Samiu Vaipulu
Samiu Kuita Vaipulu (born 24 December 1952) is a Tongan politician and Cabinet of Tonga, Cabinet Minister. He was the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2014 and is currently Minister for Trade and Economic Development. He most recently served as the Acting Prime Minister of Tonga from December 2024 to January 2025. Personal life Vaipulu is from the island of Ovaka. He has worked as a tour operator and as a manager for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia. He studied at the University of the South Pacific in 1989, graduating with a Diploma in Legal Studies. He continues to be involved in the tourism industry on his home island of Vava'u. Political career Vaipulu was first elected to Parliament in 1987 Tongan general election, 1987. He lost his seat in the 1990 Tongan general election, 1990 election, but regained it in 1993 Tongan general election, 1993. he then served until 2002 Tongan general election, 2002, when he lost his seat again, but re- ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Prime Minister Of Tonga
The prime minister of Tonga (historically referred to as the premier) is the head of government of Tonga. Tonga is a monarchy with the List of monarchs of Tonga, king, currently Tupou VI, former prime minister, as head of state. The current prime minister is ʻAisake Eke, who was elected on 24 December 2024 and appointed on 22 January 2025. Eke was elected with 16 votes. The office of prime minister was established by the Constitution of Tonga, Constitution of 1875, whose article 51 stipulates that the prime minister and other ministers are appointed and dismissed by the king. The prime minister is assisted by the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, deputy prime minister. 2000s democratization During the 2000s, the country experienced an increase in democratization. In March 2006, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV appointed Feleti Sevele, a moderate member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement, as prime minister. Sevele was the first commoner to hold this post since Shirley Wald ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in the southern Pacific Ocean. according to Johnson's Tribune, Tonga has a population of 104,494, 70% of whom reside on the main island, Tongatapu. The country stretches approximately north-south. It is surrounded by Fiji and Wallis and Futuna (France) to the northwest, Samoa to the northeast, New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu to the west, Niue (the nearest foreign territory) to the east and Kermadec (New Zealand) to the southwest. Tonga is about from New Zealand's North Island. Tonga was first inhabited roughly 2,500 years ago by the Lapita civilization, Polynesian settlers who gradually evolved a distinct and strong ethnic identity, language, and culture as the Tongan people. They quickly established a powerful footing across the South Pacific, and this period of Tong ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
2010 Tongan General Election
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. The early elections were announced by the new King George Tupou V in July 2008 shortly before being crowned on 1 August 2008, and were preceded by a programme of constitutional reform. For the first time, a majority of the seats (17 out of 26) in the Tongan parliament were elected by universal suffrage, with the remaining nine seats being reserved for members of Tonga's nobility. This marked a major progression away from the 165-year rule of the monarchy towards a fully representative democracy. The Taimi Media Network described it as "Tonga’s first democratically elected Parliament". The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, founded in September 2010 specifically to fight the election and led by veteran pro-democracy campaigner 'Akilisi Pohiva, secured the largest number of seats, with 12 out of the seventeen ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Corporal Punishment
A corporal punishment or a physical punishment is a punishment which is intended to cause physical pain to a person. When it is inflicted on Minor (law), minors, especially in home and school settings, its methods may include spanking or Paddle (spanking), paddling. When it is inflicted on adults, it may be inflicted on prisoners and slaves, and can involve methods such as whipping with a Belt (clothing), belt or a whip, horsewhip. Physical punishments for crimes or injuries, including floggings, Human branding, brandings and even mutilations, were practised in most civilizations since ancient times. They have increasingly been viewed as inhumane since the development of humanitarianism ideals after the Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment, especially in the Western world. By the late 20th century, corporal punishment was eliminated from the legal systems of most developed countries. The legality of corporal punishment in various settings differs by jurisdiction. International ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
2008 Tongan General Election
