Elisala Pita

Elisala Pita OBE (d. 22 August 2016) was a Tuvaluan politician.

The Right Honourable

Elisala Pita

MP OBE
Minister for Works and Natural Resources
In office
5 August 2013 – 22 August 2016
Prime MinisterEnele Sopoaga
Preceded byWilly Telavi
Leader of the Opposition
In office
11 October 2004 – 14 August 2006
Prime MinisterMaatia Toafa
Preceded byApisai Ielemia
Succeeded byMaatia Toafa
Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament
for Nukufetau
In office
28 June 2013 – 22 August 2016
Preceded byLotoala Metia
In office
10 October 2003 – 16 September 2010
Preceded byFaimalaga Luka
Succeeded byEnele Sopoaga
Personal details
Died22 August 2016[1]
Funafuti
Political partyIndependent

Pita "had a long and distinguished career with the Fisheries Department" in Tuvalu, "culminating in his being employed as a Fisheries Adviser with the USAID". For the latter position, he was based in Suva, Fiji. He eventually returned to his home country, and worked in public service, becoming Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment.[2] In 2001, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, "for public and community service".[3]

He first entered parliament as an MP for Nukufetau in a by-election in October 2003. At the time, Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoanga was struggling to retain a majority in parliament. There are no political parties in Tuvalu, and Pita was elected without having said which side of parliament he would join. He considered the matter for several days after his election, then joined the government's side, helping it maintain a majority.[4][5]

In August 2004, however, he crossed the floor, providing the Opposition with the majority it needed to topple the government through a motion of no confidence.[6] Over the following weeks, Opposition leader Maatia Toafa and ousted prime minister Saufatu Sopoanga formed an unexpected alliance. Pita seized the opportunity to challenge for the premiership. A vote in parliament on 11 October made Toafa prime minister with eight votes, Sopoanga serving as his deputy. Pita received seven votes, and became the leader of the Opposition.[7] He held the position until the 2006 general election, after which he sat as a backbencher.[8] From 2008 to 2010, as MP, he was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.[8]

He lost his seat in parliament in the 2010 general election, with Enele Sopoanga (brother of the former Prime Minister) replacing him.[9] He subsequently served as Chief Executive of the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organisation, lobbying for "stronger ties between the private sector and the government".[10] He was selected as the Opposition's candidate for a crucial by-election in Nukufetau on 28 June 2013, which would determine which side of parliament had a majority. Pita pledged, if elected, to enable the Opposition leader Enele Sopoanga, the man who whose election ousted Pita from parliament, to bid for the premiership.[11] He won the seat with more than two thirds of the vote, and the Opposition immediately asked for parliament to be reconvened.[12]

After the subsequent vote of no confidence in the government of Willy Telavi, Elisala Pita was appointed Minister for Works and Natural Resources on 5 August 2013 following Enele Sopoaga becoming prime minister.[13] Following the 2015 Tuvaluan general election Elisala Pita was re-appointed as the Minister for Works and Natural Resources.[14] Pita died on 22 August 2016 in Funafuti.[1]

References
  1. "The late Hon. Elisala Piita who passed away today at Funafuti, Tuvalu". Fenui News. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  2. "Tuvalu’s former PM Sopoaga has another shot" Archived 2013-09-21 at the Wayback Machine, Islands Business, 10 June 2013
  3. "Commonwealth honours", BBC News, 15 June 2001
  4. "After almost a year in recess parliament is recalled", ABC Radio Australia, 12 November 2003
  5. "Tuvalu Prime Minister gains majority", Radio New Zealand International, 14 October 2003
  6. "Vote ousts Tuvalu government" Archived 2012-03-01 at WebCite, Radio New Zealand International, 25 August 2004
  7. "TUVALU: Toafa sworn in as Prime Minister", Te Buu 2004-05, Kiribati & Tuvalu Association, 11 October 2004
  8. Elisala Pita Twitter account
  9. Tuvalu Election Results, 2010 general election, Tuvalu News
  10. "Private sector in Tuvalu wants stronger ties with government", Radio New Zealand International, 1 May 2011
  11. "By-election today determines Telavi govt’s future" Archived 2014-04-29 at the Wayback Machine, Islands Business, 28 June 2013
  12. "Tuvalu’s Opposition waiting to hear from GG" Archived 2014-01-08 at the Wayback Machine, Islands Business, 1 July 2013
  13. "Enele Sopoaga Sworn-in Today as Tuvalu's New PM". Islands Business. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  14. "Tuvalu irked by big power fishing stance". Radio New Zealand International. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
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