Sir Filoimea Telito GCMG MBE (19 March 1945 – 11 July 2011)[3] was a political and religious figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.[4] He was born on Vaitupu where he attended Elisefou (New Ellice) primary school. He later attended King George V Secondary School in Tarawa, Kiribati.[4]
Background
He served as principal of the Motufoua Secondary School on Vaitupu island, and was a pastor in the Church of Tuvalu (Ekalesia Klisiano Tuvalu), of which he eventually became the president, a position which he held until his death.[2] In the 1997 New Year Honours, Telito was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for "community and public services, especially to education."[5]
Governor-General of Tuvalu
On 15 April 2005 he took office as Governor-General of Tuvalu[6] as the representative of Elizabeth II, Queen of Tuvalu. He stepped down in 2010.[7] In January 2007, Telito was made a Knight Grand Cross of Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) by Queen Elizabeth II.[3] Herewith he resumed the practice by Governors-General of Tuvalu of accepting a knighthood, a practice discontinued on a personal basis by his predecessor to that office, Faimalaga Luka.
Death
He died on 11 July 2011 of a heart attack, and was buried in Funafuti three days later. All government activity ceased on the day of the funeral, in a sign of respect.[2][4]
References
