Name Filoimea Telito | Spouse(s) Pepapeti Telito | |
Prime Minister Maatia ToafaApisai Ielemia Died July 11, 2011, Vaiaku, Tuvalu Previous office Governor-General of Tuvalu (2005–2010) | ||
Sir Filoimea Telito (19 March 1945 – 11 July 2011) was a political and religious figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He was born on Vaitupu where he attended Elisefou (New Ellice) primary school. He later attended King George V Secondary School in Tarawa, Kiribati.
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Background
He served as principal of the Motufoua secondary school on Vaitupu island, and was a pastor in the Church of Tuvalu (Ekalesia Klisiano Tuvalu), of which he eventually became the president, a position which he held until his death. In 1996, Telito was honoured for his services to education and the community by being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Governor-General of Tuvalu
On 15 April 2005 he took office as Governor-General of Tuvalu as the representative of HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is Tuvalu's head of state. He stepped down in 2010. In January 2007, Telito was made a Knight Grand Cross of Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) by Queen Elizabeth II. Herewith he resumed the practice by governors-general of Tuvalu of accepting a knighthood, a practice discontinued on a personal basis by his predecessor to that office, Faimalaga Luka.
Death
He died on 11 July 2011 of a heart attack, and was buried in Funafuti three days later. All government activity ceased on the day of the funeral, in a sign of respect.