Governor-General of Tuvalu
Coat of arms of Tuvalu
Flag of the governor-general
Incumbent
Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani
since 28 September 2021
Viceroy
StyleHis Excellency
ResidenceGovernment House, Funafuti
AppointerMonarch of Tuvalu
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Tuvalu
Formation1 October 1978
First holderSir Fiatau Penitala Teo
SalaryAU$ 23,768 annually[1]

The governor-general of Tuvalu is the vice-regal representative of the Tuvaluan monarch, currently King Charles III, in the country of Tuvalu.

The monarch is the head of state of Tuvalu, with the governor-general performing the monarch's duties in Tuvalu. The constitutional convention is that the governor-general represents the monarch and acts on the advice of the prime minister.

The office of the governor-general was created on 1 October 1978, when Tuvalu gained independence from the United Kingdom as a sovereign state and an independent constitutional monarchy. Since then, 10 individuals have served as governor-general. The incumbent, since 28 September 2021, is Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani.

Constitutional status and appointment

The monarchy of Tuvalu exists in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy. As a constitutional monarch, the King acts entirely on the advice of his government ministers in Tuvalu.[2] The monarch is recognised in section 50 of the Constitution of Tuvalu, as a symbol of the unity and identity of Tuvalu. The powers of the head of state are set out in section 52 (1) of the Constitution.[3]

As set out in section 54 of the Constitution, the King's representative in Tuvalu is the governor-general. Section 58 of the Constitution requires the governor-general to perform the monarch's functions when the sovereign is outside Tuvalu or otherwise incapacitated. The governor-general is appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the Tuvaluan prime minister.[4]

Functions

Governor-General Sir Iakoba Italeli with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan in Tuvalu, 2017
US ambassador to Tuvalu Judith Cefkin with Governor-General Sir Iakoba Italeli after presenting her letters of credence, 2015

The governor-general has constitutional responsibilities and reserve powers in relation to the ordering the Parliament of Tuvalu to convene and the appointment and dismissal of the prime minister.[3]

Exercise of reserve powers

In 2003, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Tuvalu delivered directions as to how the governor-general should proceed to take any action they considers to be appropriate under Section 116(1) of the Constitution, acting in his own deliberate judgment, rather than as advised by the cabinet.[5] That is, the governor-general could consider whether it was appropriate to exercise their reserve powers in calling Parliament.

The then Governor-General, Sir Iakoba Italeli was called on to exercise the reserve powers when Prime Minister Willy Telavi refused to recall parliament after the 2013 Nukufetau by-election. A constitutional crisis developed when Prime Minister Telavi responded that, under the Constitution, he was only required to convene parliament once a year, and was thus under no obligation to summon it until December 2013.[6] Tuvalu's opposition then requested the governor-general to intervene against the prime minister's decision.[7] On 3 July, Italeli exercised his reserve powers in ordering parliament to convene, against the prime minister's wishes, on 30 July.[8]

When the Parliament met on 30 July, the Speaker (Sir Kamuta Latasi) refused to allow a debate on a motion of no confidence in the government of Willy Telavi. After further political maneuvers,[9] Italeli then proceeded to exercise his reserve powers to order Telavi to stand down as prime minister and appointed Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister.[10] The governor-general also ordered that parliament sit on Friday 2 August to allow a vote of no-confidence in Telavi and his government.[11] Telavi then proceeded to write to Elizabeth II, Queen of Tuvalu, informing her that he was dismissing Italeli from his position as governor-general.[10] The Queen made no reaction at all, thus leaving Sir Iakoba secure in his post.[12]

The constitutional crisis was resolved by a motion of no confidence in the government of Willy Tevali, which was held on 2 August 2013: the voting was eight for the motion, four against and one abstention.[13] On 4 August the parliament elected Enele Sopoaga as prime minister.[13][14][15]

Symbols and privileges

Flag of the governor-general of Tuvalu

The governor-general uses a personal flag, which features a lion passant atop a St. Edward's royal crown with "Tuvalu" written across a scroll underneath, all on a blue background. It is flown on buildings and other locations in Tuvalu to mark the governor-general's presence.

All governors-general have been awarded the Order of St Michael and St George. Faimalaga Luka had thus far been the only governor-general to decline a knighthood.

Residence

Government House in Funafuti is the official residence of the governor-general of Tuvalu.

