Only four women have ever been elected by the Tongan people into parliament in the 63 years since 1951 when Queen Sālote gave women the right to stand as candidates.

There is no better time than the present for the Prime Minister to consider appointing a female to a Ministerial portfolio, following the dismissal of ‘Etuate Lavulavu from his Ministerial portfolio.

A little more than 12 months ago, Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva received his first petition from the public calling for the appointment of women to Ministerial posts. This came after no woman was elected into parliament following the 2014 General Elections.  The petition asked that the PM use his prerogative under the law to appoint up to four Ministerial posts externally.

In response to the petition holding 416 signatures, gathered in less than 48 hours, the PM told the petitioners to come up with legislation to change the situation in preparation for the next general elections.

In Tonga’s Political history the late Queen Sālote and her government had given women the right to vote and stand as candidates since 1951. From 1951, it took 8 parliamentary terms or another 24 years before we saw the first women elected into Parliament and that was HRH Princess Mele Siu‘ilikutapu in 1975-1978 as one of the People’s Representatives from Tongatapu

• Three years later in 1978-1981 or the next parliamentary session – the second women elected into parliament, People’s Representative of Tongatapu, Papiloa Foliaki
• From 1981, 14 years later for the period of 1995-1998: the third women elected into parliament and first women to be elected as PR to the Niuas, ‘Ofa Fusitu’a
• From 1998, seven years later for the period of 2005-2008: the fourth and currently the last women elected into parliament – Niuas PR, Lepolo Mahe Taunisila
• and in the last two general elections under the new democratic reforms no women have been elected in, so we could say that from 2008 (the last elections under the old system) plus the 2010 and 2014 general election a total of 6 years we have no women elected into parliament by the people

So in summary since 1951 up until the last general elections held in 2014 a total of 63 years, there have only ever been four women elected by the people into parliament.

A group that has been formed on Facebook called “Tongan Women in Action” is a social network open to all Tongan women in Tonga, New Zealand, United States of America, United Kingdom and the diaspora, women living or residing in Tonga and male friends, colleagues, partners who support the cause of increasing women’s political participation. Their one mission is: “To build solidarity amongst women in progressing women’s political participation in Tonga.”

The Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) has been undertaking research into what the best model for Tonga would look like in terms of affirmative action and Temporary Special Measure.

We are doing research and we won’t have the results and recommendations ready until the later part of this year – but this is a great opportunity – right now – for the PM to re-look at the possibilities emerging out of the current situation to appoint a female to a Ministerial post. - ‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki, WCCC Director.