Tomasi Puapua facts for kids

Sir Tomasi Puapua, born on September 10, 1938, is an important political leader from the island nation of Tuvalu. He represented the area of Vaitupu in the country's Parliament. Before his political career, he studied medicine at the Fiji School of Medicine and the Otago University Medical School. He is married to Lady Riana Puapua.

Prime Minister of Tuvalu

Sir Tomasi Puapua served as the second Prime Minister of Tuvalu. He held this important role from September 8, 1981, to October 16, 1989. In Tuvalu, leaders often change, but he served for a long time. During his time as Prime Minister, he also worked as the foreign minister, handling Tuvalu's relationships with other countries.

First Election as Prime Minister

The first elections in Tuvalu after it became an independent country happened on September 8, 1981. Many people wanted to be elected, with 26 candidates running for 12 available seats in Parliament. Tomasi Puapua was chosen as Prime Minister by the members of Parliament. He won with a vote of 7 to 5 against the group led by the previous Prime Minister, Toaripi Lauti.

Re-election and Later Years

Sir Tomasi Puapua was re-elected as Prime Minister in the general election held on September 12, 1985. He continued to lead the country after this victory.

The next general election took place on March 26, 1989. After this election, the members of Parliament chose Bikenibeu Paeniu to be the new Prime Minister.

Later, after the general election on November 25, 1993, the Parliament members were split. They couldn't decide between the current Prime Minister, Bikenibeu Paeniu, and Tomasi Puapua. Because of this tie, the Governor-General decided to dissolve, or end, the Parliament on September 22. This meant a new election had to happen, which took place on November 25, 1993. After this new election, the Parliament elected Kamuta Latasi as Prime Minister on December 10, 1993.

Speaker of Parliament

After serving as Prime Minister, Sir Tomasi Puapua took on another important role. He was elected as the Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu, also known as Palamene o Tuvalu. He held this position during the government led by Kamuta Latasi, from 1993 to 1998. The Speaker is like a referee in Parliament, making sure debates follow the rules.

Governor-General of Tuvalu

Sir Tomasi Puapua later became the Governor-General of Tuvalu. This is a very high-ranking position, but it is mostly ceremonial. As Governor-General, he represented Elizabeth II, who was the Queen of Tuvalu at that time. He served in this role from 1998 to 2003.

Special Awards and Honors

Sir Tomasi Puapua has received several special awards from the Commonwealth, which is a group of countries that were once part of the British Empire.

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire

In 1998, during the Queen's Birthday Honours, Sir Tomasi Puapua was given the title of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). He received this honor for his important work in medicine, politics, and for helping his community.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

In 2002, he received an even higher honor. He was appointed to the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG). This award recognizes his long and distinguished service.

See also

In Spanish: Tomasi Puapua para niños