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Politics Health Affected around the victim P28

Depression Stars rally against the low P30
SPORTS OPINION Islands Business
Crisis in the kingdom

The Inside Story

By Iliesa Tora

TONGA’s political events in the past three
weeks took the region by surprise.
First it was His Majesty King Tupou VI
who did the unprecedented and disssolved
Parliament, with it also sending Prime
Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s government out.
Having taken some advice from the PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva defiantly leaves office in disgrace after being dismissed by the king. Photo: File
Speaker of the Tonga Legislative As- Third was the sacking of two senior And what does it mean for Tonga’s drive
sembly, Lord Tu’ivakano, King Tupou Cabinet Ministers as was recommended for full democracy?
VI became the first in the history of the by PM Pohiva, who used his constitutional
Kingdom’s political life to use his powers powers to ask His Majesty for that action King’s power
under the Constitution to change a gov- to be carried out.
ernment and dissolve Parliament. Pohiva’s deputy Siaosi Sovaleni, who His Majesty’s decision shocked the
Many Tongans, in Nuku’alofa and was also Minister in Charge of Meteorol- majority of Tongans at home and abroad.
abroad, were shocked and caught un- ogy, Energy, Information, Disaster Man- Using his powers in the Constitu-
awares on August 24. agement, Environment, Climate Change tion, King Tupou VI called for an early
Even PM Pohiva said he was caught by and Communication (MEIDECC) plus the end to Parliamentary proceedings and
surprise and did not know what happened Foreign Affairs portfolio, became a victim a premature end to PM Pohiva’s elected
until later in the day when the reality of it of his leader’s insecurity when he was government.
all finally sunk in. advised his time in Cabinet was up. The Gazette published in the Crown Law
Lord Tu’ivakano, himself a former With him went Finance and National website on August 25 said
Prime Minister and a current Nobles’ Planning Minister, Tevita Lavemaau. “Instrument of Dissolution
representative in Parliament, later told the Both were Independents who won seats We, Tupou VI, by the Grace of God, of
people of Tonga he had advised the King in 2014, after having served Government Tonga, King:
about certain issues that were causing as senior civil servants as well. Having Considered Advice from the
uneasiness within Parliament and how The two were among the six Indepen- Lord Speaker of the Legislative Assem-
the government of Akilisi Pohiva were dents who joined Pohiva’s Democractic bly, and
dealing with them. Partyof the Friendly Islands after the 2014 Having Regard to Clauses 38 and 77(2)
Second was the idea mooted by former General Elections to form Government. of The Act of Constitution of Tonga (Cap.
government advisor and a former senior That gave Mr Pohiva the nod to become 2) Do lawfully dissolve the Legislative
civil servant Lopeti Senituli that Hthe ing’s the first democratically-elected commoner Aseembly with effect from Thursday 24
action could be challenged in court. Prime Minister of Tonga. August, 2017, at 1700 hours and Do
This was despite claims by the Acting Interestingly the duo, along with oth- Command that new representatives of
Attorney General that the King’s decision ers sacked by PM Pohiva - Dr Aisake Eke the Nobles and People be elected to enter
was final. (former Finance and National Planning the Legislative Assembly at Elections to
Senituli, a Tongan regarded highly at Minister) and Fe’ao Vakata (former Min- be held no later than 16 November 2017.
home and abroad, believes that the rea- ister of Internal Affairs) - will contest the Done by Us at Nuku’alofa this Twenty
sons outlined by Lord Tu’ivakano were November elections. Fourth day of August in the Year of Our
not strong enough to cause the dissolution The four, if elected back into Parliament, Lord Two Thousand and Seventeen and in
of Parliament. will definitely be interested to return to this is the Sixth Year of Our Reign.
Although challenged by the Acting AG Cabinet and their selection of who to join TUPOU VI”
in Aminiasi Kefu, Senituli has started would be interesting indeed.
gathering support both here and overseas Time really will telll what happens. Continued overleaf
to challenge the King’s action. So what is really happening on the web link:
Tongan political front? www.islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, October 2017 23