Kamuta Latasi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kamuta Latasi (born 1936) was the Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 1993 to 1996. His wife Naama Maheu Latasi was also a member of parliament. Latasi is a landowner and long-time politician. While many Tuvaluan politicians tend to avoid organizing themselves along partisan lines, Latasi is noted for his republican leanings which distance him somewhat from the constitutional link with the Crown.
One notable issue arose during the premiership of Latasi was the question of the design of the national flag, which included a British Union Jack, reduced in size. In a manner which some Tuvaluans regarded as arbitrary, Latasi changed the flag to another design which omitted the Union Jack. Supporters of Latasi held that this measure symbolically distanced Tuvalu from the colonial period. This change, however, proved to be short-lived, since Latasi's successor (Bikenibeu Paeniu) implemented a reversion to the former design.
Prime Ministers of Tuvalu | |
Toaripi Lauti | Tomasi Puapua | Bikenibeu Paeniu | Kamuta Latasi | Bikenibeu Paeniu | Ionatana Ionatana | Lagitupu Tuilimu (act..) | Faimalaga Luka | Koloa Talake | Saufatu Sopoanga | Maatia Toafa | Apisai Ielemia |