Lisiate ʻAkolo
Lisiate Aloveita Akolo is a Tongan politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga and former Minister for Finance in the Tongan Cabinet.
Lisiate is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and American University. He worked for the Tonga Commodities Board and Tongan Development Bank, before becoming CEO of the South Pacific Tourism Organization in 2000.
In October 2006 he was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries, under Prime Minister Feleti Sevele.
He stood in the 2010 election in the seat of Vavaʻu 14 and was successful. New Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō retained him in Cabinet as Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries. On September 1, 2011, he was reshuffled to the Ministry for Police, Prisons and Fire Services. On May 1, 2012, at his own request, he was reshuffled to the position of Minister for Finance.
He developed a reputation as a financial conservative who didn't want to see Tonga overwhelmed by debt repayments. He was also the lead Spokesperson for Pacific ACP States' negotiations with the European Union on a comprehensiveEconomic partnership agreement.
On 9 January 2014, Akolo was thought to have been fired from his position as Minister for Finance after publicly criticizing aspects of the budget.
