By Katalina Siasau

A former Member of Parliament, Lord Fusitu’a (51) died in Auckland at the weekend, after a long illness.

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga observed one minute of silence in remembrance, before their first sitting in 2024, yesterday.

Lord Fusitu’a was a Tongan noble and estate holder of Niuafo'ou in the far north of Tonga. His estates are Sapa’ata, Faletanu and the east of Angaha and Ma’ufanga, Niuafo’ou. He entered politics in 2014 as the Noble's Representative of the Niuas, before he was unseated in August 2020 for a long absence in Parliament due to illness.

During his seven years serving as a legislator, he was a Member of the Legislation Standing Committee, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Privileges, Parliamentary Retirement Fund Board Standing Committee, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Population and Development. He was also a Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Anticorruption in 2018.

The late Lord Fusitu’a attended overseas parliamentary meetings, including conferences where he was Chairman of the Commonwealth Pacific Parliamentary Human Rights Group and Chairman of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) Oceania. He also chaired the GOPAC, Tonga Chapter.

He is survived by his daughter Hon. Phaedra Fusitu’a from his first marriage to Hon. Lupepau’u Tuita in 2008.