Samuelu Teo
Tuvaluan politician (1957–2024)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuelu Penitala Teo (24 November 1957 – 13 November 2024)[2][3] was a Tuvaluan politician. He was the son of Fiatau Penitala Teo who was appointed as the first Governor General of Tuvalu (1978–1986) following independence from Great Britain.[4] Samuelu Teo himself served as the Acting Governor-General of Tuvalu from January until 28 September 2021.[5][6] He had succeeded Acting Governor-General Teniku Talesi[7] and remained in office until the Rev. Tofiga Vaevalu Falani was sworn in as the 10th Governor-General in September 2021.
Samuelu Teo | |
|---|---|
Teo in 2022 | |
| Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu | |
| In office 20 September 2019 – 27 January 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Kausea Natano |
| Preceded by | Otinielu Tausi |
| Succeeded by | Iakoba Italeli |
| Acting Governor-General of Tuvalu | |
| In office January 2021 – 28 September 2021 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Kausea Natano |
| Preceded by | Teniku Talesi (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Tofiga Vaevalu Falani |
| Minister of Works, Energy and Communications (1999–2001); Minister for Natural Resources (2001–2002) | |
| In office 1999–2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Ionatana Ionatana (1999–2000);[1] Lagitupu Tuilimu (2000–2001); Faimalaga Luka (2001); and Koloa Talake (2001–2002) |
| Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Niutao | |
| In office 26 March 1998 – 3 August 2006 | |
| Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Niutao (serving with Fauoa Maani) | |
| In office 31 March 2015 – 26 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Vete Sakaio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuelu Penitala Teo 24 November 1957 |
| Died | 13 November 2024 (aged 66) |
| Party | Independent |
He was born on 24 November 1957.[8] His spouse was Miliaga Samuelu Teo.[9]
Career
He was first elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu at the 1998 general election to represent the constituency of Niutao.[4] He served as the Minister of Works, Energy and Communications in the governments led by Ionatana Ionatana (1999–2000)[1] and Lagitupu Tuilimu (2000–2001). He was the Minister for Natural Resources in the governments led by Faimalaga Luka (2001) and Koloa Talake (2001–2002). He was re-elected in the 2002 Tuvaluan general election, then lost his seat in the 2006 Tuvaluan general election when the vote of the Tuvaluan electorate resulted in the election of 8 new members to the 15 member parliament.[10][11]
Samuelu Teo was again elected to represent Niutao in the 2015 Tuvaluan general election.[12][13][14] The 2015 election was strongly contested with six candidates including the two incumbent MPs (Vete Sakaio and Fauoa Maani) and three former MPs (Tomu Sione, Tavau Teii and Teo).[13]
Following the 2019 Tuvaluan general election, on 19 September 2019, the members of parliament elected Kausea Natano from Funafuti as prime minister;[15][16][17] and Teo was elected as Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu.[18]
He was not re-elected in the 2024 Tuvaluan general election.[19][20]
His brother Feleti Penitala Teo[21][22] was elected to represent Niutao in the 2024 general election,[19] and was elected as prime minister.[23][24]
