Sir Toaripi Lauti

Who is Sir Toaripi Lauti?

Sir Toaripi Lauti was born on 28 November 1928, the son of Pastor Lauti Kae of Funafuti. He was educated at Elisefou primary school on Vaitupu, then in Fiji at Londoni Provincial School and Queen Victoria School, before moving on to Wesley College in Auckland and St Andrew's College in Christchurch, New Zealand, completing teacher training in Christchurch in 1952-1953. He taught at King George V Secondary School in Tarawa through the 1950s and worked as an industrial relations officer for the British Phosphate Commissioners in Nauru from 1962 to 1974, before entering politics as the elected member for Funafuti and Leader of the Opposition. When the Ellice Islands separated from the Gilbert Islands to become the Colony of Tuvalu, Lauti served as its first Chief Minister from 1975, and when Tuvalu became fully independent from Britain on 1 October 1978 he became its first Prime Minister, also holding the finance portfolio. His government's reputation was damaged by a fraudulent American land investment scheme, contributing to his 1981 election defeat, but he later rebuilt his standing as Tuvalu's Governor-General from 1990 to 1993, representing Queen Elizabeth II. He died on 25 May 2014.

Sources: Wikipedia, "Toaripi Lauti" · Wikipedia, "Prime Minister of Tuvalu" · Tuvalu National Archives / Cabinet of Tuvalu historical records