Viliami Latu
Encyclopedia
Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu is a Tonga
n politician.
After completing secondary education at Tonga High School
, he became a high school teacher at the Mailefihi & Siuʻilikutapu College (in Vavaʻu) in 1991. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree from [[ʻAtenisi University]] in 1995, then continued his studies at the University of Auckland
(New Zealand
), obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Arts Degree in 1997, then a Master of Arts
Degree in Political Science
in 1999. He returned to Tonga to work as a civil servant, and served as Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office from 2000 to 2003, before beginning doctoral studies in Japan
, on a scholarship
provided by the Japanese government. He completed his Ph.D.
in Asia Pacific Studies at the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
in 2006.
Returning to Tonga, he served as Principal Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister's Officer in 2006 and 2007, then (briefly) as Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education in 2008. In May of that year, he was appointed Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
.
He stood unsuccessfully as an independent candidate
for a People's Representative seat in Vavaʻu in the April 2008 general election
. He received 12.7% of the vote in Vavaʻu, finishing third of twenty-two candidates, and thus narrowly missing out on being elected as one of Vavaʻu's two representatives. He stood again in the November 2010 general election
, and this time was easily elected in constituency 16 (one of Vavaʻu's three newly established constituencies), with 43.7% of the vote. New Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō subsequently appointed him to Cabinet
as Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services. On September 1, 2011, he was reshuffled to the Ministry for Tourism.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n politician.
After completing secondary education at Tonga High School
Tonga High School
Tonga High School is a selective state-owned co-ed secondary school located in Nukualofa, Tonga. The school educates students aged 11 to 18 .-History:...
, he became a high school teacher at the Mailefihi & Siuʻilikutapu College (in Vavaʻu) in 1991. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from [[ʻAtenisi University]] in 1995, then continued his studies at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
(New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
), obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Arts Degree in 1997, then a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
Degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1999. He returned to Tonga to work as a civil servant, and served as Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office from 2000 to 2003, before beginning doctoral studies in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, on a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
provided by the Japanese government. He completed his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Asia Pacific Studies at the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
, or APU, is a private institution inaugurated April 2000 in Beppu, Ōita, Japan. APU was made possible through the collaboration of three parties from the public and private sectors: Ōita Prefecture, Beppu City and the Ritsumeikan Academy. APU has an enrollment of over 6,000 students...
in 2006.
Returning to Tonga, he served as Principal Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister's Officer in 2006 and 2007, then (briefly) as Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education in 2008. In May of that year, he was appointed Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
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...
.
He stood unsuccessfully as an independent candidate
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
for a People's Representative seat in Vavaʻu in the April 2008 general election
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...
. He received 12.7% of the vote in Vavaʻu, finishing third of twenty-two candidates, and thus narrowly missing out on being elected as one of Vavaʻu's two representatives. He stood again in the November 2010 general 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....
, and this time was easily elected in constituency 16 (one of Vavaʻu's three newly established constituencies), with 43.7% of the vote. New Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō subsequently appointed him to Cabinet
Tongan Cabinet
The Cabinet of Tonga is the cabinet of the government of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is composed primarily of the ministers of government. The latter, including the Prime Minister, are appointed by the monarch. The Governor of Ha'apai and the Governor of Vava'u also serve on the Cabinet ex officio...
as Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services. On September 1, 2011, he was reshuffled to the Ministry for Tourism.