The Tuvalu General Election 2006 Democracy and Elections project Governance Program University of the South Pacific Graham Hassall 1 On 3rd August 2006 the small Pacific Island state of Tuvalu (population 12,000) held its 8 th general election since independence in 1978. 2 The Tuvaluan parliament, comprising just 15 members, is one of the smallest in the world. Prior to independence Tuvalu was part of the “Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony”, established by the British in 1892. Whereas the colony had combined the Polynesian Ellice Islanders with the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands, both groups regarded the linguistic and cultural differences between them sufficiently great as to seek an amicable separation when the opportunity for independence was presented. The peaceful “separation” of the two groups into independent states is unique in the history of decolonization. 3 Tuvalu comprises nine islands (5 atolls and 4 coral islands) amounting to just 26 sq km, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 757,000 sq km. 4 The main languages are the Polynesian dialect Tuvaluan, I-Kiribati (Gilbertese), and English. Religion is an important aspect of Tuvaluan life and 97% of the population are members of the Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist): 97%, with small communities of Seventh-Day Adventists (1.4%) and Baha’is (1%) also present. 1 Professor of Governance, University of the South Pacific. The author is grateful to the Government of Tuvalu for an invitation to observe the general election during the period 31 st July – 7 th August, 2006. Special thanks to Secretary to Government Panapasi Nelesone; Assistant Secretary Bill Teo; Teuleala Manuel; Assistant Secretary for Transport and Communications, Isaia Taape; USP Tuvalu Campus Director David Manuela; National Librarian Mila Amilale; Feue Tipu; Fakavae Taomia; and Pusinelli Laafai. 2 General elections have been held in 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 2002, and 2006 3 Seluka, A. (2002). The evolution of traditional governance in Tuvalu, The University of the South Pacific. For Tuvaluans, the main objective of the August 1974 referendum was to protect Tuvalu’s culture and rights and right to develop on their own without the overwhelming presence of Kiribati. The majority of Ellice Islanders (92%) voted for the referendum despite harsh conditions given by the British Administration should the separation succeed. The Ellice islanders thought these could subsequently be re-negotiated but this never happened: the Ellice Islanders were left with just one ship; no right to claim phosphate royalties; and no right to claim any islands from the Phoenix and Line Group. 4 The smallest of these, Niulakita, owned by the island of Niutao, sustains some 50 to 70 people, who are mostly engaged in cutting copra.