Feleti Sevele Prime Minister of Tonga Date of Birth: 07.07.1944 Country: Tonga

1. Biography of Feleti Sevele
2. Education and Early Career
3. Higher Education and Professional Career
4. Political and Leadership Roles

Biography of Feleti Sevele

Feleti Vakauta Sevele, a Tongan politician, was born on July 7, 1944, in the town of Maufanga, near the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa. His father, Viliami Vakauta Sevele, was from Kolonga, and his mother, Mele Yarton, was from Maufanga.

Education and Early Career

Sevele attended a local Catholic primary school and then enrolled in Apifo College in 1956. In 1958, he went to the island of Fiji and joined St. John's College in Levuka. After three years, he transferred to Marist Brothers High School in Suva, Fiji. In 1963, he went to St. Bede's College in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he completed his secondary education in 1964.

Higher Education and Professional Career

In 1964, Sevele enrolled at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, where he graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, and Bachelor of Economic Geography. Two years later, he earned a Master of Arts in Humanities with distinction. From 1970 to 1973, Sevele defended his doctoral dissertation in Economic Geography.

After returning to Tonga in 1973, Sevele joined the Tonga Commodities and Materials Commission as the Secretary of the Board. The commission was responsible for commercial construction and the processing and export of agricultural products. Within four years, Sevele, as the Chief Executive Officer, provided employment for over 1,500 people, and the annual turnover reached 15 million dollars.

Political and Leadership Roles

In 1978, Sevele was appointed as the Chief Economist of the South Pacific Commission. In addition to implementing various planning and analysis projects, he advised many governments in the South Pacific. From 1978 to 1982, he also served on the council of the University of the South Pacific.

In 1984, Sevele was appointed as the Bishop of Fino and Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tonga. In 1990, he became the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee and the Tonga Amateur Sports Association.

In 1999, Sevele was elected to the Tongan Parliament and became the Minister of Labor, Commerce, and Industries. In 2005, he participated in negotiations for Tonga's accession to the World Trade Organization. He was instrumental in leading mass demonstrations to reduce the monarchy's power in the country.

On March 30, 2006, Sevele was appointed as the Prime Minister, becoming the first non-aristocrat to hold this position.

Feleti Vakauta Sevele is married to Ainisē Manu, and they have three children: Maliane, Frederick Steven Jr., and Pisila Sevele.