By Pesi Fonua

Tonga's Prime Minister stressed this week that his Cabinet had decided that Tonga would withdraw its offer to host the 2019 Pacific Games, no matter what the Pacific Games Council or the Tonga law says.

Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva said that they had tried to amend the Tonga Pacific Games Organization Act 2013, but could not.  The Act sets out responsibilities and protects the games from political interference.

“The Act is still there, but we don’t recognize that Act,” he said.

He told a press conference he called on Tuesday, 30 May, at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre, that he believed that the Tonga government has the power to withdraw Tonga from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games. The PM asserted that even though the Pacific Games Council had claimed that they have the authority, “but we don’t believe that. The ultimate power is vested with Government.”

He said he had a meeting with the Tonga Pacific Games Organising Committee that morning; the CEO, Lord Sevele was not present and he tried to clarify the government’s position.

“I am aware that we [Cabinet and the Pacific Games Organising Committee] have to agree but cabinet has made a collective decision. There is no need to talk about it, it is all over. Finish. Cancel. Leave it for the House to look at it,” he said.

Parliament

So, basically, what the Prime Minister was saying is that Cabinet has made a decision for Tonga to withdraw from its offer to host the 2019 Pacific Game, but Parliament will have the final say.

The Tonga Parliament 2017-2018 session was officially opened on 1 June by King Tupou VI, and the formal session of the House will start next Tuesday.

The PM said that the President of the Pacific Games Council, Vidhya Lakhan had requested a meeting in Nuku’alofa, next Tuesday.

“I accepted that we meet, but in short, it is ‘osi/finish, and there is a reason. If I have to clarify all that, it will take all day, but I’ll make a point.”

The PM said that Tonga in 2012 bid to host the 2019 Pacific Games and won. The issue was presented to the House in 2013.  The Minister of Finance at the time, Lisiate ‘Akolo disagreed with the move. According to the PM, Lisiate’s opposition was based on a World Bank report. He said that Tonga went ahead and bid for the games but did not do the most important task first, a survey and a feasibility study. He said that because Lisiate objected to Tonga hosting the games, he was forced to resign as Tonga’s Minister of Finance.

Something missing

However, the PM went on that Tonga is not ready, mentally and in the heart to host the games. He said that most Tongan teams that left for competition overseas, always ended up at the bottom.

“Something is missing from this country. Once that is returned then we can build sporting facilities,” he said.

A newspaper reporter said the remark that the PM had just made was confusing. She pointed out that a high percentage of the remittances (about $200 million) that flow into Tonga annually comes from successful Tongan sportsmen and sportswomen.

The PM told the reporter to produce a petition, “come with a petition!”

Foreign Exchange Levy Act

Tonga Parliament early this year passed the Pacific Games 2019 Taxation Incentives Bill 2017 to raise funds for the games.

The PM was asked if government was going to terminate the Foreign Exchange Levy Act, and halt the construction of sporting facilities for the games.

He replied that they could stop the foreign exchange levy. “The most important question is –the money that has been collected, where it is going to go to? The answer is to spend some in the preparation of our athletes. If facilities are to be built, give them some. Give some to road constructions and any other projects. There is a thing called a high performance facility that the World Rugby has been talking about - we should build one.”

The PM believed that Tonga would still be able to host other sports events, including the upcoming  ‘Ikale Tahi matches against Fiji and Samoa at Teufaiva Stadium..

The Minister for the Ministry of Labour, Commerce, Trade and Revenue Collection, Hon. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, reminded the press conference that the current government was not elected into power “because they want to build sports. . . we still can’t pay for our personal needs, education, health, agriculture and fisheries.” He pointed that out budget allocations for these services are very low, ranging from 7% to 36%.

“Our expenditure overtakes our revenue, so good governance is what we need today, not kaipola (feasting) and entertainment – sports is like a kaipola. While there is no money we should not have a kaipola.”

The PM supported his cabinet’s decision for Tonga to withdraw from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games by highlighting a report from the World Bank that “they don’t support the sports."

He also said that New Zealand's Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2015, urged them to look carefully at Tonga’s hosting of the Pacific Games. He pointed out that New Zealand's contribution was only $2.5m. It was also the same attitude from Australia – “for them sports is a luxury.”