THE Vava'u No. 2 People's Representative to the Tongan parliament, Samiu Vaipulu has been appointed as Tonga's new Minister of Justice.
The Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele announced the appointment of Samiu this morning, 10 November, after the king gave his consent for Samiu Vaipulu to be the new Minister of Justice. Samiu Vaipulu will be the 16th Cabinet Minister in the Tongan parliament.
The post for a Minister of Justice has been vacant since May, when 'Alisi Taumoepeau resigned.
Samiu Kuita Vaipulu 56, was first elected into the Legislative Assembly in 1987 and is presently serving his sixth three-year term. At the beginning of his present term in the Assembly in 2008, he established a precedent when he was elected as the Chair of the Whole House Committee, a position that had always been held by a representative of the Nobles.
Under the proposed new composition of the Tongan parliament, Samiu will be a Cabinet Minister but he will continue to be the Vava'u No. 2 People's Representatives to the Tongan parliament.
Samiu Kuita Vaipulu is a Licensed Law Practitioner, a businessman and a politician.
Samiu Kuita Vaipulu is married to Mele Sekola Vaipulu and they have five children and six grandchildren. An official appointment ceremony will be held later today by the Lord Chamberlain at his residence at Fanga.
