Fe’ao resigns after being dismissed [1]
Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 21:59. Updated on Friday, September 16, 2016 - 09:28.
Sosefo Fe’aomoeata (Fe'ao) Vakata was dismissed as Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs, on 13 September 2016, the Prime Minister’s Office announced this afternoon, 15 September.
The PM's office announced the dismissal of Fe’ao today, only four minutes before Fe’ao announced in his own press conference at 2:00pm that he has resigned of his own free will, for personal reasons.
There was no explanation over why the PM's Office had held onto the notice of dismissal since Wednesday afternoon, when they had stated they would make an announcement.
Fe’ao left his own "press conference" with no time for any questions, because the Deputy PM was waiting for him.
However, Fe’ao used the media attention to shed a few tears as he pleaded for forgiveness from the people of Tonga for his unacceptable behaviour in Vava’u on 29 July.
According to the statement from the PMO at 1.56pm, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva received a letter from the Lord Chamberlain yesterday, 14 September, informing him that "His Majesty the King has been pleased to assent to his recommendation to revoke the Ministerial appointment of Hon. Fe’ao Vakata, the Minister of Internal Affairs, to be effective from 13 September."
Coincidentally, Hon. Fe’ao Vakata submitted his letter of resignation to the Prime Minister also yesterday, 14 September, two days after he was asked to voluntarily resign by noon on 12 September.
The dismissal follows a letter of complaint by the Acting Deputy Director of the Women's Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tupou’ahau Fakakovikaetau, who alleged that Vakata threw a wine glass and swore at her.
The irony of the situation is that three months after 'Akilisi and his government came to power in 2015, Hon. Fe'ao Vakata, the Minister for the Ministry of Internal Affairs was sent to New York to make a commitment to the UN on 9 March that Tonga was ready to ratify the convention to End all Form of Discrimination Against Women CEDAW, although with some reservations. However, three months later, the Prime Minister, Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva told the Tongan parliament that Tonga would not ratify CEDAW. The reason for this sudden turn around he said was to diffuse tension, as church groups were protesting against the government's intention to ratify CEDAW.
Related article: Hon. Fe'ao Vakata refuses to resign [2]