By Matangi Tonga reporters
Tonga's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Lord Tu'i'afitu, is under pressure to resign. The Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku revealed yesterday in a media briefing that he is “having conversations” with the noble regarding his resignation from his ministerial portfolio. Although the PM did not state it directly, his comments suggested that the King in Privy Council has allegedly lost confidence in the minister.
At the briefing reporters questioned the truth of allegations that three nobles in Cabinet were resigning from their ministerial positions.
The Prime Minister responded that two nobles were not resigning, however, there were "ongoing conversations" with Lord Tu'i'afitu. "I think the process will take time - like myself and Fekita," he said.
"There is a process involved, if resigned, like finding a replacement and all that, so we're going through a process."
The process the Prime Minister was referring to was the situation in March where he himself had resigned the defence portfolio, and fellow Cabinet Minister Hon. Fekita 'Utoikamanu had resigned her Foreign Affairs and Tourism portfolios, after the King in Privy Council in February withdrew “His confidence and consent” to the appointments of the two ministers.
Vote of No Confidence
Yesterday at the media briefing at St. George Government Building, the Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister for Infrastructure Hon. Sevenitini Toumo'ua and Minister for MEIDECC, Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu.
Earlier in the morning, the Legislative Assembly had adjourned after announcing that 10 MPs had submitted a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni (the PM's electoral name).
The Prime Minister said he had not looked at the no-confidence motion.
"It's their right to actually put forward a motion of no confidence. From our side, I'm always confident, have confidence in my team, and my Cabinet, and the People's Representatives and the Noble's Representatives that we are working with. I only wish we can actually talk some more, and work together some more, rather than going through this process, but I do respect that the Constitution actually allowed for it. So we will go through that process and hopefully we'll resolve it one way or the other, and then we can move on. It's a disruption but we do understand it is provided for," he said.
Travelling to Niuas
Hon. Hu'akavameiliku is travelling to the Niuas today, as Minister of Education, to attend the Government secondary schools prize-giving ceremonies. He will attend Niuafo'ou High School ceremony this morning, and then Niuatoputapu in the evening.
See also:
https://matangitonga.to/2024/04/04/no-reason-cabinet-resignations-says-pm
https://matangitonga.to/2024/03/25/no-official-announcement-whether-or-n...
https://matangitonga.to/2024/03/08/king-receives-prime-minister-niuafoou
https://matangitonga.to/2024/02/06/cabinet-refutes-kings-orders-as-uncon...
https://matangitonga.to/2024/02/05/king-tupouVI-has-no-confidence-two-mi...
