Willy Telavi
Encyclopedia
Willy Telavi is a Tuvalu
an politician. He became Prime Minister of Tuvalu
on 24 December 2010.
. His career in the Tuvalu Police Force culminated in his appointment as Police Commissioner in 1993, a position he held for thirteen years. He earned a degree in legal studies from the University of the South Pacific
in 1999 and a master's degree in international management from Northern Territory University
in 2000.
in 2006 and was elected to serve the constituency of Nanumea
. The government of Prime Minister
Apisai Ielemia
came to office following the election. Telavi was appointed Minister for Home Affairs in the Ielemia Administration.
He retained his seat in Parliament in the 2010 general election
, and was appointed Minister for Home Affairs in the Cabinet
of the new Prime Minister, Maatia Toafa
.
, carrying it by eight votes to seven. The motion was reportedly initiated due to MPs' concerns over certain aspects of the budget, in particular the prospect that the government may no longer fully fund patients' medical costs abroad. On 24 December Telavi was elected to be the new Prime Minister, defeating Foreign Affairs and Environment Minister Enele Sopoaga
by another 8-7 vote. Appointing his Cabinet
on the same day, he appointed himself to continue as Minister for Home Affairs.
It was under Telavi's premiership that Tuvalu became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group
, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.
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. He became 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...
on 24 December 2010.
Background
Telavi is from NanumeaNanumea
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:...
. His career in the Tuvalu Police Force culminated in his appointment as Police Commissioner in 1993, a position he held for thirteen years. He earned a degree in legal studies from the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
in 1999 and a master's degree in international management from Northern Territory University
Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University is an Australian public university with about 20,000 students in 2007.The University offers a wide range of Higher Education degrees and Vocational Education and Training courses with flexible study options, including part-time, external and online.CDU has campuses in the...
in 2000.
Ministerial office
Telavi stood for the Parliament of TuvaluParliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
in 2006 and was elected to serve the constituency of 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:...
. The government of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
came to office following the election. Telavi was appointed Minister for Home Affairs in the Ielemia Administration.
He retained his seat in Parliament 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...
, and was appointed Minister for Home Affairs in the 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...
of the new Prime Minister, Maatia Toafa
Maatia Toafa
Maatia Toafa is a Tuvaluan politician, representing Nanumea who served two non-consecutive terms as Prime Minister of Tuvalu. He first served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006, from the resignation of his predecessor, Saufatu Sopoanga, until the defeat of his Cabinet in the 2006 general election...
.
Prime Minister
In December, just four months after the new government took office, Telavi crossed the floor, joined the Opposition and enabled it to bring down the government through a motion of no confidenceMotion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
, carrying it by eight votes to seven. The motion was reportedly initiated due to MPs' concerns over certain aspects of the budget, in particular the prospect that the government may no longer fully fund patients' medical costs abroad. On 24 December Telavi was elected to be the new Prime Minister, defeating Foreign Affairs and Environment Minister Enele Sopoaga
Enele Sopoaga
Enele Sosene Sopoaga is a Tuvaluan diplomat and politician. His served as deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment and Labour in Prime Minister Maatia Toafa's short-lived government from September to December 2010...
by another 8-7 vote. Appointing his 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...
on the same day, he appointed himself to continue as Minister for Home Affairs.
It was under Telavi's premiership that Tuvalu became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group
Polynesian Leaders Group
The Polynesian Leaders Group is an international governmental cooperation group bringing together eight independent or self-governing countries or territories in Polynesia....
, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.
External links
- Appointment of Tuvalu's new government in 2006
- Prime Minister Willy Telavi's address to the 66th session of the United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, 24 September 2011