Pelenike Isaia
Encyclopedia
Pelenike Tekinene Isaia is a Tuvalu
an politician.
She worked initially for the Tuvalu Cooperative Society, as its branch manager in Nui.
Her career in national politics began when she won the August 2011 by-election
for the constituency of Nui, and thus entered Parliament
. The by-election had been caused by the death of her husband, the incumbent MP
and Minister for Works Isaia Italeli
. Pelenike Isaia stated she would aim to continue his work, and she was the candidate endorsed by Prime Minister
Willy Telavi
's government. Italeli's death had deprived the Telavi government of its one seat majority in Parliament, and when Pelenike Isaia won the by-election, defeating the only other candidate (Leneuoti Maatusi) by a sixty-two vote majority, her victory secured parliamentary support for Telavi. Government spokesman Panapasi Nelesoni said she would "most probably" be given a Cabinet
portfolio.
She is only the second woman ever to have sat in Tuvalu's Parliament, following Naama Maheu Latasi
, who was an MP for Nanumea
from 1989 to 1997. Isaia's election put an end to Tuvalu being one of the few countries in the world having no female parliamentarians - although the Tuvaluan national Parliament admittedly consists in only fifteen members.
She was also, at the time of her election, sister-in-law to the Governor-General
, Iakoba Italeli
, her late husband's elder brother.
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...
an politician.
She worked initially for the Tuvalu Cooperative Society, as its branch manager in Nui.
Her career in national politics began when she won the August 2011 by-election
Nui by-election, 2011
A by-election was held in the Nui constituency in Tuvalu on 24 August 2011. It was triggered by the death of the incumbent, MP Isaia Italeli, the Minister for Works, who died quite suddenly in late July while in Samoa on government business...
for the constituency of Nui, and thus entered Parliament
Parliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
. The by-election had been caused by the death of her husband, the incumbent 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,...
and Minister for Works Isaia Italeli
Isaia Italeli
Isaia Italeli Taeia , 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. On 29 September 2010, he was elected...
. Pelenike Isaia stated she would aim to continue his work, and she was the candidate endorsed by Prime Minister
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...
Willy Telavi
Willy Telavi
Willy Telavi is a Tuvaluan politician. He became Prime Minister of Tuvalu on 24 December 2010.-Background:Telavi is from Nanumea. His career in the Tuvalu Police Force culminated in his appointment as Police Commissioner in 1993, a position he held for thirteen years...
's government. Italeli's death had deprived the Telavi government of its one seat majority in Parliament, and when Pelenike Isaia won the by-election, defeating the only other candidate (Leneuoti Maatusi) by a sixty-two vote majority, her victory secured parliamentary support for Telavi. Government spokesman Panapasi Nelesoni said she would "most probably" be given a Cabinet
Cabinet of Tuvalu
The Cabinet of Tuvalu is the executive branch of the government of Tuvalu.It is drawn from, and responsible to, the legislative branch, the monocameral Fale i Fono. After every legislative election, Members of Parliament elect one of their own as Prime Minister. The latter then chooses his...
portfolio.
She is only the second woman ever to have sat in Tuvalu's Parliament, following Naama Maheu Latasi
Naama 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...
, who was an MP for Nanumea
Nanumea
Nanumea is the northwesternmost atoll in the Polynesian nation of Tuvalu, a group of nine coral atolls and islands spread over about four hundred miles of Pacific Ocean just south of the equator and west of the International Date Line.-Geography:...
from 1989 to 1997. Isaia's election put an end to Tuvalu being one of the few countries in the world having no female parliamentarians - although the Tuvaluan national Parliament admittedly consists in only fifteen members.
She was also, at the time of her election, sister-in-law to the Governor-General
Governor-General of Tuvalu
The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...
, Iakoba Italeli
Iakoba Italeli
Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, GCMG, is a politician and the current Governor General of Tuvalu .-Political office:From 2006 to 2010 he was Minister of Education and Sports, and Health, in the government of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Apisai Ielemia.-Constituency background:Italeli was elected to...
, her late husband's elder brother.