Siaosi ‘Alokuo’ulu Wycliffe Fusitu’a, styled Lord Fusitu’a (27 January 1927 – 24 April 2014) was a Tongan politician and noble. He was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga from 1990 to 1998.
Siaosi ‘Alokuo’ulu Wycliffe Fusitu’a | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1990–1998 | |
| Preceded by | Hon. Malupo |
| Succeeded by | Lord Veikune |
| Member of the Tongan Parliament for Niuas Nobles' constituency | |
| In office 25 November 2010 – 24 April 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Hon. Tangipa |
| Succeeded by | Mataʻiʻulua ʻi Fonuamotu |
| In office 14 February 1990 – 10 March 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Lord Ma'atu |
| Succeeded by | Lord Ma'atu |
| In office 1 May 1981 – 1987 | |
| Succeeded by | Lord Ma'atu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 January 1927 |
| Died | 24 April 2014 (aged 87) Nukuʻalofa |
| Spouse | 'Eseta Fusitu'a |
Early life
editFusitu’a was born a commoner and was adopted by Tevita ʻAlokuoʻulu.[1] He was educated at Wesley College, Auckland, the University of Auckland,[1] and Australian National University, where he studied law.[2] He worked in the Printing Department and then for the Supreme Court of Tonga as an interpreter.[1] In 1967 he married 'Eseta Fusitu'a. He was appointed to the noble title of Fusitu’a in 1981.[1]
Political career
editHe was first elected into Parliament as the Niuas Noble Representative in the 1981 Tongan general election.[1] He lost his seat in the 1987 election to Lord Ma'atu.[3]: 365 He was a member of the Anti-Communist League, and during the 1990 election he led the conservative, anti-democratic faction among the nobles, attempting to enlist the church to back a "church and state" campaign and encourage a member of the royal family to stand as a people's representative on Tongatapu.[3]: 365 After being elected, he was appointed Speaker, a position he held until 1998.[1] As Speaker he clashed frequently with pro-democracy People's Representatives such as ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, and was in turn targeted by them as an example of the moral bankruptcy of the government.[4] He lost his seat at the 1999 election on a coin-toss,[4] but was re-elected in 2010.[5]
He died in Nukuʻalofa in 2014[6] and was succeeded as Lord Fusituʻa and as Niuas Noble Representative by his son Mataʻiʻulua ʻi Fonuamotu.[7]
Honours
edit- National honours
Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Grand Cross (31 July 2008).[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f ""Late Lord Fusitu'a achieved four levels of God's goodness" – Dr. Tevita Havea says". Parliament of Tonga. 5 May 2014. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Tongans Honour Their Own". Canberra Times. 11 October 1984. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b Hills, Rodney C. (1991). "The 1990 Election in Tonga" (PDF). The Contemporary Pacific. 3 (2): 357–378. JSTOR 23699933. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ a b Campbell, I. C. (1999). "The Democracy Movement and the 1999 Tongan Elections". Journal of Pacific History. 34 (3): 267. JSTOR 25169449.
- ^ "Vaea and Tu'ilakepa to enter House in Nobles seats". Matangi Tonga. 25 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
- ^ "Lord Fusitu'a dies". Matangi Tonga. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014.
- ^ "Lord Fusitu'a takes his father's seat in Tonga parliament". RNZ. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.