Sir Kamuta Latasi was born on 4 September 1936 and is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu from Funafuti atoll.
17 Facts About Kamuta Latasi
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Kamuta Latasi was elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu in 1992.
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Kamuta Latasi has served as the Speaker of parliament from 2006 to September 2010 and again from December 2010 to March 2014.
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Kamuta Latasi was the prime minister until 24 December 1996.
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One notable issue during the premiership of Kamuta Latasi was the question of the design of the national flag of Tuvalu, which included a British Union Jack, reduced in size.
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Supporters of Kamuta Latasi held that this measure symbolically distanced Tuvalu from the colonial period.
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Kamuta Latasi's wife, Naama Maheu Latasi, was a member of the Parliament of Tuvalu from 1989 to 1997.
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From 2006 to 2010, Kamuta Latasi was the Speaker of parliament.
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Kamuta Latasi was re-elected to parliament by his constituency of Funafuti in the 2010 general election.
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Kamuta Latasi was not the speaker during the short term of the government of Maatia Toafa.
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On 30 July 2013, during the attempts of the opposition to present a no-confidence motion in the government of Willy Telavi, Kamuta Latasi refused to allow a debate on the motion.
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Again on 2 August 2013 Willy Tevali faced a motion of no confidence, the voting was eight for the motion, four against and one abstention and Kamuta Latasi abstained for voting on the motion.
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On 4 March 2014 Kamuta Latasi was replaced as Speaker by Otinielu Tausi, with Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga stating that the government needed a Speaker who shared its general viewpoints.
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Kamuta Latasi was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1980 Birthday Honours.
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Kamuta Latasi was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2007 Birthday Honours for services to the community.
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In 2010 Kamuta Latasi was appointed acting Governor-General between the terms of Sir Filoimea Telito and Sir Iakoba Italeli.
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Sir Kamuta Latasi resigned as MP on 17 October 2018.