Sacked Minister of Finance Hon. Tevita Lavemaau said yesterday that it was his vote in Parliament that made Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva the Prime Minister.

Tevita reminded the journalists "the whole of Tonga did not vote for him [Pohiva to be PM], it was my vote that made him a Prime Minister".

Under Tonga's system the people elect their representatives to parliament, and then those members of parliament elect a Prime Minister from among themselves.

Tevita called a press conference yesterday 7 September at the Tonga Broadcasting Commission in response to his dismissal.

He stressed that the dissolution of Parliament is a prerogative of the king, and an "ordinary common man like me has nothing to do with His Majesty’s prerogative".

The Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva fired his cabinet ministers Siaosi Sovaleni and Tevita Lavemaau from 1 September. They received letters of dismissal this week.

Tevita also stressed that 'Good Governance' should start with government.

Consensus

Without being specific, he alluded to a conviction that Cabinet decisions should not be made by one man or a minority in Cabinet.

“A Cabinet decision is collective under the principle of consensus – that is the norm in any democratic process. The Cabinet should make the decision. If they are not happy with the PM, they should let him know".

Tevita has not yet committed to campaign for re-election as the ‘Eua People’s Representative in the coming November 16 General Election?

He said he is looking forward to going back to work with the community. He firmly believed that a Tongan has no excuse to say that he or she is poor.

"We have every thing it is simply a matter of getting work done."

Tevita pointed out that  water tanks were being distributed by aid donors to the villages. “But the water tanks are not connected. The people are expecting the donors to come and connect them.”

With regards to the PACER Plus Free Trade Agreement with Australia and New Zealand he said that Tonga signing the treaty was the first step.

To ratify and finalize the Free Trade Agreement Tevita stressed that Tonga has to be able to take advantage of the agreement and Australia and New Zealand had allocated funds to enable us to participate in the trade agreement, before we ratify PACER Plus.