Tomu Sione

Sir Tomu Malaefone Sione GCMG OBE (17 November 1941 – April 2016)[1][2] was a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He worked as a journalist from 1962–68. He was the head of the southern Niutao clan. He was married to Segali.[3]

The Right Honourable

Sir Tomu Malaefone Sione

GCMG OBE
4th Governor-General of Tuvalu
In office
1 December 1993 – 21 June 1994
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterBikenibeu Paeniu
Kamuta Latasi
Preceded bySir Toaripi Lauti
Succeeded bySir Tulaga Manuella
5th Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu
In office
1998–2002
Prime MinisterBikenibeu Paeniu
Ionatana Ionatana
Lagitupu Tuilimu
Faimalaga Luka
Koloa Talake
Preceded byTomasi Puapua
Succeeded bySaloa Tauia
Personal details
Born(1941-11-17)17 November 1941
DiedApril 2016 (aged 74)

Member of Parliament

Tomu Sione was first elected to represent the constituency of Niutao in the House of Representatives of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in the general election of 1971.[3] He was re-elected in the general election of 1974. Following the separation of Tuvalu from Kiribati he served in the House of Assembly of the Colony of Tuvalu.[4] From 1975 to 1978 he was the minister for commerce and natural resources[3] in the cabinet of the Chief Minister Toalipi Lauti.[5]

Following independence Tomu Sione was elected to represent the constituency of Niutao in the Parliament of Tuvalu in the elections held on 27 August 1977.[4]

Governor-General

Sione served as Governor-General of Tuvalu from 1993–1994,[6] as the representative of Elizabeth II, Queen of Tuvalu.

Later political career

Somewhat unusually for a former Governor-General, after standing down from this office, Sione later stood again for parliament. He was elected by the constituency of Niutao and served as Speaker of the Parliament from 1998 to 2002.[7]

He was created GCMG in 2001.

Sione lost his seat in the 2002 general election,[7] however he was re-elected in the 2006 Tuvaluan general election and was subsequent appointed as chairman of the parliamentary caucus in the Administration of Prime Minister of Tuvalu Apisai Ielemia.

He represented the constituency of Niutao until the 2010 Tuvaluan general election.

Unsuccessful attempt at political comeback

Having been out of parliament for 5 years, he was a candidate in the 2015 Tuvaluan general election and received 300 votes, but was not elected.[8]

See also
Preceded by
Sir Toaripi Lauti		 Governor-General of Tuvalu
1993 -1994		 Succeeded by
Sir Tulaga Manuella

References
  1. "Tuvalu". WorldStatesmen.
  2. https://www.rulers.org/indexs3.html
  3. Corlew, Laura (2012). "The cultural impacts of climate change: sense of place and sense of community in Tuvalu, a country threatened by sea level rise" (PDF). Ph D dissertation, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  4. Tito Isala, Hugh Larcy (ed) (1983). "Chapter 20, Secession and Independence". Tuvalu: A History. University of the South Pacific/Government of Tuvalu. pp. 153–177.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. Reg Eginton and Paul Mead (1978). "Report on the South Pacific Commission Outer Reef Fisheries Project in Funafuti (Tuvalu) 21 September 1976—28 March 1977" (PDF). South Pacific Commission (SPC). Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  6. Craig, Robert D. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Scarecrow Press.
  7. "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 2002. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  8. "Tuvalu National Election 2015 Results (Niutao)". Fenui News. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.


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