The Tonga Cabinet has decided to annul the Host Contract that Tonga signed with the Pacific Games Council in 2013 and will amend the Pacific Games Organizing Act 2013 to put to parliament for repeal, the Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva told a Press Conference at noon yesterday, 9 June at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre.

The Cabinet passed these decisions in the morning before the press conference at noon.

The Prime Minister explained that there were many reasons for why they decided for Tonga to withdraw from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games, but one that he wanted to elaborate on was the revelation by Papua New Guinea in March that it could not proceed with, what he said was, its pledged contribution of $47 million Kina ( $31 million pa’anga).

The PM said that the $31 million pa’anga was designated for the reconstruction of Teufaiva Stadium.

He said that the $31 million plus the $73.6 million that was budgeted for the construction of facilities for the games was too much and that was why Cabinet agreed to amend and repeal the Pacific Games Act 2013 and cancel the games.

When he was asked if Cabinet could just annul the Host Contract without any dialogue with the Games Council, the PM replied that a New Zealand lawer was looking at that. "Harrison is working on it."

Personal

When questioned over a likelihood that Tonga will end up paying a lot of money for cancelling the Host Contract, Tonga's Minister of Justice, Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia, dismissed the issue by referring to the President of the Pacific Games Council, Vidhya Lakhan personally: "The motu'a 'Initia (old Indian man) was trying to scare us," he said.

"If we say no, it means no. There are other more important matters. Sports? No. The levy will be to build sports facilities.” He stressed that the cultivation of sports is what the government will be focusing on.  

The Minister of Justice was confident that Cabinet was ready to counter any claims. “We are ready. He came to scare us. We are not here to accept things that were approved by the former government without questioning them. No more sports.”

The PM said that the Pacific Games Organising Committee was trying to schedule a meeting with the President and the Executive Director of the Pacific Games Council for next week, but he told them that they could meet at 4:00pm today.

“If they are not ready, we can have it next week,” said the PM.

Accompanying the Prime Minister at the Press Conference were the Minister of Police, Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu, the Minister of Labour, Commerce, Trade and Revenue Collection, Hon. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, and the Minister of Justice, Hon. Vuna Fa'otusia.