Puapua, Tomasi (1938– )

Tuvaluan politician, prime minister 1981–89. He was elected prime minister in September 1981, replacing Toaripi Lauti, the first prime minister on Tuvalu's independence in 1978, who had been implicated in an investment scandal. Puapua was re-elected in 1985. A referendum, held in 1986, on a switch to republican status, failed to receive national backing and after the September 1989 general election Puapua was replaced as premier by Bikenibeu Paeniu. During his period as prime minister, he was outspoken in his opposition to France's testing of nuclear weapons on Mururoa Atoll, in French Polynesia. In December 1996, Puapua, who was parliamentary speaker, helped bring down the government of Prime Minister Kamuta Laatasi, through withdrawing his support.