Tuvalu Recent History

It is a group of coral islands in the Pacific Ocean; most of them are real rocks. They were first sighted around the second half of the 16th century. But the real discovery was made in 1781 by Maurelle who saw the main island of Nanomea.

In 1819 Captain Peyster discovered Funafuti and twenty years later American Captain Wilkes arrived with a fleet of 5 ships. According to Abbreviationfinder, an acronym site which also features history of Tuvalu, the first Samoan inhabitants were soon the subject of conversion to Christianity by missionaries of the London Mission Society.

In 1892 Great Britain proclaimed its Protectorate on the islands. Until 1975 the islands remained a British colony; then, following a popular referendum, in favor of separation from the Gilbert islands, on 1st October 1978, having obtained independence, they also changed their name, they were called Tuvalu.

Non-existent industries and agriculture, the life of the archipelago is based on the income of emigrants, on the occasional issue of rare stamps, but essentially on fishing.

Detached from Great Britain, the islands became politically oriented towards Japan which, in fact, has long since started a financing and technical assistance plan.

In 1979 Tuvalu signed a friendship treaty with the United States which established that it was always consulted in relation to fishing rights in its territorial waters and the formation of military bases on the archipelago.

Without political parties, only in 1981 the first elections took place in the country, from which emerged a government chaired by P. Papua, then re-elected in 1985.

In 1989 he won the elections B. Paeniu, a former minister of community services and he, in turn, was defeated in the 1993 elections, held in two stages, in September and November, by K. Latasi.

In 1985, as far as international relations were concerned, an agreement was signed with nine Pacific area states for the establishment of a nuclear-free zone.

In 1991 there was a worsening of relations with Great Britain which, in response to the request for aid, but above all to the request for compensation for damages from the Second World War, replied negatively.

Based on this Tuvalu, after the attempt in 1986, for the second time in 1992 proposed in Parliament the change from monarchy to republic. For the second time the proposal was rejected so Tuvalu is still under the sovereignty of Elizabeth II, queen of England.

Following this further refusal, Prime Minister K. Latasi wanted to review trade and relations with Great Britain. In 1995, he had the Union Jack symbol removed from the national flag; however, since this initiative was not supported by the people, in February 1997 the flag was restored as it was originally.

The elections of 1998 decreed the defeat of Latasi, who was replaced by B. Paeniu, former prime minister from 1989 to 1993.
But in April 1999, Parliament voted to distrust Paeniu who, therefore, had to leave the post to his successor I Ionatana.