Filoimea Telito

His Excellency The Reverend[1]
Sir Filoimea Telito
GCMG MBE
Governor-General of Tuvalu
In office
15 April 2005  19 March 2010
Monarch Elizabeth II
Prime Minister Maatia Toafa
Apisai Ielemia
Preceded by Faimalaga Luka
Succeeded by Kamuta Latasi (acting)
Personal details
Born 19 March 1945
Vaitupu, Tuvalu[2]
Died 11 July 2011 (aged 66)[3]
Spouse(s) Pepapeti Telito

Sir Filoimea Telito, GCMG, MBE (19 March 1945 – 11 July 2011) was a political and religious figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.[4] He was born on Vaitupu where he attended primary school. He later attended King George V Secondary School in Tarawa, Kiribati.[4]

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.[3] 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).[5]

Governor-General of Tuvalu

On April 15, 2005 he took office as Governor-General of Tuvalu[6] as the representative of HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is Tuvalu's head of state. He stepped down in 2010.[7] In January 2007, Telito was made a Knight Grand Cross of Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) by Queen Elizabeth II.[1] 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 July 11, 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.[3][4]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The London Gazette: no. 58239. p. 1647. 6 February 2007. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  2. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Rev. Filoimea Telito passed away", Tuvalu News, 22 July 2011
  3. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "State Funeral of the late former Governor General of Tuvalu, Reverend Sir Filoimea Telito, GCMG, MBE" (PDF). Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau Newsletter (TPB: 01/2011). 25 July 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 54631. p. 43. 30 December 1996. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  5. The World Factbook 2009. Central Intelligence Agency. 2010. p. 646. ISBN 978-0-16-084587-1.
  6. Craig, Robert D. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Scarecrow Press.

External links

Government offices
Preceded by
Faimalaga Luka
Governor General of Tuvalu
2005–2010
Succeeded by
Iakoba Italeli