Paul_Karalus
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]
