Cabinet of Tonga

The Cabinet of Tonga is the cabinet (executive branch) of the government of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is composed primarily of the ministers of government. The latter, including the Prime Minister, are appointed by the monarch. The Governor of Ha'apai and the Governor of Vava'u also serve on the Cabinet ex officio. When in session and presided over by the monarch, the Cabinet is known as the Privy Council.^[1]

Current Cabinet

The current Cabinet results from the November 2014 general election. ʻAkilisi Pohiva, leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands and long-standing leader of the movement campaigning for democracy in Tonga, was elected Prime Minister by the new Parliament on 29 December. He was supported by fifteen of the seventeen People's Representatives: all ten MPs from his party, and five of the seven independent members. Conversely, all nine Nobles' Representatives voted for his rival, Samiu Vaipulu. Pohiva thus became the first commoner in Tonga to be elected Prime Minister by a predominantly elected Parliament. He appointed the following government on 30 December. Drawing from his majority in Parliament, all of his ministers are People's Representatives, with one exception. By law, the Ministry for Land must be entrusted to a Noble, and Pohiva thus invited incumbent minister Lord Maʻafu to retain that position.^[2][3][4][5]

Government on 30 December 2014

Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
Prime Minister Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister for Education and Training	The Hon ʻAkilisi Pohiva	People's representative for Tongatapu 1	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Environment and Communication	The Hon Siaosi Sovaleni	People's representative for Tongatapu 3	Independent
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources	Lord Maʻafu	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries	The Hon Semisi Fakahau	People's representative for Tongatapu 8	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Minister of Justice	The Hon Vuna Fa'otusia	People's representative for Tongatapu 7	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Minister of Infrastructure and Works	The Hon 'Etuate Lavulavu	People's representative for Vava'u 16	Independent
Minister of Police, Tourism, Labour and Commerce	The Hon Dr Pohiva Tu'ionetoa	People's representative for Tongatapu 10	Independent
Minister for Internal Affairs, Women, Culture, Youth and Sports	The Hon Fe'ao Vakata	People's representative for Ongo Niua 17	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Minister for Health	The Hon Dr Saia Piukala	People's representative for Vava'u 14	Independent
Minister for Finance and National Planning	The Hon Dr ʻAisake Eke	People's representative for Tongatapu 4	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Minister for Public Enterprises	The Hon Poase Tei	People's representative for Tongatapu 6	Independent
Minister for Revenue and Customs	The Hon Tevita Lavemaau	People's representative for 'Eua 11	Independent

Past Cabinets

Tuʻivakano Cabinet

This Cabinet results from the November 2010 general election, the first enabling ordinary citizens to elect a majority of Members of Parliament, and the first also enabling Parliament to elect the Prime Minister. After being elected Prime Minister by Parliament, Lord Tuʻivakanō appointed the following as his Cabinet. His decision to appoint Dr. Ana Taufeʻulungaki and Clive Edwards, who were not Members of Parliament, was met with some controversy, but Tuʻivakanō defended his choice on the grounds of their experience. It also meant that the Ministry for Women's Affairs would be headed by a woman; as all members of the legislature were men, appointing a Member of Parliament to the position would have meant it being held by a man.^[6]

The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, which had won twelve of the seventeen seats allotted to people's representatives in the Assembly, requested six seats in Cabinet, but was awarded only two, generating some disagreements within the party itself. Senior party MPs ʻAkilisi Pohiva and ʻIsileli Pulu nevertheless accepted the proposed Cabinet positions.^[7][8]

Lord Tuʻivakanō's first Cabinet, announced at the beginning of January 2011, was thus the following.^[9] On 13 January, however, newly appointed Health Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva (People's representative for Tongatapu 1) resigned, in protest over his party having only two Cabinet positions, and refusing to be bound by collective Cabinet responsibility.^[10][11][12] He was replaced by ʻUliti Uata (DPFI, People's Representative for Haʻapai 13) on 25 January.^[13]

Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Defence, Minister for Information and Communication	Lord Tuʻivakanō	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Justice, Minister for Transport and Works	Samiu Kuita Vaipulu	People's representative for Vavaʻu 15	Independent
Minister for Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and Environment and Climate Change	Lord Maʻafu	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries	Lord Vaea	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Minister for Finance	Sunia Manu Fili	People's representative for ʻEua 11	Independent
Minister for Training, Employment, Youth and Sports	Feʻaomoeata Vakata	People's representative for Niuas 17	Independent
Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services	Viliami Latu	People's representative for Vavaʻu 16	Independent
Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries	Lisiate ʻAloveita ʻAkolo	People's representative for Vavaʻu 14	Independent
Minister for Health	ʻAkilisi Pohiva	People's representative for Tongatapu 1	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Minister for Tourism	ʻIsileli Pulu	People's representative for Tongatapu 4	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Minister for Revenue Services and Public Enterprises	Wiliam Clive Edwards	not in Parliament	People's Democratic Party
Minister for Education, Women Affairs and Culture	Dr. ʻAna Maui Taufeʻulungaki	not in Parliament	None

