Feleti Sevele
Encyclopedia
Feleti Vakaʻuta Sevele styled Lord Sevele of Vailahi was the Prime Minister
of the Kingdom of Tonga
from 30 March 2006 to 22 December 2010.
at St John's College in Levuka
on the island of Ovalau
, and the Marist Brothers
High School in Suva
. He then attended St Bede's College
in Christchurch
, New Zealand
, before going to the University of Canterbury
where he graduated with a BSc in Math, a BA, an MA and a PhD in Economic Geography.
. He subsequently worked as Director of Catholic Education, a consultant, and businessman.
He was first elected as one of nine People's Representatives to the Legislative Assembly
or Fale Alea in the 1999 election
and re-elected in subsequent elections. In March 2005 he was appointed to the Cabinet
as Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries, becoming one of the first two elected representatives to be appointed to Cabinet. As Minister he negotiated Tonga's becoming a member of the World Trade Organization
in December 2005. In early 2006 he presented an Employment Relations Bill to Cabinet, based on the Fiji
an Bill of the same name, as a response to the public service
strike of 2005.
and Siosateki Tonga. He was appointed Acting Prime Minister after the sudden resignation of Ahoeitu Unuakiotonga Tukuaho (at that time commonly known as: Ulukālala Lavaka Ata) on 11 February 2006, six months after a series of pro-democracy protests that called for a lesser role in government for the royal family. Sevele's role was made permanent by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
, when he appointed Dr Sevele as the Prime Minister of Tonga on 30 March 2006.
On 19 September 2007, he was received by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang. He attended the Asian Development Bank
's "Mobilizing Aid for Trade" conference (18 to 20 September).
Following the resignation of Finance Minister Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, Sevele temporarily took over his portfolio on 26 February 2008 until 'Otenifi Afu'alo Matoto was appointed as Finance Minister on 20 March.
Sevele did not seek re-election at the 2010 elections
. Following the completion of his term as Prime Minister he was appointed a life-peer, as Lord Sevele of Vailahi.
Prime Minister of Tonga
This is a list of Prime Ministers of Tonga from the establishment of that office in 1876 until the present day.-List of Premiers/Prime Ministers of Tonga :-External links:*...
of the Kingdom of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
from 30 March 2006 to 22 December 2010.
Early life
Sevele was born in Ma’ufanga, Nuku’alofa. He began his high school education at Apifoou College in Tonga, then went to school in FijiFiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
at St John's College in Levuka
Levuka
Levuka is a town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau, in Lomaiviti Province, in the Eastern Division of Fiji. It was formerly the Capital of Fiji. At the census in 2007, the last to date, Levuka town had a population of 1,131 , about half of Ovalau's 8,360 inhabitants...
on the island of Ovalau
Ovalau
Ovalau is the sixth largest island in Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Situated at 17.70° South and 178.8° East, , the island is about 13 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide...
, and the Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
High School in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
. He then attended St Bede's College
St Bede's College, Christchurch
St. Bede's College is a Roman Catholic day and boarding school in Christchurch, New Zealand for boys aged 13 to 18 . St. Bede's is the oldest Roman Catholic Boys' College in New Zealand's South Island. It is also the only Catholic day and boarding college for boys in New Zealand's South Island....
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, before going to the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
where he graduated with a BSc in Math, a BA, an MA and a PhD in Economic Geography.
Career
Upon returning to Tonga he was employed by the Tonga Commodities Board, then as chief economist for the South Pacific Commission, and as a councilor for the University of the South PacificUniversity of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
. He subsequently worked as Director of Catholic Education, a consultant, and businessman.
He was first elected as one of nine People's Representatives to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors. The...
or Fale Alea in the 1999 election
Tongan general election, 1999
General elections were held in Tonga on 10 and 11 March 1999 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Voter turnout was 50.7%. Pro-reform candidates won a majority of seats, despite receiving fewer votes.-Results:...
and re-elected in subsequent elections. In March 2005 he was appointed to the Cabinet
Tongan Cabinet
The Cabinet of Tonga is the cabinet 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...
as Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries, becoming one of the first two elected representatives to be appointed to Cabinet. As Minister he negotiated Tonga's becoming a member of the World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
in December 2005. In early 2006 he presented an Employment Relations Bill to Cabinet, based on the Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an Bill of the same name, as a response to the public service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
strike of 2005.
Prime Minister
Sevele is the country's third non-noble Prime Minister after Shirley Waldemar BakerShirley Waldemar Baker
Shirley Waldemar Baker was a missionary and premier of Tonga.-Early life:Baker was born in London, England of a Devonshire family. He studied medicine, went to Australia in 1852 as a stowaway. He worked as a farm hand, miner and apothecary's assistant on the goldfields in Victoria...
and Siosateki Tonga. He was appointed Acting Prime Minister after the sudden resignation of Ahoeitu Unuakiotonga Tukuaho (at that time commonly known as: Ulukālala Lavaka Ata) on 11 February 2006, six months after a series of pro-democracy protests that called for a lesser role in government for the royal family. Sevele's role was made permanent by King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Tāufaāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and her consort Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, was the king of Tonga from the death of his mother in 1965 until his own death in 2006...
, when he appointed Dr Sevele as the Prime Minister of Tonga on 30 March 2006.
On 19 September 2007, he was received by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang. He attended the Asian Development Bank
Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
's "Mobilizing Aid for Trade" conference (18 to 20 September).
Following the resignation of Finance Minister Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, Sevele temporarily took over his portfolio on 26 February 2008 until 'Otenifi Afu'alo Matoto was appointed as Finance Minister on 20 March.
Sevele did not seek re-election at the 2010 elections
Tongan general election, 2010
Early general elections under a new electoral law were held in Tonga on 25 November 2010. They determined the composition of the 2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly....
. Following the completion of his term as Prime Minister he was appointed a life-peer, as Lord Sevele of Vailahi.
External links
- Profile at Tongan Government website
- Pacific Magazine
- Matangi Tonga
- Photos of Prime Minister Sevele's trip to Los Angeles and Honolulu November 2007