Petition seeks impeachment of Tonga's PM and Cabinet Ministers [1]
Monday, May 21, 2018 - 19:02. Updated on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 09:21.
A petition to impeach seven Cabinet Ministers including the Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva is expected to be submitted to the King and Parliament on Friday, May 25.
Mele ‘Amanaki said today a six-member committee, including herself as member, organized the petition. Mele was a candidate in the last two general elections. The petition released on Friday, May 18 is currently posted online for signatures.
The call for impeachment is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs (former Minister of Education and Internal Affairs) PM Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva; Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism Semisi Sika, Minister of Finance Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Minister for Education and Training Penisimani Fifita, Minister for Police, Revenue and Customs Mateni Tapueluelu, Minister for Justice Vuna Fa’otusia and Minister for Labour and Commerce Tu'i Uata.
The petition stated that the King, people in Tonga and abroad have put their trust in them to run our country responsibly for the betterment of all but claims that they have misused their power and the trust entrusted to them.
The impeachment alleged that these seven Ministers have breached the Constitution of Tonga, other legislations and Parliament regulations and states that they are therefore not trustworthy to govern. It alleges that they have executed bad governance, abused and misused government properties and taxpayers money, among other claims relating to the budgets of 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 under some of the named seven headed Ministries.
The petition is seeking for parliament to postpone deliberating on the new budget 2018-19, so that an audit may be conducted immediately on the parts of the budgets that the petition alleges were misused.