Kitiona Tausi

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]

The Honourable Kitiona Tausi MP
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Fisheries and Trade
In office July 2022 – 27 February 2024
Prime Minister	Kausea Natano
Preceded by	Minute Alapati Taupo
Succeeded by	Panapasi Nelesoni
Member of Parliament
In office 5 July 2022 – 26 January 2024
Preceded by	Minute Alapati Taupo
Succeeded by	Hamoa Holona
Constituency	Nanumanga
Personal details
Born	December 1954
Political party	Independent

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

Career

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

1. 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.