Kitiona Tausi (born December 1954) was elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu in the 2022 by-election to represent the Nanumanga electorate;[1] However he was not re-elected in the 2024 Tuvaluan general election.[2][3]

Kitiona Tausi
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Fisheries and Trade
In office
July 2022 – 27 February 2024
Prime MinisterKausea Natano
Preceded byMinute Alapati Taupo
Succeeded byPanapasi Nelesoni
Member of Parliament
In office
5 July 2022 – 26 January 2024
Preceded byMinute Alapati Taupo
Succeeded byHamoa Holona
ConstituencyNanumanga
Personal details
BornDecember 1954
Political partyIndependent

He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Fisheries and Trade in the Natano Ministry to succeed Minute Alapati Taupo.[4]

Career

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Tausi trained in theology and was appointed as a priest of Tuvalu's main church, Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu, and acted as the General Secretary of the organisation.[5] From January 2011 until his retirement he was a parish minister at the Vaialofa Vaiaku Church on Funafuti. Following his retirement, he was appointed as a chaplain to Fetuvalu Secondary School.[6]

Following his retirement, as a parish minister, on 28 September 2020, he established the first private newspaper to operate in the country – Tuvalu Paradise News - and was editor of the print newspaper and website.[7] The Tuvalu Paradise News was published until Tausi was appointed as a member of parliament. In February 2024, Tausi began the publication of a newsletter under the title Island of Hope.[8]

He has been appointed to a number of Tuvaluan government and non-government organisations, including: Tuvalu Association of Non Government Organizations (TANGO),[9] the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organisation (TNPSO),[10] and prior to his election as a member of parliament he was the chairman of the Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation (TVBC) board of directors.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Ligaiula, Pita (16 July 2022). "Chair of the Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation wins Nanumaga by-election". Pacific News Service/Radio Tuvalu. Retrieved 9 Feb 2023.
  2. ^ "Tuvalu general election: Six newcomers in parliament". Radio New Zealand. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  3. ^ Marinaccio, Jess (30 January 2024). "Tuvalu's 2024 general election: a new political landscape". PolicyDevBlog. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Tuvalu - Heads of Government Listing". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia. 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Lipoti mo Ikuga Fono," (Reports and Minutes) Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu, 19 Fono Lasi (General Assembly) 2006-Nukulaelae, 09-13 Iulai (July) 2006, 58-9. Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT). 2006.
  6. ^ "Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu - Posting For 2019 - 2022". Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT). 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Minister Launches First Private Newspaper In The Country – "Tuvalu Paradise News"". tuvaluparadise.tv. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Who will form the next government is the question on the minds of the people of Tuvalu". Radio New Zealand (RNZ). 21 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Tuvalu Education for the 21st Century - Priorities & Needs" (PDF). University of the South Pacific (USP). June 1997. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Tuvalu Infrastructure Strategy and Investment Plan" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2023.