Tonga’s preparations to host the 2019 Pacific Games is in uproar after the Prime Minister's Office has called for the dismissal of Lord Sevele, the CEO and Chairman of Tonga's Pacific Games Organizing Committee, and the PMO's demand may now lead to Tonga losing the Games.

The Pacific Games Council has not approved the proposal and has issued a warning to Tonga.

In response to the PMO this week, the President of the Pacific Games Council (PGC) called for the PM's attention to protocol and warned: “If this proposal advances without respect for these due processes...PGC will instigate a full examination of the Host Agreement’s termination clauses and possibility of withdrawal of Tonga’s rights to host the 2019 Pacific Games.”

The Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, as the chairman of the Audit and Governance Authority, has been sternly reminded of Tonga's responsibilities under the PGC Charter and of the Host Agreement which outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the Audit & Governemance Authority and the Games Organising Committee.

The President of the PGC stated, "The role and powers of the Audit and Governance Authority are misunderstood. It has no role in the daily operations of the Games Organising Committee. I urge members to cease and desist from further steps in contravention of the PGC Charter and Host Agreement."

Neighbours

The PMO's letter recommending the "Termination of Contract of the current CEO Chairman of the organizing committee, dated 28 April, was not signed and came from the Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet, Dr Palenitina Langa’oi, addressed to “Organizing members”.

Most intriguing is that the Prime Minister’s Office is about 100 meters away from the office of the Pacific Games Organizing Committee, but the letter was sent to Fiji to the President of the Pacific Games Council, Vidyha Lakhan, then to Australia to the Executive Director of the Pacific Games Council, Andrew Minogue, then it was finally forwarded to the Games Organizing Committee’s office.

The letter spelled out a recommendation from the Audit and Governance Authority AGA on the behalf of its Chairman the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva for the termination of “the old CEO position and to be replaced by a new CEO position.”

The proposed new CEO and chairman of the Organizing Committee is the Solicitor General, Sione Sisifa.

Wake-up call

In a Press Conference that was called by Lord Sevele yesterday, 5 May he was asked if he had made contact with the Prime Minister, and what was he going to do about the recommendation of the AGA for the termination of his working contract.

Dr Sevele said that the PM is away overseas, and "all we are going to do is...to tell them to wake up and to carry out their responsibilities sensibly. And for them to remember all these things are all over the world.”

The Prime Minister was in London on 4 May in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. ‘Akilisi  was reported  to have “offered his country’s full support for the ongoing struggle of the people of West Papua.” He also made a point that it was the responsibility of the United Nations to ensure human rights were upheld in West Papua and how he would continue to push for it.

Dismay

Meanwhile, things are falling apart at home.

During the Press Conference with Dr Sevele, a note came in from the Prime Minister’s Office, informing the Organizing Committee to disregard the recommendation from the AGA.

Lord Dr Sevele expressed his dismay over the action of the AGA, because he and two other members of the Games Organizing Committee, Lord Tupou and Takitoa Taumoepeau are scheduled to leave for Vanuatu next week to make a presentation to the Pacific Games Council on Tonga’s state of preparation to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

He said that already the President, Vidhya Lakhan is wondering what is going on.

Vidhya has already responded to letters from the Prime Minister’s Office on the AGA recommendation for the termination of the working contract of Lord Dr Sevele and for two new members of the the AGA, ‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi and the solicitor general.

He pointed out that the AGA proposal to terminate the working contract of Dr Sevele is in contravention with the Pacific Games Council Charter and Host Agreement, which states categorically that “the Games Organising Committee shall be appointed by the host Pacific Games Association TASA in consultation with PGC, and must operate independently from government interference.

“Furthermore, persons #8 (‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi) and #9 (Solicitor General)...are not recognised by PGC as duly appointed members of the Authority as due process has not been followed.”

He warned that if the AGA advances without respect for these due processes, the Pacific Games Council may withdraw Tonga’s rights to host the 2019 Pacific Games.