A Cabinet decision on the future of the Minister for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Hon. Fe’ao Vakata, remains unknown after a Cabinet meeting today 14 September.

The Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva on 10 September requested that the minister voluntarily resign by 12 noon Monday, 12 September 2016.

However, as of today, 14 September, ‘Onetoto ‘Anisi from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, confirmed that Hon. Fe’ao Vakata has not resigned as the Minister of Internal Affairs.

The Prime Minister has been away from Tonga since the end of August for the Pacific Conference of Leaders in Honolulu, followed by the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in the Federated States of Micronesia. He arrived back in Tonga yesterday evening, 13 September.

The Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva, his son Po'oi Pohiva and Hon. Vakata were on the same Air New Zealand flight from New Zealand to Tonga yesterday evening. Hon. Vakata was seated directly behind the PM, and next to Po'oi.

Cabinet

There was a Cabinet meeting scheduled for today.

The Prime Minister’s office this afternoon reassured us that a cabinet decision on Hon. Fe'ao Vakata would be released to the press before the end of the day, however by 6:30pm no word was forthcoming.

The PM’s decision for Hon. Vakata to resign was based on a letter of complaint by the Acting Deputy Director of the Women's Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tupou’ahau Fakakovikaetau, who alleged that on the evening of 29 July, at the Puataukanave Hotel, Neiafu, Vava’u, Vakata swore at her and then threw a wine glass at her face and wounded her upper lip. She was treated at Prince Ngu Hospital, and a doctor’s report was attached to her letter of complaint.

Hon. Vakata and five senior staff from his ministry were in Vava’u for the annual Agricultural Show on 30 July. It is alleged that on the evening of 29 July the Minister called a meeting of his senior staff to his hotel room and that after a few wines and a chat, one of the daily paid staff of the Women's Division, Soakimi Faka’osi joined the meeting.

Tupou’ahau had assigned Soakimi to represent the Women's Division at the Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou Agriculture Show, and Soakimi was keen to show them photos and to talk about the show.

Tupou’ahau however, alleged in her letter of complaint that the Minister was very annoyed that Tupou’ahau sent Soakimi to the Niuas without his approval and that the end result was that he threw a wine glass at Tupou’ahau’s face and swore at her. It was alleged that he also threatened to throw an ashtray at her.

PMO leak

The incident did not go public until Tupou’ahau’s letter of complaint to the Prime Minister on 29 August was leaked out by the Prime Minister’s Office to their friends.