Sopoaga Ministry

Sopoaga Ministry
14th cabinet of Tuvalu
Date formed	5 August 2013
People and organisations
Head of government	Enele Sopoaga
Deputy head of government	Vete Sakaio until 10 April 2015, then Maatia Toafa
Head of state	Queen Elizabeth II (represented by Iakoba Italeli)
Member party	Independent
Opposition leader	None
History
Election(s)	2010 (elected PM in 2013), 2015
Predecessor	Telavi Ministry

The Sopoaga Ministry is the 14th ministry of the Government of Tuvalu, led by Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga. It succeeds the Telavi Ministry upon its swearing in by Governor-General Iakoba Italeli on 5 August 2013.^[1][2][3]

Following the 2015 general election, Enele Sopoaga was sworn in as prime minister on 10 April.^[4][5] Enele Sopoaga said his administration will focus on working to make Tuvalu less vulnerable to climate change and global economic forces.^[5]

Cabinet

The ministry was sworn in on 5 August 2013.^[1][6] The Sopoaga Ministry includes number of former high profile Tuvaluan politicians returning to cabinet, including Maatia Toafa, who was Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2004 to 2006 and again in 2010.

In the Tuvaluan general election, 2015 Vete Sakaio, the deputy prime minister and minister for public utilities, was not re-elected to parliament.^[7] Following the general election Enele Sopoaga was sworn in as prime minister and appointed the ministers to the cabinet on 10 April.^[8][9] Enele Sopoaga took responsibility for public utilities and appointed Maatia Toafa as deputy prime minister. Satini Manuella was appointed to be the minister for health.^[9]

Officeholder	Office(s)
The Rt Hon Enele Sopoaga MP	Prime Minister Minister for Public Utilities (from 10 April 2015)
The Rt Hon Vete Sakaio OBE MP	Deputy Prime Minister (until 10 April 2015) Minister for Public Utilities (until 10 April 2015)
Monise Lafai MP	Minister for Communications and Transport
Fauoa Maani MP	Minister for Education, Youth, Sport and Health (until 10 April 2015) Minister for Education, Youth and Sport (from 10 April 2015)
Satini Manuella MP	Minister for Health (from 10 April 2015)
Taukelina Finikaso MP	Minister for the Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade
The Rt Hon Maatia Toafa OBE MP	Minister for Finance and Economic Development Deputy Prime Minister (from 10 April 2015)
The Rt Hon Pita Elisala OBE MP	Minister for Works and Natural Resources
The Rt Hon Namoliki Sualiki MBE MP	Minister for Home Affairs

Program of the Sopoaga Ministry

Enele Sopoaga said he would ensure the country was given a strong voice in the fight against climate change.^[10][11]

Enele Sopoaga made a commitment under the Majuro Declaration, which was signed on 5 September 2013, to implement power generation of 100% renewable energy (between 2013 and 2020). This commitment is proposed to be implemented using Solar PV (95% of demand) and biodiesel (5% of demand). The feasibility of wind power generation will be considered.^[12]

On 16 January 2014 Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga established the National Advisory Council on Climate Change, which functions are “to identify actions or strategies: to achieve energy efficiencies; to increase the use of renewable energy; to encourage the private sector and NGOs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; to ensure a whole of government response to adaptation and climate change related disaster risk reduction; and to encourage the private sector and NGOs to develop locally appropriate technologies for adaptation and climate change mitigation (reductions in [greenhouse gas]).”^[13]

In January 2014 Enele Sopoaga also indicated that reform of parliament will be addressed when parliament resumed in March 2014, with a two-thirds majority of members supporting the prime minister, he said that he wanted “to improve the governance issues of parliament, its rules and procedures, also we need to look at the functions of parliament on legislations, but particularly also on policies, to be more involved and based with the people”.^[14] On 3 March 2014 prime minister Sopoaga moved a motion without notice to remove Sir Kamuta Latasi.^[15] The motion was carried and Otinielu Tausi was subsequently elected as speaker. Prime minister Sopoaga was reported as not having faith in Sir Kamuta’s judgment because of his rulings during the events leading to the change of government, which Sopoaga described as being flawed by "[a]ll sorts of misinterpretations, misapplications of the constitution and he was a risk to the good governance of Tuvalu." ^[16]

References

1. "Enele Sopoaga Sworn-in Today as Tuvalu's New PM". Islands Business. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
2. Matau, Robert (30 July 2013). "Tuvalu govt bombshells". Islands Business. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
3. "Tuvalu opposition votes out government". Radio New Zealand. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
4. D'Uienville, Yvette (16 April 2015). "The meeting to elect the Prime Minister was conducted despite the absence of four Representatives to Parliament (Election Special No. 3)". Fenui News. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
5. "Cabinet position could await new Tuvalu MP". Radio New Zealand. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
6. Cooney, Campbell (5 August 2013). "Tuvalu Sopoaga elected new PM in Tuvalu". Radio Australia. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
7. "Election looks set to return Sopoaga as Tuvalu's PM". Radio New Zealand. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
8. Malaki, Semi (16 April 2015). "Prime Minister Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga named his Cabinet (Election Special No. 3)". Fenui News. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
9. "Cabinet of Tuvalu, 2015". Fenui News. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
10. "Confident Tuvalu PM voice for climate change", Australia News Network, 6 August 2013
11. "Relocation for climate change victims is no answer, says Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand International. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
12. "Majuro Declaration: For Climate Leadership". Pacific Islands Forum. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
13. Lalua, Silafaga (22 January 2014). "National Advisory Council on Climate Change launched in Tuvalu". Islands Business – From FENUI NEWS/PACNEWS. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
14. Cooney, Campbell (23 January 2014). "Tuvalu aiming at major parliamentary reform". Radio Australia. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
15. Matau, Robert (4 March 2014). "Tuvalu's new speaker". Islands Business. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
16. "Tuvalu PM says ousted speaker misinterpreted constitution". Radio New Zealand International. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.