Rev. Dr Tevita Havea has been reappointed as the Chairman of the National Retirement Benefit Fund (NRBF) by the Minister of Finance, Dr ‘Aisake Eke, to lead the organisation for another three years as of 1 September 2015.

Rev. Dr Havea was among the six directors who were selected by four community sectors that are contributing to the Fund - the churches, private sector, public enterprises and statutory boards.

The other five elected directors are: Lord Matoto, the president of the Constitutional Church of Tonga; Leta Havea, from the Tonga Development Bank; Pita Ha’angana from the Tonga Airports Ltd; Ross Chapman, from Pacific Finance and Investment Ltd; and Tunamailangi Likiliki from Kingdom Travel Centre Ltd.

The Deputy Chairman of the Board, ‘Alisi Taumoepeau was elected by the Chairman, who has the right to appoint one director of the board.

The election of new board directors takes place every three years.

The National Retirement Benefit Fund was established on 30 June 2012, and according to a statement from the Fund, it has accumulated $20.1 million pa’anga and during the financial year 2014-2015 paid out $556,216 to contributors who retired from service.

Dr Leimoni Taufu’I the technical adviser who assisted with the setting up of the fund during the past four years has completed his time but the government and the board are trying to extend his work contract to complete the task of establishing the National Retirement Benefit Fund that he and Rev. Dr Havea started.