Fiji prepares to host Pacific Forum summit [1]
Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 18:57. Updated on Monday, October 6, 2014 - 09:54.
Tonga's bid to host the 2006 Forum Pacific Island Leaders Meeting in October is fading away.
The Prime Minister's office confirmed today that they had not received any official response from the Pacific Islands Forum to a request made by the Tongan Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele on August 23 to postpone its hosting of this year's meeting to 2007 because of the King of Tonga's deteriorating health.
In the meantime, PACNEWS reported today that Fiji is believed to have begun its own preparations to host the meeting although no official announcement has been made by the Pacific Islands Forum on the new venue for this year's annual summit of the Pacific leaders.
It reported that well placed sources within the Fijian Government have confirmed the booking of 200 rooms at one of the resorts in Nadi to host the Pacific leaders and officials in October.
And 2007 would also be impossible for Tonga to host the event because Niue has already requested to host the leader's summit.
King stable
The health of the King of Tonga on the other hand remains the same at Mercy Hospital in Auckland.
Suka ‘Otukolo the Principal Assistant Secretary of the Palace office said today that their latest report is the king's health remains stable although it varies from time to time.
Suka said that His Majesty's health is reported back daily to the Palace Office in Nuku‘alofa by Sateki ‘Ahio the Secretary of the Palace office who is also in New Zealand.