Samiu Vaipulu

Samiu Kuita Vaipulu (born December 1953) is a Tongan politician, who was the Tongan Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2014.

Personal life

Vaipulu has worked as a tour operator and as a manager for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia.[1] He studied at the University of the South Pacific in 1989, graduating with a Diploma in Legal Studies.[1] He continues to be involved in the tourism industry on his home island of Vava'u.[1]

Political career

Vaipulu was first elected to Parliament in 1987.[2] He lost his seat in the 1990 election, but regained it in 1993.[2] he then served until 2002, when he lost his seat again, but re-entered Parliament at the 2005 election.[2] He was re-elected for his sixth term in 2008.

In Parliament Vaipulu served as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House.[2]

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.[3]

In February 2010, Vaipulu supported the whipping of petty criminals.[4]

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.[5] On September 1, 2011, the Justice portfolio was reshuffled to Clive Edwards, with Vaipulu retaining the others.[6]

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".[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Prime Minister Announces Appointment of New Minister for Justice". Prime Minister of Tonga. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Profile of Samiu Vaipulu". Parliament of Tonga. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  3. ↑ "Vava'u MP becomes Tonga's new Justice Minister". Radio New Zealand International. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  4. ↑ "Tonga Justice Minister says whipping a deterrent to aberrant deportees". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  5. ↑ "Tonga’s prime minister names his cabinet". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  6. ↑ "Cabinet quietly reshuffles portfolios", Matangi Tonga, September 7, 2011
  7. ↑ "Tongan MPs help themselves to lavish medical leave", Matangi Tonga, 18 October 2011

External links