THE Paati Temokalati 'a e 'Otumotu Anga'ofa (PTOA) called a press conference this afternoon and invited members of the local media to ask questions.

'Akilisi Pohiva told the press that the Party wanted journalists to ask him questions, because the journalists were the ones who released news items about the other group of MPs coming out with 15 members.

He said that the news items put out numerously, during this short time leading up to nomination of the Prime Minister on Monday, December 20, were about the other group of Nobles and Independent People's Representatives coming out saying that they had the support of 15 members, making them now the majority.

Instead of firstly making a statement in regards to what the PTOA response was to the press statement made by the nobles and independent members of parliaments on December 14, he invited the media to first ask the questions.

He said that was something that the people are concerned about and had queried them on.

"We have also put out our own information on our Cabinet of National Unity and we are here to answer these issues and other news items that has been put out about us," he said.

Party members present included Sione Taione, Sangstar Saulala, Sifa Tu'utafaiva, 'Uliti Uata, Semisi Sika, Mo'ale Finau, Sitiveni Halapua and 'Akilisi Pohiva.

Questions

Journalists asked 'Akilisi on whether or not the figure of 15 that was put out was a true figure.

'Akilisi said he had queried the A3Z about this. And then he asked the media present whether they had verified this figure with any of the three independents, namely Sunia Fili, 'Aisake Eke and Fe'ao Vakata, whether or not this was true.

A media representative from Radio Tonga told 'Akilisi that they ran the story because it came from a reliable spokesperson and that was the Vava'u Representative Samiu Vaipulu, just as they would run a story on what 'Akilisi would say considering his reliable position.

Sifa Tu'utafaiva said that the 15 number put out by the nobles was not true.

Uncertain

Sifa said this was because what the party had got from the three independents was that "they would do what is right to them. And we can interpret this that they might side with us and the other can interpret the same," he said.

Sitiveni Halapua said the true numbers could only be determined on the day of the ballot on Monday. This was because they had not presented any written agreement that in fact these 15 members had signed and agreed to one side or the other, he said.

He also confirmed the party's number remained at 11 because, unlike the other bloc, they had each signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Sitiveni said that they had sent four letters of invitation to the nobles and Vava'u representatives for meetings and they had to date met with Hon Fakafanua and the 'Eua representative Sunia Fili. There was another meeting with Hon Tu'ivakano, Lisiate Akolo with 'Akilisi, 'Uliti and himself so they could get their feedback because they were open to working together and negotiating.

"But at the end they just don’t seem too keen," said Sitiveni.

He then added the party is open to work together with them and if they have anything they do not agree on, they could negotiate and further draft agreements. "We didn’t invite them to meet to join our party, we invited them so that we can have a dialogue," he said.

List

A question was put to the party in regards to a list that was released by Noble Fakafanua and Samiu Vaipulu yesterday to the media about the PTOA party's proposed "Cabinet of National Unity" with 'Akilisi Pohiva nominated as Prime Minister and Sitiveni Halapua as Deputy PM.

'Akilisi challenged the media over whether they had asked where Samiu Vaipulu got the list from.

The journalist answered that they got it from a website that the party had posted the list on.

Sitiveni denied this. "The party never did such a list for a proposed cabinet for the new government. We have meetings nearly every day and we have not thought about this nor discussed who would take up which portfolio," he said.

He added that in order for allocation of portfolios there needed to be signed agreements put in place first.

The press conference took up to two hours held at the Parliament Office.