Friday, January 25, 2019 - 18:12. Updated on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 - 13:23.
PM 'Akilisi Pohiva, pictured November 2018.
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.