On September 1, 2011, following a reshuffle which switched portfolios around without adding any new minister nor removing any, the Cabinet was as follows:^[14]

Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Defence, Minister for Information and Communication	Lord Tuʻivakanō	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Transport and Works	Samiu Kuita Vaipulu	People's representative for Vavaʻu 15	Independent
Minister for Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and Environment and Climate Change	Lord Maʻafu	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries	Lord Vaea	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Minister for Finance and Inland Revenue	Sunia Manu Fili	People's representative for ʻEua 11	Independent
Minister for Training, Employment, Youth and Sports	Feʻaomoeata Vakata	People's representative for Niuas 17	Independent
Minister for Tourism	Viliami Latu	People's representative for Vavaʻu 16	Independent
Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services	Lisiate ʻAloveita ʻAkolo	People's representative for Vavaʻu 14	Independent
Minister for Health	ʻUliti Uata	People's representative for Haʻapai 13	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries	ʻIsileli Pulu	People's representative for Tongatapu 4	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands
Minister for Justice; Minister for Public Enterprises	Wiliam Clive Edwards	not in Parliament	People's Democratic Party
Minister for Education, Women Affairs and Culture	Dr. ʻAna Maui Taufeʻulungaki	not in Parliament	None

In mid-April 2012, another reshuffle was announced, to be effective from 1 May. Lisiate ʻAkolo, the Minister for Police, was to become Minister for Finance and National Planning. Sunia Fili, the Minister for Finance and Revenue, was to take over the Police, Prisons & Fire Services portfolio; Sosefo Vakata, Minister for Training, Employment, Youth and Sports, would become Minister for Revenue. Lord Vaea, in addition to retaining his Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries portfolio, would take over Vakata's erstwhile ministry.^[15][16] The reshuffle was implemented on 1 May.^[17]

In late June, three ministers (ʻIsileli Pulu (Labour), Sunia Fili (Police) and ʻUliti Uata (Health)) resigned, so as to support a motion of no confidence tabled by their party (DPFI) against the government.^[18] On 1 July, Sangster Saulala broke ranks with the DPFI to join the government, but resigned and rejoined the opposition the next day.^[19] On 5 July, Lord Tuʻiʻafitu was appointed Minister for Health. The other vacated portfolios remained vacant; Matangi Tonga pointed out that "the selection is difficult because of the very few friendly members of parliament left to choose from", as the (delayed) motion of no confidence loomed.^[20] On 13 July, Saulala joined the government once more, as Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food. He argued that, although he was breaking ranks with his own party, it was the wish of his constituents.^[19]

No further announcement was made until 7 January 2013, when Lord Tuʻivakanō announced the following Cabinet:^[21]

Portfolio	Minister	Constituency	Party
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister for Defence, Minister for Information and Communication, Acting Minister for Police, Fire Services and Prisons	Lord Tuʻivakanō	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure	Samiu Kuita Vaipulu	People's representative for Vavaʻu 15	Independent
Minister for Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources	Lord Maʻafu	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Minister for Education and Training	Dr. ʻAna Maui Taufeʻulungaki	not in Parliament	None
Minister for Health	Lord Tuʻiʻafitu	Nobles' representative for Vavaʻu	None
Minister for Finance and National Planning	Lisiate ʻAloveita ʻAkolo	People's representative for Vavaʻu 14	Independent
Minister for Commerce and Tourism	Viliami Latu	People's representative for Vavaʻu 16	Independent
Minister for Internal Affairs	Lord Vaea	Nobles' representative for Tongatapu	None
Minister for Justice; Minister for Public Enterprises	Wiliam Clive Edwards	not in Parliament	People's Democratic Party
Minister for Revenue Services	Feʻaomoeata Vakata	People's representative for Niuas 17	Independent
Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries	Sangster Saulala	People's representative for Tongatapu 7	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (dissident)

On 2 February 2013, there was another reshuffle. Sifa Tuʻutafaiva, DPFI MP for Tongatapu 6, was appointed Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services, and Minister for Revenue Services, his first ministerial appointments. Feʻaomoeata Vakata, until then Minister for Revenue Services, was shuffled to the position of Minister of Public Enterprises, replacing Clive Edwards, who retained his other position as Minister for Justice.^[22]

On 9 January 2014, Finance Minister Lisiate ‘Akolo was sacked after publicly criticising aspects of the budget.^[23] ʻAisake Eke, Independent MP for Tongatapu 5, was appointed in his place.^[24]

