By Pesi Fonua

HM King Tupou VI this afternoon, 8 October presented Tonga’s newly elected Prime Minister, Hon. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa with a Royal Warrants of Appointment.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa was elected as Prime Minister by the 15 members of the 23-members parliament on 27 September.

The official presentation had been on hold while King Tupou VI was overseas at the United Nations in New York, followed by an official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The presentation was a brief ceremony, with no formal speeches.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa is Tonga’s third Prime Minister elected under a more democratic system of government that was introduced in 2010.

He takes over from the late Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva who died on 12 September. The new Prime Minister will hold office for two years to complete the four years term of the Pohiva government in 2021.

Prime Minister  Tu‘i‘onetoa, has yet to officially announce his Cabinet, but already a list of a new Cabinet ministers has been floating around in the coconut wireless.