Paul Karalus (original) (raw)

Paul Karalus is a former Tongan Cabinet Minister. He resigned following the MV Princess Ashika disaster. Karalus is from Taranaki. He had worked in airline management, and as a coffee farmer and exporter before entering politics. In May 2006 he was appointed Minister for Civil Aviation, Marine and Ports by Prime Minister Feleti Sevele. Following the 2006 Nukuʻalofa riots he was responsible for organising the rebuild of Nukuʻalofa's central business district. The funding of the rebuild via a US$50 million loan from China caused controversy and further pro-democracy protests.