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Tongan Prime Minister Huakavameliku
photo: RNZI/Koro Wakauta
Tonga Prime Minister George Sovalenei Rejection of claim The deadlock over the foreign ministership threatens an upcoming Pacific leaders’ meeting.
Tonga will host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit at the end of this month.
Earlier this year, Tonga’s King Tupou VI disapproved of the government’s appointment of a foreign minister.
As a result, the then minister, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, resigned in April and a successor has yet to be appointed.
RNZ Pacific’s Tonga correspondent Kalafi Moala said the issue had not been addressed at all two weeks ago.
“There is a court case where the royally appointed foreign minister is suing the government and suing the Public Service Commission as well as the secretary general to the government to try to get rid of him, I don’t know what,” Moala said.
However, Huakahuameliku told New Zealand’s Pacific Radio this week that he was acting foreign minister.
“When a ministerial post becomes vacant, it is usually taken over by the prime minister unless he has delegated authority to someone else,” he said.
He stressed that there were no issues with the portfolio, as reported.
“I will be travelling to Suva on Friday for a meeting of foreign ministers to update them in my capacity as acting foreign minister, so we are OK… everything is progressing smoothly.”
He confirmed that he would brief the Forum Foreign Ministers on the preparations for the 53rd Forum Leaders’ Meeting, including progress in logistics and accommodation.
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