Cabinet ministers

The confirmation came after the Prime Minister had an audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister “recommended” himself to the king to be appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lord Ma’afu to become Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

The meeting was called after what appeared to be a clash between the power of the Prime Minister to nominate “all his cabinet ministers” and the power of the king as Commander-in-Chief of the forces on land and sea to appoint “all officers” at His Majesty’s Armed Forces, emerged.

Deputy Prime Minister, Sēmisi Sika, Dr Saia Piukala and MP Mo’ale Fīnau joined the new Minister of Labour Dr Tu’i Uata in a meeting at the Labour and Commerce office.

They also joined new Internal Affairs minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu in her first meeting with her staff in her office.

Labour and Commerce CEO, Edgar Cocker has confirmed to Kaniva News he and his staff met their new Minister Dr. Tu’i Uata this morning.

It is understood other cabinet ministers held meeting with their staff this morning.

The increase approved on 4 August is effective from 1 July, 2017.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office says this is the first salary adjustment applied for the Ministers since their admission to their respective positions.

In 2015, His Majesty’s Cabinet resolved that it was only the Civil Servants that would be awarded with a 5% COLA.

The Ministers’ similar entitlements were put on hold for now two years.

The TV said Bashar Assad named Rima Qadiri to replace Kinda Shammat as minister of social affairs. Jamal Chahine was appointed minister of internal trade and consumer protection, replacing Hassane Safieh. No reason was given for the changes.