General elections were held in Tonga on 23 and 24 April 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April. A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%. 71 candidates had filed for the people's representatives' seats, among them eight women. All nine incumbents stood for reelection, with six retaining their seats. Most of the pro-democracy MPs were returned, despite several facing charges of sedition over the 2006 Nukuʻalofa riots. Reportedly, all nine elected MPs were pro-democracy activists. These elections were the last ones before democratic reforms expected to be implemented in 2010, which would change the seat balance as follows: 17 MPs would be popularly elected, nine MPs would be elected by the nobles and four MPs appointed by the king. Viliami Uasike Latu requested a recount in Vavaʻu, the constituency he contested, as he missed out on the second seat t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
2005 Tongan General Election
General elections were held in Tonga on 17 March 2005. Only nine members of the 30-seat parliament were elected, with the remainder appointed by the King or belonging to the Tongan aristocracy. The Human Rights and Democracy Movement won seven of the nine seats. Prince ʻUlukālala Lavaka Ata, a son of the King, initially retained his position as Prime Minister, but resigned in 2006, with the position passing to Feleti Sevele, one of the two independent candidates elected. Sevele is the first non-noble Prime Minister of the country. Results By constituency Aftermath By-election were held on 5 May 2005 to fill vacancies in Tongatapu and Niuas following the appointment of Feleti Sevele and Sione Haukinima to the cabinet. Former Police Minister Clive Edwards was elected in Tongatapu, and Lepolo Taunisila was elected in Niuas. A third by-election was held on 20 July 2006 for the Haʻapai electorate after Fineasi Funaki was appointed as Minister of Tourism. The election w ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
2002 Tongan General Election
General elections were held in Tonga on March 7, 2002, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Supporters of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement (HDRM) won seven of the nine seats for people's representatives. Voter turnout was 48.9%. Following the election, HRDM leader 'Akilisi Pohiva was arrested and charged with sedition over allegations of royal corruption published during the run-up to the election. He was later acquitted by a jury. References {{Tongan elections Tonga Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in the southern Pacific Ocean. accordin ... 2002 in Tonga Elections in Tonga March 2002 in Oceania ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
1993 Tongan General Election
General elections were held in Tonga on 3 and 4 February 1993 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Nine nobles and nine people's representatives were elected. Six of the latter favoured democratic reform. Voter turnout was 59.3%. Results References {{Tongan elections Tonga Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in the southern Pacific Ocean. accordin ... 1993 in Tonga Elections in Tonga February 1993 in Oceania ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
1990 Tongan General Election
General elections were held in Tonga on 14 and 15 February 1990 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Nine nobles and nine people's representatives were elected. Seven of the latter favoured democratic reform. Voter turnout was 65.4%. Background The 1987 Tongan general election saw the election of Laki Niu and ʻAkilisi Pōhiva and an increased focus on accountability for the government, particularly in the areas of parliamentary allowances, passport sales, and financial management. After a series of evasive Ministerial answers and Ministers using international travel to avoid being questioned entirely, in September 1989 all the elected People's Representatives walked out, returning only when they would have forfeited their seats. On their return, they introduced motions calling for a reduction in the number of Noble Representatives and an increase in the number of People's Representatives. The first was voted down, and the second subsequently withdrawn. Campa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
1987 Tongan General Election
General elections were held in Tonga on 18 and 19 February 1987 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Nine nobles and nine people's representatives were elected. Five of the latter favoured democratic reform. Results Six of the nine People's Representatives were new to the Legislative Assembly, including Sione Matekihetuka, Laki Niu and ʻAkilisi Pōhiva from the Tongatapu constituency. ''Pacific Islands Monthly'', April 1987 References {{Tongan electionsTonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islan ...
[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
University Of The South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. Established in 1968, the university is organised as an intergovernmental organisation and is owned by the governments of 12 Pacific island countries: the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. USP is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment, with almost 30,000 students in 2017. The university's main campus is in Suva, Fiji, with subsidiary campuses in each member state. History Discussion of a regional university for the South Pacific began in the early 1950s, when an investigation by the South Pacific Commission recommended the creation of a "central institution" for vocational training in the South Pacific, with a university as a distant goal. In December 1962, the Fijian Legislative Assembly discussed establishing a u ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |