UPDATED 30/Sept/2019: Dr Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has named Tonga’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Dr ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu from outside parliament as new Minister of Health.
Lord Nuku had been listed as the new Minister of Police while Lord Tu’ilakepa had been named as the new Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Lord Ma’afu who became the Minister of Land, Survey and Natural Resources as well as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces in late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s cabinet has retained his seat in the new cabinet list.
Three other PTOA Party MPs listed in the lineup were MP Vātau Hui, the new Minister of Internal Affairs and MP ‘Akosita Lavulavu has been named as the new Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism. Lavulavu was dismissed by the late PM Pōhiva in April due to criminal charges.
MP Poasi Tei from the Party continued in his position as Minister of MEIDECC ( Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.).
Tēvita Lavemaau, the former minister of Finance and Siaosi Sovaleni, the former minister of Public Enterprises, and who were also dismissed by the late Prime Minister in 2017 after what had been described as an attempt to undermine the government, have been also returned to office by Hon Tu’i’onetoa.
Lavemaau is the new Minister of Finance, Minister of Customs and Revenue while Sovaleni is the new Minister of Education.
Former Deputy Prime Minister MP Sāmiu Vaipulu was named as new Minister of Labour.
Tu’i’onetoa has chosen Tongatapu 7 MP and Minister of Justice Sione Vuna Fā’otusia as Deputy Prime Minister.
As we reported earlier this week, Dr Tu’i’onetoa and Fā’otusia, who were ministers in good standing in the late Pōhiva government, earlier this week crossed the floor to form the new People’s Party and gain the support from a united group of nobles and independent MPs.
The Prime Minister has the power to nominate his cabinet lineup before recommending the king to appoint them, according to the constitution.
He also has the constitutional power to appoint no more than four cabinet ministers from outside Parliament.
The list has been confirmed to Kaniva news by the Prime Minister this morning Monday 30.
The lineup list is expected to receive its royal assent soon.
The new lineup:
1. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa – Prime Minister of Tonga, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Public Enterprises
2. Sione Vuna Fā’otusia – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Prison
3. Tēvita Lavemaau – Minister of Finance, Minister of Customs and Revenue
4. Siaosi Sovaleni – Minister of Education
5. Dr. ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu – Minister of Health
6. ‘Akosita Lavulavu – Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Tourism
7. Poasi Tei – Minister of MEIDECC
8. Lord Nuku – Minister of Police
9. Samiu Vaipulu – Minister of Labour
10. Vatau Hui – Minister of Internal Affairs
11. Lord Tu’ilakepa – Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
12. Lord Ma’afu – Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Minister of Land and Survey and Natural Resources
