Ionatana Ionatana

Ionatana Ionatana, CVO, OBE (5 November 1938 – 8 December 2000), was a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He represented the constituency of Funafuti in the Parliament of Tuvalu. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 27 April 1999 until his death on 8 December 2000.[1]

The Right Honourable

Ionatana Ionatana

CVO OBE
5th Prime Minister of Tuvalu
In office
27 April 1999 – 8 December 2000
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralTomasi Puapua
Preceded byBikenibeu Paeniu
Succeeded byLagitupu Tuilimu (Acting)
Personal details
Born05 November 1938
Funafuti, Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Died8 December 2000(2000-12-08) (aged 62)
Funafuti, Tuvalu

Background

He joined the police and rose to become the chief of police in 1976.[1] In 1977 he was appointed the government secretary and adviser to the cabinet.[1] Ionatana was elected to Parliament in the 1981 Tuvalu general election. Ionatana was noted for his republican leanings.

He held three portfolios in the second government of Bikenibeu Paeniu (1996 to 1998): the Minister for Health, Women and Community Affairs; Minister for Education and Culture; and the Minister for Tourism, Trade and Commerce;[2] and after the 1998 election he retained the first 2 portfolios in the 3rd government of Paeniu.[2]

Prime Minister of Tuvalu

In 1999 Ionatana succeeded Bikenibeu Paeniu as Prime Minister of Tuvalu. Ionatana was elected as prime minister on 27 April 1999.[3] Among the prominent issues of his period of office, he oversaw Tuvalu's entry into the United Nations on 5 September 2000.[1][4] Also during his term, Tuvalu obtained the lucrative .tv internet country suffix.[5]

Death

On 8 December 2000, shortly after the UN entry was completed, Ionatana suddenly collapsed and died. He had been giving a speech at the Vaiaku Lagi Hotel on Funafuti, and was 62 years old.[5] He was the first prime minister to die in office since Tuvalu became independent.[1] After his death Lagitupu Tuilimu took over as acting prime minister until 24 February 2001.

Preceded by
Bikenibeu Paeniu		 Prime Minister of Tuvalu
1999–2000		 Succeeded by
Lagitupu Tuilimu (acting)
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See also

References
  1. Craig, Robert D. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Rowman & Littlefield.
  2. "Paeniu Re-Elected Tuvalu Prime Minister". Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i at Manoa /PACNEWS/tuvaluislands.com. 8 April 1998. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press.
  4. Mason, Moya K. "Tuvalu: Flooding, Global Warming, and Media Coverage". Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  5. Field, Michael (9 December 2000). "Tuvalu's Prime Minister Ionatana Dies After Giving Speech". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 19 April 2014.


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