He'll Manage The New Baby
p. 21 · Read in the full issue
As PIM announced through the coconut radio some time ago, Mahe ’Uli’uli Tupouniua, acting Prime Minister of Tonga and Minister of Finance is the first Director of the South Pacific Forum’s first baby, the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation.
The Tonga Government was in favour of his appointment although it is losing one of its best brains for at least three years, but the Tongan man-in-the-street wasn’t so happy, according to Minister of Lands Tuita, who led the Tongan team to the
Forum meeting in Suva in September.
“The people feel that Mahe should stay at home and serve his country, but I feel the step we have taken is a good one,” he said.
The Tonga Government has already selected his successor as Minister of Finance—Baron Vaea, ex-High Com missioner in London, who is now on holiday.
Mahe Tupouniua, who is a BA and Bachelor of Commerce, is 44. He has a brother, Sione, who lectures at the University of the South Pacific, Suva.