Sevele Cabinet

For the most part, the Cabinet below results from a reshuffle in May 2009, but Teisina Fuko was subsequently appointed Minister for Revenue Services in October, and Samiu Vaipulu became Minister of Justice in November. John Cauchi became Attorney General in May 2009, but resigned in April 2010.^{[25][26][27][28][29]}

Portfolio	Minister
Prime Minister, Minister of Communication, Mininister of Disaster Relief & Activities, Mininister of Labour, Commerce, and Industries	Dr. Feleti Sevele
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Health	Dr. Viliami Tangi
Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Forestry	HSH Prince Tu'ipelehake Viliami Tupoulahi Mailefihi Tuku'aho
Minister of Civil Aviation, Marine, and Ports	Paul Karalus
Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs	Dr. Feleti Sevele (acting)
Minister of Education, Women's Affairs, and Culture	Tevita Hala Palefau
Minister of Finance	Siosiua Utoikamanu
Minister of Justice	Samiu Vaipulu
Attorney General	vacant
Minister of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources, and Environment	Siosa'ia Ma'ulupekotofa Tuita
Minister of Police, Fire Services, and Prisons	Dr. Viliami Tangi (acting)
Minister of Tourism	Fineasi Funaki
Minister of Training, Employment, Youth, and Sports	Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano
Minister of Works	Nuku
Minister of Information and Communication	'Eseta Fusitu'a
Minister of Revenue Services	Teisina Fuko
Governor of Ha'apai	Malupo[30]
Governor of Vava'u[31]	Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumoepeau Tupou

Source: "Tonga", C.I.A.

External links

• Cabinet of Tonga: information on the Tongan government website

References

1. Tonga profil, United States Department of State
2. "Akilisi Pohiva Tonga's new PM", Radio New Zealand, 29 December 2014
3. "Pohiva is new Prime Minister", Tonga Daily News, 29 December 2014
4. "PM Pōhiva: We have to prove to His Majesty that we can work together to build Tonga", Kaniva Pacific, 30 December 2014
5. "Inappropriate land-grabs in Tonga", Pacific Institute of Public Policy, March 2014
6. "Tonga PM justifies appointing unelected ministers". Radio New Zealand International. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
7. "Editorial: Democracy's day one step closer in Tonga". The New Zealand Herald. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
8. "Confusion over Tonga's Democratic Party being in Cabinet", ABC Radio Australia, 6 Jan 2011
9. "First meeting of Tonga's new Cabinet", Matangi Tonga, 5 Jan 2011
10. Field, Michael (14 January 2011). "Tonga's democracy campaigner quits". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
11. "Democratic Party head resigns as Tongan health minister", Australia Network News, 14 Jan 2011
12. "Tonga’s PM accepts resignation of Akilisi Pohiva from ministerial post". Radio New Zealand International. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
13. "New Minister of Health", Matangi Tonga, 26 Jan 2011
14. "Cabinet quietly reshuffles portfolios", Matangi Tonga, September 7, 2011
15. "Four Cabinet Ministers to be reshuffled on May 1", Matangi Tonga, 20 April 2012
16. "Tonga government names minsters", Radio New Zealand International, 15 April 2012
17. "Tonga Prime Minister Defends Cabinet Reshuffle", Radio New Zealand International, 3 May 2012
18. "Three Cabinet Ministers in Tonga resign ahead of confidence motion", Radio New Zealand International, 25 June 2012
19. "Tonga opposition MP Saulala becomes government minister", Radio New Zealand International, 13 July 2012
20. "PM's new Cabinet short of ministers", Matangi Tonga, 9 July 2012
21. "Prime Minister Announced Cabinet for 2013", Matangi Tonga, 10 january 2013
22. "Sifa Tu'utafaiva, new Minister of Police and Revenue", Matangi Tonga, 4 February 2013
23. "Tonga's finance minister sacked after defying order to quit", Radio Australia, 9 January 2014
24. "‘Aisake Eke appointed new Tongan Finance Minister", Islands Business, 14 January 2014
25. "Tonga cabinet reshuffle", Matangi Tonga, 5 May 2009
26. "PR Teisina Fuko becomes a Cabinet Minister", Matangi Tonga, 29 Oct 2009
27. "Samiu Vaipulu, Tonga's new Minister of Justice", Matangi Tonga, 10 Nov 2009
28. "Tonga's new Attorney General", Matangi Tonga, 2 Jun 2009
29. "Tongan A-G resigns over government interference", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 30 Apr 2010
30. "Joyful welcome for "Tu'i Ha'apai"", Matangi Tonga, 14 Aug 2008
31. "The people of Hunga welcome Indian diplomat", Matangi Tonga, 5 Jul 2008