Today is Tuvalu Day, a public holiday in Tuvalu. October 1st is the National Day of Tuvalu and marks the date it gained its independence from the UK in 1978. If it falls on Sunday it is celebrated as a holiday on Monday.
Tuvalu is made up of three reef islands and six atolls spread over ten square miles. Tuvalu is situated halfway between Hawaii and Australia, making it one of the most isolated countries on Earth; as well as one of the smallest and most low-lying nations on earth. Its highest point is only 4.6m (15ft) above sea level.
In 1819, the island of Funafuti was named Ellice’s Island after a British politician; the name Ellice was then applied to all nine islands. The islands came into Britain’s sphere of influence in the late 19th century, when each of the Ellice Islands was declared a British protectorate by Captain Gibson of HMS Curacoa in October 1892.
A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, separation occurred in two stages. The Tuvaluan Order 1975, which took effect on 1 October 1975, recognised Tuvalu as a separate British dependency with its own government.
The second stage occurred on 1 January 1976, when separate administrations were created out of the civil service of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.
Elections to the House of Assembly of the British Colony of Tuvalu were held on August 27th 1977, with Toaripi Lauti being appointed Chief Minister in the House of Assembly of the Colony of Tuvalu on October 1st 1977. The House of Assembly was dissolved in July 1978, with the government of Toaripi Lauti continuing as a caretaker government until the 1981 elections were held.
On October 1st 1978, Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth realm, with Toaripi Lauti becoming the first Prime Minister.
Get ready…
What a deal!
Today is the birthday, in 1951, of Sting, (Gordon Sumner), singer, songwriter, The Police, (1983 UK & US No.1 single ‘Every Breath You Take’, plus 4 other UK No.1 singles). Solo, (1990 UK No.15 single ‘Englishman In New York’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). As a solo musician and a member of The Police, he received 16 Grammy Awards and has sold over 100 million records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs
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