Samiu Vaipulu
Encyclopedia
Samiu Kuita Vaipulu is Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga. He is member of the Tongan Parliament
for the island of Vava'u
.
in 1989, graduating with a Diploma in Legal Studies. He continues to be involved in the tourism industry on his home island of Vava'u.
. He lost his seat in the 1990 election
, but regained it in 1993
. he then served until 2002
, when he lost his seat again, but re-entered Parliament at the 2005 election
. He was re-elected for his sixth term in 2008
.
In Parliament Vaipulu served as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House.
In November 2009, Vaipulu was appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Justice. Unlike previous Cabinet appointments, he was not forced to resign his seat, and continued to serve as a People's Representative.
In February 2010, Vaipulu supported the whipping
of petty criminals.
Vaipulu was re-elected in the 2010 election
. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Minister for Transport and Works in the Cabinet of Lord Tuʻivakanō. On September 1, 2011, the Justice portfolio was reshuffled to Clive Edwards
, with Vaipulu retaining the others.
In October 2011, he was one of twelve MPs to vote in favour of large increases to allowances for any MPs on sick leave overseas. He argued the circumstances for such allowances would be rare, and that it was therefore justifiable. The motion was carried, and Vaipulu asked whether it would be possible for the eight MPs who had voted against (in protest against MPs spending public money on themselves at a time of economic difficulty) to be deprived of the allowances in question. Fellow MP Sione Taione
, among the eight in question, reportedly responded by "query[ing] what [Vaipulu] was on about".
Legislative Assembly of Tonga
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors. The...
for the island of Vava'u
Vava'u
Vavau is an island chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. According to tradition Maui fished both Tongatapu and Vavau but put a little more effort into the former. Vavau rises 204 meters above sea level...
.
Personal life
Vaipulu has worked as a tour operator and as a manager for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia. He studied at the University of the South PacificUniversity 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 1989, graduating with a Diploma in Legal Studies. He continues to be involved in the tourism industry on his home island of Vava'u.
Political career
Vaipulu was first elected to Parliament in 1987Tongan general election, 1987
General elections were held in Tonga on 18 and 19 February 1987 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Nine nobles and nine people's representatives were elected. Five of the latter favoured democratic reform.-Results:...
. He lost his seat in the 1990 election
Tongan general election, 1990
General elections were held in Tonga on 14 and 15 May 1990 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Nine nobles and nine people's representatives were elected. Seven of the latter favoured democratic reform. Voter turnout was 65.4%.-Results:...
, but regained it in 1993
Tongan general election, 1993
General elections were held in Tonga on 3 and 4 February 1993 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Nine nobles and nine people's representatives were elected. Six of the latter favoured democratic reform. Voter turnout was 59.3%.-Results:...
. he then served until 2002
Tongan general election, 2002
Parliamentary elections were held in Tonga on March 7, 2002 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Supporters of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement won seven of the nine seats for people's representatives...
, when he lost his seat again, but re-entered Parliament at the 2005 election
Tongan general election, 2005
A General election was held in Tonga on 17 March 2005. Only nine members of the 30-seat parliament are elected, the rest appointed by the King or are members of the Tongan aristocracy. The Human Rights and Democracy Movement won seven of the nine seats...
. He was re-elected for his sixth term in 2008
Tongan general election, 2008
Parliamentary elections were held in Tonga on April 23 and 24, 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April. A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.71 candidates had filed for...
.
In Parliament Vaipulu served as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House.
In November 2009, Vaipulu was appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Justice. Unlike previous Cabinet appointments, he was not forced to resign his seat, and continued to serve as a People's Representative.
In February 2010, Vaipulu supported the whipping
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
of petty criminals.
Vaipulu was re-elected in the 2010 election
Tongan general election, 2010
Early general elections under a new electoral law were held in Tonga on 25 November 2010. They determined the composition of the 2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly....
. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Minister for Transport and Works in the Cabinet of Lord Tuʻivakanō. On September 1, 2011, the Justice portfolio was reshuffled to Clive Edwards
Clive Edwards (Tonga)
William Clive Edwards OBE is a Tongan Cabinet Minister and former Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party and currently serves as Minister for Justice and Minister for Public Enterprise....
, with Vaipulu retaining the others.
In October 2011, he was one of twelve MPs to vote in favour of large increases to allowances for any MPs on sick leave overseas. He argued the circumstances for such allowances would be rare, and that it was therefore justifiable. The motion was carried, and Vaipulu asked whether it would be possible for the eight MPs who had voted against (in protest against MPs spending public money on themselves at a time of economic difficulty) to be deprived of the allowances in question. Fellow MP Sione Taione
Sione Taione
Percy Sione Havea Taione , more commonly known as Sione Taione, is a Tongan politician.Having obtained a Diploma in Law from the University of the South Pacific, he worked as a mediator and judicial trainer, and as a "clerk in the courts", before going into politics...
, among the eight in question, reportedly responded by "query[ing] what [Vaipulu] was on about".
External links
- Profile at Parliament of Tonga.