Government takes Kele'a to court [1]
Monday, December 10, 2007 - 16:33. Updated on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 - 16:16.
Tonga Prime Minister's Office, 06/12/07:
Due to the "Kele'a's" ongoing onslaught, on the Constitutional right of Tongans serving in our Government to their good name, Government has directed that this public clarification be made, and that the outrageous falsehoods published by the Kele'a on 28 November, 2007 be submitted for Court action.
The heading of this blatant falsehood was "Is this the reason Government is delaying Change?, " and its subject, is the falsified presentation of the financial remunerations of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
After providing a table purporting to contain the remunerations of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the article then asserted. "It is estimated that $130,000 - $150,000 is the Prime Minister's possible annual remuneration, and $120,000 - $140,000 is what the Deputy Prime Minister receives."
The "Kele'a's" article then concluded, "If this is the reason why the leaders personally cling to the present structure so they can go on eating from the bowl of fat then this is the most harmful and destructive selfishness to peaceful coexistence and for Christian life."
The Government of Tonga hereby reiterates that the total remunerations accorded to the Prime Minister as wages and financial benefits, nowhere approaches one hundred thousand paanga. The same also applies to the Deputy Prime Minister. The one hundred thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand published by the "Kele'a" is its totally false fabrication.
Furthermore, it is also hereby reiterated, that the full remunerations Government accords to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, nowhere approach their financial remunerations outside Government, before His Late Majesty called upon them to serve the Government of Tonga. Prime Minister's Office, 06/12/07.