Kamuta Latasi
Encyclopedia
Rt Hon Sir Kamuta Latasi KCMG
, OBE
, MP
, PC (born 1936) is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu
. Latasi served as the 4th Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 1993 until 1996. He has served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu
from 2006 to 2010.
of Tuvalu
from 1993 to 1996. While many Tuvaluan
politicians tend to avoid organizing themselves along partisan lines, Latasi is noted for his republican
leanings, together with another former Prime Minister of Tuvalu
, the late Ionatana Ionatana
. These leanings for a while distanced Latasi somewhat from the constitutional link with the Crown
.
, which included a British Union Jack, reduced in size.
In a manner which some Tuvaluans regarded as arbitrary, Latasi changed the flag to another design which omitted the Union Jack. Supporters of Latasi held that this measure symbolically distanced Tuvalu from the colonial period. This change, however, proved to be short-lived, since Latasi's successor (Bikenibeu Paeniu
) implemented a reversion to the former design.
was also a member of the Parliament of Tuvalu
.
. He was re-elected to Parliament by his constiuency in the 2010 general election
.
in 2008.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, PC (born 1936) is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
. Latasi served as the 4th Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 1993 until 1996. He has served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu
Parliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
from 2006 to 2010.
Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Latasi was the fourth Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Tuvalu
The Prime Minister of Tuvalu is the head of government of Tuvalu. According to Tuvalu's constitution, the Prime Minister must always be a member of Parliament, and is elected by Parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of Parliament can be...
of Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
from 1993 to 1996. While many Tuvaluan
Tuvaluan
Tuvaluan can mean:* an Austronesian language, spoken in Tuvalu, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru and New Zealand; see Tuvaluan language,* something to do with the Oceanian island nation of Tuvalu; see Tuvalu* the people of this country; see Tuvaluan people...
politicians tend to avoid organizing themselves along partisan lines, Latasi is noted for his republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
leanings, together with another former Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Prime Minister of Tuvalu
The Prime Minister of Tuvalu is the head of government of Tuvalu. According to Tuvalu's constitution, the Prime Minister must always be a member of Parliament, and is elected by Parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of Parliament can be...
, the late Ionatana Ionatana
Ionatana Ionatana
Ionatana Ionatana, CVO, OBE , was a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from April 27, 1999, to December 8, 2000.-Background:...
. These leanings for a while distanced Latasi somewhat from the constitutional link with the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
.
Flag issue
One notable issue during the premiership of Latasi was the question of the design of the national flag of TuvaluFlag of Tuvalu
The current flag of Tuvalu was instated when the country became independent in 1978, after the separation from the Gilbert Islands in 1976.-Features:...
, which included a British Union Jack, reduced in size.
In a manner which some Tuvaluans regarded as arbitrary, Latasi changed the flag to another design which omitted the Union Jack. Supporters of Latasi held that this measure symbolically distanced Tuvalu from the colonial period. This change, however, proved to be short-lived, since Latasi's successor (Bikenibeu Paeniu
Bikenibeu Paeniu
The Rt Hon Bikenibeu Paeniu is a politician from Tuvalu. He has served twice as the third Prime Minister of Tuvalu.-Political career:...
) implemented a reversion to the former design.
Personal Background
Sir Kamuta Latasi is a landowner and long-time politician. His wife Lady Naama Maheu LatasiNaama Maheu Latasi
Naama Maheu Latasi, Lady Latasi is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.-Background and political office:She stood for election in the constituency of Nanumea in 1989 and was elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu...
was also a member of the Parliament of Tuvalu
Parliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
.
Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu; Knighthood
From 2006 to 2010, Latasi was the Speaker of the Parliament of TuvaluParliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
. He was re-elected to Parliament by his constiuency in the 2010 general election
Tuvaluan general election, 2010
A parliamentary election was held in Tuvalu on 16 September 2010.Voters elected fifteen members of the Parliament to a four-year term. All candidates were independents, as there are no political parties in the country. Ten out of the fifteen incumbent members were re-elected. The remaining five...
.
Knighthood
Despite Latasi's republican stance he did accept several honours, including the KCMGOrder of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 2008.
External links
- "Court Circular", The Times, January 3, 2008 (announcing Sir Kamuta's knighthood and accession to the Privy Council)