Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Ionatana Ionatana

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Monarch
  
Elizabeth II

Role
  
Political figure

Governor-General
  
Tomasi Puapua

Succeeded by
  
Lagitupu Tuilimu

Preceded by
  
Bikenibeu Paeniu

Resigned
  
December 8, 2000

Name
  
Ionatana Ionatana


Ionatana Ionatana pegus2tripodcomtvionatanajpg

Died
  
December 8, 2000, Funafuti, Tuvalu

Ionatana Ionatana, CVO, OBE (November 05, 1938 – December 8, 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.

Contents

Background

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

He held three portfolios in the 2nd 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; and after the 1998 election he retained the first 2 portfolios in the 3rd government of Paeniu.

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. Among the prominent issues of his period of office, he oversaw Tuvalu's entry into the United Nations on September 5, 2000. Also during his term, Tuvalu obtained the lucrative .tv internet country suffix.

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. He was the first prime minister to die in office since Tuvalu became independent. After his death Lagitupu Tuilimu took over as acting prime minister until 24 February 2001.

References

Ionatana Ionatana Wikipedia