A Commonwealth constitutional expert will arrive in Tonga in March to assist government with its proposed constitutional changes.

In Nuku'alofa yesterday, Matthew Neuhaus, the Director of the Political Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London, said that the Tongan government had requested a constitutional expert, "to help them in assessing the situation, in finding a way forward, and taking into account the the National Committee for Political Reform's eventual recommendations.

"We have been in close dialogue with the Committee and they have asked us to support them and we have helped mobilize support, including financial support, from Australia and New Zealand for the committee," he said.

Matthew is part of a three-member Commonwealth delegation who arrived in Tonga on Tuesday night on a four days facts finding visit. The other two delegates are the Rt Hon. Sir Douglas Graham, the Commonwealth Secdretary General's Special Envoy to Tonga, and Albert Mariner, a political adviser for the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Sir Douglas pointed out that the constitutional expert will not be working with the Committee, "but the Commonwealth sees the Tu'ipelehake committee as a very positive move. We are aware that since my last visit [during the national strike by Civil Servants] that the momentum for change has become quite clear. Something has to be done, and it has been done, and I applaud that."

He said that the constitutional expert will be selected and paid for by the Commonwealth, but once appointed he will be responsible to the Minister, as a personal adviser to the Minister of Justice.

Albert Mariner, believed, "that this whole process is driven by Tongans themselves, and that is very important."