Sosefo Fe‘aomoeata Vakata

Sosefo Fe‘aomoeata Vakata
Minister for Public Enterprises
In office
2 February 2013  30 December 2014
Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano
Preceded by Clive Edwards
Succeeded by Poase Tei
Minister for Revenue
In office
1 May 2012  2 February 2013
Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano
Preceded by Sunia Fili
Succeeded by Sifa Tuʻutafaiva
Minister for Training, Employment, Youth and Sports
In office
4 January 2011  1 May 2012
Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano
Preceded by Lord Tuʻivakano
Succeeded by Lord Vaea
Member of Parliament
for Niua 17
Assumed office
25 November 2010
Preceded by Sione ‘Iloa[1]
Majority 19.0%
Personal details
Political party Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, then
Independent

Sosefo Fe‘aomoeata Vakata (born 13 February 1969[2]) is a Tongan politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. He is a former member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.

He holds a Master of Science degree in Physics from the University of Queensland, and also has an IRB Level 2 Rugby Coaching Certificate; he lists coaching rugby as one of his hobbies.[2] He "taught at Tonga High School for many years", then worked as a civil servant, holding the positions of radio licensing officer and outer islands project manager, then communications engineer, at the Ministry of Information and Communications.[3]

Vakata was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the first time when he won the seat of Ongo Niua 17 in the November 2010 general election as a candidate for the Democratic Party, defeating incumbent independent MP Sione ‘Iloa. On 8 December 2010 it was reported that he had withdrawn his support from the Democratic party and become an independent, and would support a noble candidate as Prime Minister.[2][4]

At the start of January 2011, when newly elected Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano formed his Cabinet, Vakata was appointed Minister for Training, Employment, Youth and Sports.[5] On 1 May 2012, he reshuffled to the position of Minister for Revenue.[6][7]

In July 2012, Vakata was accused of mis-using government funds allocated to him for expenses during a trip to Australia which was later cancelled. He denied the allegations, but repaid the money.[8]

In February 2013, he was reshuffled to the position of Minister of Public Enterprises.[9]

References

  1. Niua 17 was technically a new constituency on that date, but corresponded exactly to the boundaries of the previous electoral constituency for the Niuas.
  2. 1 2 3 Biography of Sosefo Vakata on the website of the Tongan Parliament
  3. "Hon. Fe'ao Vakata, Youth, Sports & Training Minister", Tonga government portal, 17 January 2011
  4. "Nobles now more likely to form next Tonga government". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  5. "First meeting of Tonga's new Cabinet", Matangi Tonga, 5 Jan 2011
  6. "Four Cabinet Ministers to be reshuffled on May 1", Matangi Tonga, 20 April 2012
  7. "Tonga government names ministers", Radio New Zealand International, 15 April 2012
  8. "Tonga Cabinet Minister denies misuse of government funds, but repays money". Radio New Zealand International. 2012-07-25. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  9. "Sifa Tu'utafaiva, new Minister of Police and Revenue", Matangi Tonga, 4 February 2013


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