Apisai Ielemia

Infobox Prime Minister
name = Apisai Ielemia
order = Prime Minister of Tuvalu


monarch = Elizabeth II
governor_general = Filoimea Telito
deputy =
term_start = 14 August 2006
term_end =
predecessor = Maatia Toafa
successor =
birth_date =
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
constituency = Vaitupu The Rt Hon Apisai Ielemia is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He has been Prime Minister of Tuvalu since 2006.

Background

Ielemia was elected to serve in the Parliament of Tuvalu by the constituency of Vaitupu on a non-partisan basis: his lack of alignment is not unusual in the politics of Tuvalu, since political parties have not emerged in the country.

Prime Minister of Tuvalu

In general elections held on August 3 2006 prime minister Maatia Toafa's government was defeated and opposition MP Ielemia was approved by the new parliament on August 14 to become the new prime minister. He also became foreign minister.

Ielemia has continued Tuvalu's pursuit of close relations with Republic of China, and in December 2007 visited that country, when various bilateral issued were addressed.

Government Members

As of September 2006, the government of Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia consisted of the following members [http://www.tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2006/2006-08-14.htm]

*House Speaker: Sir Kamuta Latasi - represents Funafuti
*Home Affairs: Willy Telavi - represents NanumeaPolitics of Tuvalu
*Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Industries: Lotoala Metia - represents Nukufetau
*Communications/Works: Taukelina Finikaso - represents Vaitupu
*Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources: Tavau Teii - represents Niutao
*Minister of Education and Sports, and Health: Iakoba Italeli - represents Nui
*Chairman of the Caucus: Sir Tomu Sione - represents Niutao

ee also

* Politics of Tuvalu

External links

* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1309/is_2_44/ai_n27399052/pring "A threat to our human rights: Tuvalu's perspective on climate change"] , Apisai Ielemia, "UN Chronicle", June 2007

Article re. appointment of Ielemia's government in 2006:
*http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2006/08/

Article, re, Ielemia's Taiwan visit, December, 2007
*http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2007/December/12-28-05.htm