Attorney General of Tonga
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The position of Attorney General was established in the Kingdom of Tonga in 1988. From 1988 to 2009, the Attorney General jointly held the office of Minister of Justice.[1]
The current Interim Attorney General is Barrie Sweetman, appointed in August 2011.[2] Sweetman is a Fiji barrister, who was chairman for the Electoral Commission for Tonga's 2010 election.[3]
The Tongan government defines the Attorney General as "Chief Legal Advisor to Government", with the following responsibilities:
- "Supporting constitutional integrity and governance; Ensuring legislative and statutory efficacy; Facilitating Government’s lawful and responsible legal dealings; Providing legal advice on law reform; Executing statutory enforcement powers; Perform [sic] responsibilities in an independent and transparent manner".[4]
As of August 2011, the Kingdom has had at least seven Attorneys General[1] :
- Tevita Tupou
- ʻAisea Taumoepeau
- Siaosi ʻAho
- ʻAlisi Afeaki Taumoepeau (wife of ʻAisea Taumoepeau; 2006-2009)
- John Cauchi (2009-2010)
- Samiu Vaipulu
- Barrie Sweetman
John Cauchi, appointed in May 2009, was the first Attorney General not to hold the portfolio of Justice Minister. He was also the first non-Tongan to hold the office, being an Australian citizen.[5] He resigned the position on 30 April 2010.[6] It is not currently clear how many people held the position between Cauchi's resignation and Sweetman's appointment. In early 2011, the CIA Factbook stated the Attorney General was ʻAsipeli ʻAminiasi Kefu.[7] However this may have been an error, as other sources described Kefu as the Solicitor General. Minister for Justice Samiu Vaipulu was the Attorney General just prior to Sweetman's appointment; the latter thus disassociated the two positions, which had once again been combined in a single person.[8]
Matangi Tonga has noted that three of the country's Attorneys General (namely Tupou and both Taumoepeaus) "have been told to resign".[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Minister of Justice and Attorney General resigns", Matangi Tonga, 1 June 2009
- ^ "Tonga names New Zealand lawyer as Lord Chancellor". RNZI.com. Radio New Zealand International. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
An interim Attorney General has also been named. He's Barrie Sweetman, who had been chairman of the Electoral Commission.
- ^ Simpson, Stanley (18 August 2010). "Sweetman chairs Tongan electoral commission". www.radiofiji.com. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
Prominent Fiji barrister Barrie Sweetman has commenced duties as chairman of the Tonga Electoral Commission.
- ^ "Attorney General of the Kingdom of Tonga", Tongan government website, 5 May 2010
- ^ "Tonga's new Attorney General", Matangi Tonga, 2 June 2009
- ^ "Tonga's Attorney General quits accusing Govt of protecting cronies". Radio Australia. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ Tonga: Cabinet members, CIA World Factbook, January 31, 2011
- ^ "Tonga's opposition welcomes foreign legal appointees", Radio Australia, 1 September 2011
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