02nd October, 2020 Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Donna Stephenson (also known as Dana Elizabeth Stephenson) was appointed this morning as the new British Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Tonga. The short ceremony, held at the Office of the Prime Minister, was officiated with the presentation of the Letter of Exequatur by the Hon. Rev. Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, the Prime Minister of Tonga.
The presentation of the Letter of Exequatur on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, granted the authority to the Honorary Consul to operate within the consular district of the Kingdom of Tonga and to exercise consular services to British nationals in Tonga. In addition to this appointment, approval has also been granted for the appointment of Ms. Lucy Rebecca Joyce (OBE) as the next British High Commissioner to Tonga, with residence in Nuku’alofa.
Mrs. Stephenson is a fully qualified law practitioner in Tonga (since 2007), specializing in commercial and business law. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Auckland University School of Law and has practiced in New Zealand and New York (USA) prior to commencing in Tonga in 2007 as partner of the law firm, Stephenson Associates. She is the daughter of Mr. Steve and Mrs. Ann Edwards of Nuku’alofa.
Present at the ceremony were Honourable Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Mr. Edgar Cocker, Lord Privy Seal and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr. Viliami Malolo, and senior officers of the Foreign Ministry and the Cabinet Office. Mrs. Stephenson was accompanied by her parents and her husband, Mr. Ralph Stephenson.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Foreign Affairs