Viliami Tangi | |
---|---|
Minister of Tourism | |
In office 17 May 2006 – September 2010 | |
Prime Minister | Feleti Sevele |
Succeeded by | Feleti Sevele |
Personal details | |
Born | 1966 |
Died | 13 November 2010 Suva, Fiji |
Fineasi Funaki (1966 – 13 November 2010) was a Tongan politician and cabinet Minister. He was a member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement.
Funaki was educated at Tonga College and the Tongan teachers' training college, before studying at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. He was elected People's Representative for Ha'apai at the 2005 election. He was appointed Minister of Tourism in May 2006, and was reappointed after the 2008 election. In January 2008 he was accused of corruption after depositing a cheque from the Chinese Embassy to the Ministry into his personal bank account. A subsequent report from the Auditor-General found that he had broken the law by depositing a cheque from the Chinese Embassy into his personal bank account and recommended that he be asked to resign. Prime Minister Feleti Sevele refused the recommendation of asking for Funaki's resignation, blaming the misappropriation of funds on inexperience, but Funaki forfeited his salary for three months and was forced to apologise.
Funaki resigned from Cabinet in September 2010 due to ill-health. He died in Suva while undergoing treatment later that year.
Honours
- National honours
- Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Grand Cross (31 July 2008).
References
- ^ "Fineasi Funaki (44) dies in Fiji". Matangi Tonga. 16 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- "Church member in charge of tourism in Tonga". Church News. 12 August 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- "A cabinet reshuffle takes place in Tonga". RNZ. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- "Calls for Tonga tourism minister to step aside amid corruption probe". RNZ. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- "Auditor General's report in Tonga says Minister of Tourism broke the law". RNZ. 21 March 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- "Lack of experience causes Tongan minister to break law, says government". RNZ. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- "Tongan minister apologises for breaking law". RNZ. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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- Members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
- Brigham Young University–Hawaii alumni
- Human Rights and Democracy Movement politicians
- 1966 births
- 2010 deaths
- Government ministers of Tonga
- People from Haʻapai
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III
- Oceanian politician stubs
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