The response of the Tongan Parliament to King Tupou VI’s speech to open parliament on May 6, was delivered to the Palace Office today by the Speaker and the Prime Minister.

They were not granted an audience with the King.

It is understood that Parliament was informed yesterday, 20 May, that King Tupou VI would not be able to receive the Speaker and the Prime Minister, nor any delegation. Parliament was advised to deliver their letter to the Palace Office.

Lord Fakafanua and Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa delivered the letter at midday today, 21 May. They were accompanied by the Clerk of the House Gloria Pole’o, and met by the King's Secretary, Sione Fifita at the Palace Office.

The text of the House's letter to the King was recorded in the Parliamentary Minutes, published on parliament's website, as follows:

Ko e Miniti ‘o e Feme‘a‘aki ‘a e Hou‘eiki Mēmipa ‘o e Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, Fika 3, Tusite, 18 Me 2021.

p52...“ ‘Oku mau tomu’a tuku ‘a e fakafeta’i ki he ‘Otua Māfimafi ‘i he’ene fakalākoifua lelei ‘a e ‘Afio na ko e Tu’i ‘o Tonga. ‘Oku mau ongo’i loto līfusia mo e loto ‘apasia ke tali ‘a e koloa kuo Tō mei he ‘Afio na, ‘i hono Huufi ‘o e Fale Alea ‘o Tonga ‘i he ‘aho Tu’apulelulu ko hono 6 ‘o Mē, 2021.

‘Oku ofongi kimautolu ke fakahoko ‘e he Fale ha ngāue ke hōhoa tatau mo hono tali ‘o e koloa kuo tō. Fakafeta’i e ma’u koloa, fakafeta’i e hala fo’ou kuo tofa. ‘Oku mau kole ke mau hūfanga atu ‘i he kolosi ‘i he fuka ‘oku kei vilingia, ke matafi e Tonga ho Finangalo, kae fakaa’u atu ‘emau tautapa ki ha meesi mo e fakamolemole mei he ‘Afio na.

‘Oku kāfataha ‘a e Fale Alea ‘o Tonga mo e Pule'anga ‘i hono ngāue’i ‘o e ngaahi fekau kuo tō mei he Taloni. Te mau fakahoko atu ha fakamatala kakato ‘o e ngaahi ngāue kuo lava, kimu’a pea tāpuni ‘a e to’u Fale Alea ‘o e ta’u ni.

‘Oku mau tukupā ki he koloa kuo tō mei he ‘Afio na, ko ha enginaki fakangāue ki he Fale Alea ‘o Tonga mo e Pule'anga, pea ‘oku mau lea fakataha mo e tangata fatu Saame, monū’iaā ka ko e Pule'anga ‘oku ‘Otua’aki ’a Sihova, ‘a e kakai kuo ne fili mo hono tofi’a.

‘Oku mau tālamonū atu ki Ho’o ‘Afió mo Ho Fale mo e fakatauange ke monimonūmonitonu ai pē ‘a Ho’o Pule, pea kei tu’utai ‘a e Pule ‘a Ha’a Moheofo, ki Tonga monū’ia mo hono kakai. Ko ‘emau lotú ia ke taumalingi mai ‘a e ngaahi tāpuaki ‘a Sihova ki he ‘Afio na ‘o lauikuonga.

‘I he loto faka’apa’apa mo e loto ‘apasia mo’oni. Lord Fakafanua.

‘Eiki Sea ‘o e Fale Alea ‘o Tonga.

The Speaker, Lord Fakafanua and Clerk of the House, Ms Gloria Pole’o, are met by the King's Secretary, Sione Fifita, at the Palace Office, Nuku'alofa. 21 May 2021.

The King's Secretary, Sione Fifita, greets the Prime Minister Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, at the Palace Office, Nuku'alofa. 21 May 2021.