013)
Isaia Italeli MP	Minister for Works and Natural Resources (until July 2011)
Pelenike Isaia MP	Minister for Home Affairs (from July 2011)

Changes to the Ministry

2011 changes

Isaia Italeli, Minister for Works and Natural Resources, died suddenly on 19 July 2011, while attending a regional meeting in Apia, Samoa.^[4] In August, his widow, Pelenike Isaia, was elected to his seat in Parliament in a by-election in the constituency of Nui, thereby saving the government's parliamentary majority. She was subsequently appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Home Affairs. She is the second woman in Parliament, and in Cabinet, in Tuvalu's history.^[5] Prime Minister Telavi took on the role of Minister for Works and Natural Resources.

2012 changes

On 21 December 2012, Finance Minister Lotoala Metia died in turn, in hospital, of unspecified causes.^[6] As a by-election was not called until June 2013, he was not replaced.^[7]

2013 changes

Health Minister Taom Tanukale resigned unexpectedly from government on 30 July, when parliament was reconvened by the governor-general.^[8] Telavi's ministry was subsequently voted out of office three days later thus he was not replaced.^[9]

References

1. "Radio New Zealand". Willie Telavi the new prime minister in Tuvalu. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
2. "Inter-Parliamentary Union". Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu). December 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
3. "ENELE SOPOAGA SWORN-IN TODAY AS TUVALU’S NEW PM", Islands Business, 5 August 2013
4. "Samoa police rule out foul play in death of Tuvalu minister". Radio New Zealand International. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
5. "Composition du gouvernement des îles Tuvalu", French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, 23 September 2011
6. "Tuvalu Minister dies in Suva", Islands Business, 24 December 2012
7. "Political future of Tuvalu’s PM awaits decision of by-election in Nukufetau", Islands Business, 10 January 2013
8. Matau, Robert (30 July 2013). "Island Business". Tuvalu govt bombshells. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
9. "Radio New Zealand". Tuvalu opposition votes out government. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2014.