Milner Tozaka
Encyclopedia
George Milner Tozaka OBE
, better known as Milner Tozaka, (born 21 October 1951) is a Solomon Islands
diplomat and politician.
in 1968-1969, he briefly studied at the University of Papua New Guinea
in 1970-1971. He later resumed his studies and obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of the South Pacific
in Fiji
in 1992, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Sociology from the same university the following year.
In June 1996, he was appointed an Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire
, by the Queen of the Solomon Islands Elizabeth II, "for public service".
In 2000, he was appointed High Commissioner
for Solomon Islands to Australia
, a position which he held until 2005. Upon his return to the Solomons, he entered politics, standing as an independent
candidate in the North Vella Lavella constituency at the April 2006 general election
. He was elected, and appointed Minister for Public Service in Prime Minister Snyder Rini
's short-lived government from April to May. He then served in opposition, until Derek Sikua
became Prime Minister in December 2007, whereupon he regained his position as Minister for Public Service. As Minister, he oversaw the Public Service Improvement Programme in coordination with the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. The programme, he said, would "streamline government recruitment, develop a code of conduct for all government workers and provide public servants with the tools to improve public services".
He was returned to Parliament in the August 2010 general election
, this time representing the People's Alliance Party
. (He saw off five candidates, obtaining 1,225 votes, and a 143 vote lead over his closest opponent.) He was appointed Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Shadow Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs in Opposition Leader
Steve Abana
's Shadow Cabinet
.
In November 2011, when Prime Minister Danny Philip
lost his parliamentary majority and resigned, Tozaka was the Opposition's candidate to replace him, standing against Gordon Darcy Lilo, a recently sacked government minister.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, better known as Milner Tozaka, (born 21 October 1951) is a Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
diplomat and politician.
Education
After attending the Malanguna Technical College in Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
in 1968-1969, he briefly studied at the University of Papua New Guinea
University of Papua New Guinea
The University of Papua New Guinea was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired into higher education in Papua New Guinea...
in 1970-1971. He later resumed his studies and obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
in 1992, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Sociology from the same university the following year.
Career
He entered government administration in the 1980s, serving as the chairman of the National Disaster Council from 1984 to 1985. In 1988, he began work as a consultant, first for the Public Service Reform Programme, then at the Ministry of Provincial Government. He was appointed chairman of the Provincial Government Review Committee in 1999.In June 1996, he was appointed an Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, by the Queen of the Solomon Islands Elizabeth II, "for public service".
In 2000, he was appointed High Commissioner
High Commissioner (Commonwealth)
In the Commonwealth of Nations, a High Commissioner is the senior diplomat in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another.-History:...
for Solomon Islands to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, a position which he held until 2005. Upon his return to the Solomons, he entered politics, standing as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate in the North Vella Lavella constituency at the April 2006 general election
Solomon Islands general election, 2006
General elections were held on 5 April 2006 in the Solomon Islands. No party managed to win more than four of the fifty seats, while thirty seats went to independent candidates. A number of those subsequently formed an Association of Independent Members of Parliament, with Snyder Rini as their leader...
. He was elected, and appointed Minister for Public Service in Prime Minister Snyder Rini
Snyder Rini
Snyder Rini is a Solomon Islands politician who was briefly the eighth Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from April to May 2006 and has been Minister for Finance and Treasury since December 2007...
's short-lived government from April to May. He then served in opposition, until Derek Sikua
Derek Sikua
David Derek Sikua served as the ninth Prime Minister of Solomon Islands from December 20, 2007 to August 25, 2010. He is a member of the Solomon Islands Liberal Party.-Career:Sikua is from Ngalitavethi Village in Guadalcanal Province...
became Prime Minister in December 2007, whereupon he regained his position as Minister for Public Service. As Minister, he oversaw the Public Service Improvement Programme in coordination with the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. The programme, he said, would "streamline government recruitment, develop a code of conduct for all government workers and provide public servants with the tools to improve public services".
He was returned to Parliament in the August 2010 general election
Solomon Islands general election, 2010
A general election was held in the Solomon Islands on 4 August 2010. In May 2010, Prime Minister Derek Sikua announced that the election would be held on 4 August, however, this announcement was deemed to be premature, as only the Governor General has the authority to announce the election date...
, this time representing the People's Alliance Party
People's Alliance Party (Solomon Islands)
The People's Alliance Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. The party was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Rural Alliance Party and the People's Progressive Party ....
. (He saw off five candidates, obtaining 1,225 votes, and a 143 vote lead over his closest opponent.) He was appointed Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Shadow Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs in Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (Solomon Islands)
The Leader of the Opposition in Solomon Islands is a Member of Parliament who commands a large minority of his peers, united in loyal opposition to government...
Steve Abana
Steve Abana
Steve William Abana is a Solomon Islands politician. He is currently Member of Parliament for Fataleka, and was the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition from August 2010 to March 2011....
's Shadow Cabinet
Shadow Cabinet of Solomon Islands
The Shadow Cabinet of Solomon Islands is the parliamentary Opposition's alternative Cabinet in Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm with a Westminster system of government; the Shadow Cabinet is modelled on the British institution of the same name.The Opposition is formally...
.
In November 2011, when Prime Minister Danny Philip
Danny Philip
Danny Philip is a politician and diplomat from the Solomon Islands. He is the current Prime Minister, who came into office after the 2010 general election. He served as foreign minister from 1995 to 1996 and from July 2000 to June 2001...
lost his parliamentary majority and resigned, Tozaka was the Opposition's candidate to replace him, standing against Gordon Darcy Lilo, a recently sacked government minister.