A petition to Parliament calling for an investigation of seven Cabinet Ministers, including the Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva, for allegedly breaching the Constitution of Tonga, was submitted to the  Speaker today Wednesday, May 30.  A copy of the petition with 3330 signatures was also delivered to the King for his information.

Mele ‘Amanaki Samate, a member of a committee behind the petition, presented a copy to the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua endorsed by ‘Eua People’s Representative Tevita Lavemaau at Parliament House. The petitioners also presented a copy to the Acting Deputy Secretary, Suka ‘Otukolo, at the Palace Office. They were accompanied by supporters including former members of parliament, Teisina Fuko and ‘Isileli Pulu, and others.

The petition names seven ministers:

1. Minister of Foreign Affairs (former Minister of Education and Internal Affairs) PM Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva; 
2. Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism Semisi Sika,
3. Minister of Finance Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa,
4. Minister for Education and Training Penisimani Fifita,
5. Minister for Police, Revenue and Customs Mateni Tapueluelu,
6. Minister for Justice Vuna Fa’otusia
7. Minister for Labour and Commerce Tu'i Uata.

The petition alleged that these seven Ministers had breached the Constitution of Tonga, as well as other legislation and Parliament regulations and claims that they are therefore not trustworthy to govern.

The petition also claimed that they have executed bad governance, abused and misused government properties and taxpayers money related to the budgets of 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 under some of the seven Ministries that were headed by the named MPs.

The petition seeks for parliament to postpone deliberating on the new budget 2018-19, so that an audit may be conducted immediately on the parts of the budget that the petition alleges were misused.

Mele, in presenting the petition to the Speaker, asked for it to be included in parliament’s agenda and, if the Acting Attorney General and Auditor General prove their allegations, then for parliament to impeach these Ministers.

"We presented the petition to the King so that he is aware of what is being done and also submitted that it might be wise to have a Royal Commission of Land, as land is one of the issues they are concerned with."

Meanwhile, the Speaker said it is their Constitutional right to petition parliament and with more than 3000 signatories, this is something important. With the clerk of the House, he said they would look into the issues concerned, and according with parliament’s regulations determine the next step.