Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva raised laughter at an Australian function last night before proposing a toast to HM Queen Elizabeth II, when he said that he may need god's smile as another petition was being filed to the King to dissolve parliament.

In closing his farewell speech to HE Mr Andrew Ford, the outgoing Australian High Commissioner to Tonga and his family, the Prime Minister said he hoped that they would not forget us.

“May god continue to smile upon you in your new mission. Who knows? May I need god to continue to smile upon me, as I hear that another petition is being tabled to get His Majesty Tupou’s Fale‘alea [to dissolve]. Please charge your glasses for a toast to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II the Queen of Australia,” the Prime Minister said, as guests laughed at his comment.

Earlier during his speech PM Pohiva said Tonga was grateful to Australia for its assistance. He mentioned the Defence Cooperation program, which addresses security and disaster resilience issues. He also mentioned the importance of the migrant workers programmes.

“We are grateful to Australia for the seasonal workers program. In 2018, 3000 plus Tongans went on the program,” he said, quoting a World Bank report: “Tongan workers remitted to their families a total of AUD$26.2 million in 2017 alone... this was double the total revenue that Tonga received from its exports and also double the annual financial aid Tonga received from Australia.”

He said the Tonga government was also grateful to Australia for its ongoing assistance though the Ministry of health to address NCDs.

He also mentioned Australia's trade commitment with New Zealand to build new infrastructure in Tonga.

However, the Prime Minister made no mention of Tonga’s continuing communications crisis as its fibre optic cable blackout entered a fifth day.

HE Mr Andrew Ford becomes Consul General in Kolkata, India.

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Meanwhile, a parliamentary petition by Clive Edwards and Teisino Fuko was discussed on local radio this afternoon.