Baron Waqa

Infobox MP
honorific-prefix =The Honourable
name = Baron Waqa
honorific-suffix =MP


constituency_MP = Boe
parliament = Nauruan
majority =
predecessor = Ross Cain
successor =
term_start = 2003
term_end =
office1 = Minister of Education
predecessor1 = Remy Namaduk
successor1 = Marcus Stephen
term_start1 = 29 May 2003
term_end1 = 8 August 2003
office2 = Minister of Education
predecessor2 = Marcus Stephen
successor2 = Roland Kun
term_start2 = 22 June 2004
term_end2 = 17 December 2007
birth_date = Birth date and age|1959|12|31|df=y
birth_place = Nauru
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = flagicon|Nauru Nauruan
spouse =
party =
relations =
children =
residence = Boe
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession = teacher, composer
religion = Christian


website =
footnotes =

Baron Divavesi Waqa (b. December 31, 1959) is a Nauruan politician and composer; he was elected in the May 2003 elections to the Parliament of Nauru, representing the constituency of Boe. Under president Ludwig Scotty he served as Minister of the Interior and of Education; he had, however, to leave the post upon Scotty's replacement by René Harris. He kept his seat in Parliament.

On April 23, 2004, Waga and his colleagues Kieren Keke, David Adeang and Fabian Ribauw participated in violent protests at the Nauru International Airport in Yaren; these were meant to show displeasure regarding government policy against Afghan asylum-seekers in Australia and the Flotilla of Hope, as well as against the deadlock then encountered in Parliament. All four faced up to fourteen years in jail because of their participation in the protest; charges were dropped, however, upon Scotty's re-ascension the following June. Scotty once again appointed Waqa to be Minister of Education.

Waqa remained loyal to his Administration during the ministerial crisis which occurred in 2007. Consequently, Waqa was not invited to serve in the subsequent Administration of President Marcus Stephen which later took office.

Waqa is one of few composers active in Nauru, pursuing music in his free time. His works are not well-known outside of the country.

Reference