01-23-2012, 05:00 PM
24 January, 2012
NUKU’ALOFA. At its meeting on 28th November 2011, His Majesty in Council appointed Mr. Neil Adsett as Attorney General of Tonga, subject to execution of contract and letters of appointment issued.
Mr. Neil Adsett signed the contract of service on 11 January 2012 and His Majesty issued letters of appointment on same date. Therefore, Mr. Neil Adsett is the substantive Attorney General for 4 years effective as 16 January 2012.
He becomes the first Attorney General under the reformed Constitutions, with his duties and independence now specified in the Constitution.
The Attorney General will head the Attorney General’s Office that includes the law officers now at the Crown Law Office, he is the principal legal advisor to Cabinet and Government, and with the Solicitor General and other law officers will be responsible for prosecutions and legal cases for and against the government, the drafting of legislation for the Government and parliament, and generally for ensuring that the Constitution and laws of Tonga are understood and upheld by Government and individuals.
The Solicitor General, Mr. ‘Aminiasi Kefu will continue as the CEO of the Department and will report to the Attorney General.
Mr. Neil Adsett has been a Barrister and Solicitor for over 30 years and the Law Revision Commissioner in many countries throughout the world during his career. He is no stranger to Tonga – he lived in Tonga for 2 years from 1988 while he completed the revised edition for the laws still in use, and more lately he has been in Tonga updating the laws and responsible for the legal process involved in the constitutional and electoral reforms. He is joined in Tonga by his wife Jennifer.
Mr. Neil Adsett replaces Mr. Barrie Sweetman, eminent senior lawyers from Fiji, who has been the visiting interim Attorney General during the 6 months process of finding a permanent Attorney General.
Source: http://www.taimionline.com/articles/6468
NUKU’ALOFA. At its meeting on 28th November 2011, His Majesty in Council appointed Mr. Neil Adsett as Attorney General of Tonga, subject to execution of contract and letters of appointment issued.
Mr. Neil Adsett signed the contract of service on 11 January 2012 and His Majesty issued letters of appointment on same date. Therefore, Mr. Neil Adsett is the substantive Attorney General for 4 years effective as 16 January 2012.
He becomes the first Attorney General under the reformed Constitutions, with his duties and independence now specified in the Constitution.
The Attorney General will head the Attorney General’s Office that includes the law officers now at the Crown Law Office, he is the principal legal advisor to Cabinet and Government, and with the Solicitor General and other law officers will be responsible for prosecutions and legal cases for and against the government, the drafting of legislation for the Government and parliament, and generally for ensuring that the Constitution and laws of Tonga are understood and upheld by Government and individuals.
The Solicitor General, Mr. ‘Aminiasi Kefu will continue as the CEO of the Department and will report to the Attorney General.
Mr. Neil Adsett has been a Barrister and Solicitor for over 30 years and the Law Revision Commissioner in many countries throughout the world during his career. He is no stranger to Tonga – he lived in Tonga for 2 years from 1988 while he completed the revised edition for the laws still in use, and more lately he has been in Tonga updating the laws and responsible for the legal process involved in the constitutional and electoral reforms. He is joined in Tonga by his wife Jennifer.
Mr. Neil Adsett replaces Mr. Barrie Sweetman, eminent senior lawyers from Fiji, who has been the visiting interim Attorney General during the 6 months process of finding a permanent Attorney General.
Source: http://www.taimionline.com/articles/6468