Paul Karalus | |
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![]() Paul Karalus in 2017 | |
Minister of Transport | |
In office 17 May 2006 – 11 August 2009 | |
Prime Minister | Feleti Sevele |
Paul Karalus is a former Tongan Cabinet Minister. He resigned following the MV Princess Ashika disaster.
Karalus is from Taranaki. [1] He had worked in airline management, [1] and as a coffee farmer and exporter before entering politics. [2]
In May 2006 he was appointed Minister for Civil Aviation, Marine and Ports by Prime Minister Feleti Sevele. [3] Following the 2006 Nukuʻalofa riots he was responsible for organising the rebuild of Nukuʻalofa's central business district. [4] [5] The funding of the rebuild via a US$50 million loan from China caused controversy and further pro-democracy protests. [6] [7]
On 5 August 2009 the MV Princess Ashika sank, killing 74 people. Karalus resigned six days later. [8] [9] [10] During the subsequent Commission of Inquiry Karalus was criticised by officials for mishandling his portfolio and making decision swithout their advice; [11] he in turn blamed officials for the disaster. [12] [13] The final report of the inquiry found that he had lied and provided false information to the government and parliament about the state of the vessel. [14] In August 2010 he sought a judicial review of the adverse findings. [15] The appeal was rejected. [16] Following the conviction of Ashika's captain in a criminal trial, relatives of the victims called for Karalus' prosecution. [17] In April 2011 he apologised for the disaster. [1]
In September 2012 a parliamentary select committee found that the loan for the rebuilding of Nukuʻalofa was illegal and has been misspent and recommended criminal charges. [18] Karalus and former Prime Minister Feleti Sevele later sought a judicial review of the report. [19] The application was rejected in May 2013. [20] [21]
Karalus later became manager of Tonga's Air Terminal Service. [22]
Paul Karalus, who is also chairman of a technical team that monitors and oversees the reconstruction work
Paul Karalus | |
---|---|
![]() Paul Karalus in 2017 | |
Minister of Transport | |
In office 17 May 2006 – 11 August 2009 | |
Prime Minister | Feleti Sevele |
Paul Karalus is a former Tongan Cabinet Minister. He resigned following the MV Princess Ashika disaster.
Karalus is from Taranaki. [1] He had worked in airline management, [1] and as a coffee farmer and exporter before entering politics. [2]
In May 2006 he was appointed Minister for Civil Aviation, Marine and Ports by Prime Minister Feleti Sevele. [3] Following the 2006 Nukuʻalofa riots he was responsible for organising the rebuild of Nukuʻalofa's central business district. [4] [5] The funding of the rebuild via a US$50 million loan from China caused controversy and further pro-democracy protests. [6] [7]
On 5 August 2009 the MV Princess Ashika sank, killing 74 people. Karalus resigned six days later. [8] [9] [10] During the subsequent Commission of Inquiry Karalus was criticised by officials for mishandling his portfolio and making decision swithout their advice; [11] he in turn blamed officials for the disaster. [12] [13] The final report of the inquiry found that he had lied and provided false information to the government and parliament about the state of the vessel. [14] In August 2010 he sought a judicial review of the adverse findings. [15] The appeal was rejected. [16] Following the conviction of Ashika's captain in a criminal trial, relatives of the victims called for Karalus' prosecution. [17] In April 2011 he apologised for the disaster. [1]
In September 2012 a parliamentary select committee found that the loan for the rebuilding of Nukuʻalofa was illegal and has been misspent and recommended criminal charges. [18] Karalus and former Prime Minister Feleti Sevele later sought a judicial review of the report. [19] The application was rejected in May 2013. [20] [21]
Karalus later became manager of Tonga's Air Terminal Service. [22]
Paul Karalus, who is also chairman of a technical team that monitors and oversees the reconstruction work