- Tuvalu Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues Print This Frame Tuvalu Introduction Top of Page Background: In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, ...www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tv.html