Paula Piukala | |
---|---|
Minister for Public Enterprises | |
Assumed office 28 January 2025 | |
Preceded by | Siaosi Sovaleni |
Minister for Police,Fire &Emergency Services | |
Assumed office 28 January 2025 | |
Preceded by | Siaosi Sovaleni |
Member of the Tongan Parliament for Tongatapu 7 | |
Assumed office 3 November 2022 | |
Preceded by | Sione Sangster Saulala |
Personal details | |
Political party | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands |
Paula Piveni Piukala is a Tongan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
Piukala works in the information technology industry,including as a computer systems manager for Shoreline Group. In March 2005 he became a whistleblower against Shoreline,alleging financial mismanagement,falsified audits,and exorbitant salaries paid to the company's executives,which included Crown Prince Tupouto‘a (later George Tupou V). [1] The allegations led to a court case and protests against Shoreline from the Human Rights and Democracy Movement. [1] He later worked as director of Tonga Cable. [2]
At the 2021 Tongan general election he sought the PTOA nomination for Tongatapu 7,but a factional dispute inside the PTOA saw him lose to Sione Sangster Saulala. [3] He contested the election anyway,but lost. [4] Following the election he challenged Saulala's election in court, [5] resulting in the latter's election being voided for bribery. [6] [7] [8] Piukala was elected in the subsequent 2022 Tongatapu 7 by-election. [9] [10]
In February 2024 he was suspended from parliament for seven days after offending Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni during a heated debate on Lulutai Airlines. [11] The suspension was later reduced,and Piukala resumed his seat on 26 February. [12]
On 28 January 2025 he was appointed to the cabinet of ʻAisake Eke as Minister for Public Enterprises and Minister for Police,Fire and Emergency Services. [13]