The Prime Minister, Hon Dr. ‘Aisake Eke, introduced his new ministers at the St. George Building in Nuku’alofa, yesterday 30 January 2025. He said his new Cabinet had the opportunity to run the government for a short time, betore the next election in November this year.
For this year, he wants to address the needs of the people and said that one of his priorities is mobilising a multi-million dollar project to build a bridge across the entrance of the Fanga’uta Lagoon.
Food security is another priority. He is concerned about the price of fish in Tonga, which he believes is too expensive for the people.
Other concerns are the operation of the national airline, the Lulutai, and the management structure of the civil servants who are coming back to work in the new year under a new government. He said the main concern is offering the services of government to meet the needs of the people, with the short time.
Dr Eke has chosen some experienced professionals in his four appointed ministers, who join a selection of Ministers from the elected members.
Who are the Cabinet Members?
A few of the new Cabinet members were happy to share their backgrounds with Matangi Tonga:
- Prime Minister
- Minister for Finance
- Minister for Fisheries
- Minister for His Majesty’s Prisons
Dr Eke was first elected to Parliament on 25 November, 2010, as the People’s Representative for Tongatapu 5. He is a former Minister for Finance and National Planning (2014-17) and has 14 years working experience at Tonga's Ministry of Finance, including as Secretary and CEO.
He earned his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from University of South Queensland, Australia and is a CPA (Australia Society of Accountants), Australia. Before pursuing his doctoral degree he graduated with a BA (Accounting & Economics) from USP, Suva, Fiji, MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia,
He is a Senior lecturer and Professor at the University of Christ and Tupou Tertiary Institute.
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Hon. Dr Taniela Liku'ohihifo Fusimalohi (‘Eua PR11)
- Deputy Prime Minister
- Minister for Infrastructure
- Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Communication and Climate Change (MEIDECC)
Dr Fusimalohi was first elected to parliament in 2022 as the People’s Representative for ‘Eua 11. He is Chair of the parliamentary Law Committee; a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee; and a member of the Climate Change and Environment Committee.
He has a PhD (Public Administration/Management) (Aust), an MA (Development Studies/Public Sector Management) (Aust), 2006 and a Bachelor of Law (Fiji) 2012. He completed a Postgraduate Diploma (Economic & Social Studies) (UK) 1991, and a Bachelor of Business (Public Administration) (Aust) 1987.
Dr Fusimalohi has served in Government since 1987, working in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Ministry of Tourism. He was the CEO Ministry of Internal Affairs, 2007-2011 and has also worked as the Project Manager, Tonga Climate Resilient Transport Project, Ministry of Infrastructure, 2016-2021. He has served as a board member for the PSC, Tonga Remuneration Authority, TNQAB, TASANOC and the Waste Authority Ltd.
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Hon. Dr. Siosiua Halavatau
- Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forests (appointed)
Dr Halavatau is a soil scientist and the current chair of the Pacific Soil Partnership, who has published works on resilience of farming systems in the Pacific region, climate change and food security challenges and other issues.
He has a PhD in Soil Science from the University of Queensland in 1998. He has worked in agricultural development in the Pacific Islands region with the South Pacific Commission, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, FAO, CSIRO and New Zealand’s Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.
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HRH Crown Prince, Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala
- Minister for Foreign Affairs (appointed)
- Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) (appointed)
The Crown Prince and his family returned to Tonga in mid-2022, after HRH completed his post-graduate studies in Canberra.
In 2021, the prince graduated with a Master of Diplomacy from the Australian National University. He previously earned his first Masters degree, graduating in December 2018, with a Master of Military and Defence Studies from the same university. He had also passed a Staff College qualification from the Australian Defence College.
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Official bios of the new government have yet to be released, ...more to come