List of governors-general

Following is a list of people who have served as Governor-General of Tuvalu since independence in 1978.[16]

A total of ten people have held the position on a permanent basis, while an additional three people have held it on an interim basis due to a vacancy. Teniku Talesi was the first woman to be appointed to the role (albeit for an interim period),[17][18][19] holding office from the resignation of Iakoba Italeli in August 2019,[20] until being replaced by Samuelu Teo (then also serving as Speaker of Parliament) in January 2021.[21]

  Denotes Acting Governors-General
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Monarch
(Reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo
(1911–1998)		 1 October
1978		 1 March
1986		 7 years, 151 days
Elizabeth II
(1978–2022)
2 Sir Tupua Leupena
(1922–1996)		 1 March
1986		 1 October
1990		 4 years, 214 days
3 Sir Toaripi Lauti
(1928–2014)		 1 October
1990		 1 December
1993		 3 years, 61 days
4 Sir Tomu Sione
(1941–2016)		 1 December
1993		 21 June
1994		 202 days
5 Sir Tulaga Manuella
(born 1936)		 21 June
1994		 26 June
1998		 4 years, 5 days
6 Sir Tomasi Puapua
(born 1938)		 26 June
1998		 9 September
2003		 5 years, 75 days
7 Faimalaga Luka
(1940–2005)		 9 September
2003		 15 April
2005		 1 year, 218 days
8 Sir Filoimea Telito
(1945–2011)		 15 April
2005		 19 March
2010		 4 years, 338 days
– Sir Kamuta Latasi
(born 1936)
Acting Governor-General		 19 March
2010		 16 April
2010		 28 days
9 Sir Iakoba Italeli
(b. ?)		 16 April
2010		 22 August
2019		 9 years, 128 days
– Teniku Talesi
(b. ?)
Acting Governor-General		 22 August
2019		 January
2021		 1 year, 4 months
– Samuelu Teo
(b. ?)
Acting Governor-General		 January
2021		 28 September
2021		 8 months
10 Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani
(b. ?)		 28 September
2021		 Incumbent 2 years, 104 days

Charles III
(2022–present)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tuvalu. "PRESCRIPTION OF SALARIES ACT, 2008 Revised Edition" (PDF). tuvalu-legislation.tv.
  2. ↑ "The Queen's Role in Tuvalu". Official website of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 "The Constitution of Tuvalu". PACLII. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  4. ↑ Taafaki, Tauaasa (1996). "South Pacific – Governance in the Pacific: the dismissal of Tuvalu's Governor-General" (PDF). Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU (No 96/5). Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Amasone v Attorney General [2003] TVHC 4; Case No 24 of 2003 (6 August 2003)". PACLII. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Parliament needs one yearly meeting only says defiant Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand International. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Coutts, Geraldine (2 July 2013). "Tuvalu opposition demands parliament be allowed to sit after weekend by-election". Radio Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Matau, Robert (3 July 2013). "Tuvalu's parliament convenes July 30". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Matau, Robert (5 August 2013). "Tuvalu govt bombshells". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  10. 1 2 AFP (2 August 2013). "Dismissal crisis rocks Tuvalu". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  11. ↑ Cooney, Campbell (1 August 2013). "Tuvalu government faces constitutional crisis". Australia News Network. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Dismissal crisis rocks Tuvalu". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  13. 1 2 Cooney, Campbell (4 August 2013). "Tuvalu parliament elects new prime minister". Australia News Network. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  14. ↑ Cooney, Campbell (5 August 2013). "Sopoaga elected new PM in Tuvalu". Radio Australia. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Enele Sopoaga Sworn-in Today as Tuvalu's New PM". Islands Business. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Tuvalu: Governors-General: 1978-2008". Archontology. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008.
  17. ↑ "United Nations – Heads Of State" (PDF). United Nations – Protocol and Liaison Service. 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "GG's Appointment: Nanumaga Continues To Defy Government's Request". Kitiona Tausi, Tuvalu Paradise – Issue No. 44/2020. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  19. ↑ Lansford, Tom, ed. (2021). Political Handbook of the World 2020-2021. CQ Press (Sage Knowledge).
  20. ↑ "The Embassy Held a Reception to Celebrate the 108th National Day of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and the 40th Anniverary [sic] of Diplomatic Relationship between the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and Tuvalu". Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Tuvalu. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  21. ↑ "LCT 'Moeiteava' Christened And Commissioned". Kitiona Tausi, Tuvalu Paradise – Issue No. 06/2021. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
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