PM Akilisi Pohiva

'Akilisi Pohiva was in Auckland last month before returning to Tonga briefly.

The prime minister told local media he's been advised by his doctor to avoid any intensive mental activity.

The cause of Mr Pohiva's ill-health has not been revealed.

Meanwhile Matangi Tonga reports Mr Pohiva saying King Tupou VI was right to say, during the opening of parliament last week, that the government has no vision for economic development.

Mr Pohiva says his government has failed to spell out its plan clearly.

Buildings and crops were severely damaged on Tongatapu and 'Eua and hundreds have been left homeless.

But 'Akilisi Pohiva said locals had retained their good humour and had got on with the job of recovering from the category four storm.

"They feel sorry for what has happened but they still enjoy life. Remember, you know Pacific people, especially Tongans, are very simple. They are not complicated.

"Most people they know how to handle disasters."

Pohiva satisfied with disaster recovery

'Akilisi Pohiva said some government officials did not work to the best of their ability because they didn't like him politically.

Mr Pohiva said the behaviour had to be stopped because it had caused the government to be dysfunctional.

He said the majority of people were ready to build the nation but that government was finding it difficult to move forward.

Kaniva News reported the Prime Minister as saying there was no use in the government having good policies when those who are required to implement them are corrupt.

Mr Pohiva was admitted into the local Intensive Care Unit over a week ago and missed the opening of parliament last Thursday.

Kaniva Tonga reports Mr Pōhiva met with the King at 2 o'clock.

Kaniva reports a government spokesperson declined to give details of the meeting and the Prime Minister's health condition.

Photos posted on Mr Pohiva's daughter's Facebook page this afternoon show Mr Pohiva in formal atire.

'Ana Pōhiva Koli wrote her father is recovering well.

Pohiva is expected to attend the swearing in ceremony of Members of Parliament in Nuku’alofa on Thursday.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson told Kaniva News, Pohiva has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit to avoid being disturbed by visitors.

Pohiva was admitted at the Medical Ward last Friday.

His daughter ‘Ana Pōhiva Koli said via Facebook the Prime Minister was comfortable and fine.

Koli thanked the kāinga and friends for their prayers in which she said were contributed to the Prime Minister’s speed recovery.

Pōhiva said he talked to the noble, who is also the Speaker of Parliament, early last month about government leasing the land in which Lord Fakafanua agreed.

The Prime Minister said the new market was one of the much-needed projects the government has projected over the next four years.

He said there were too many sellers for Talamahu, Tonga’s only national market.

As Kaniva News reported in 2015, the government moved vendors who used to sell their agricultural produce on footpaths in Maʻufanga to Siamelie open air market.

Mr Pohiva got 14 votes in the 26 member House, with the only other contender, former deputy prime minister Siaosi Sovaleni getting 12.

The result was announced by the interim speaker Lord Tangi after he presented the results of yesterday's secret ballot to the King.

Mr Pohiva's Democratic party had a resounding victory in the November election, winning 14 of the 17 People's Representatives seats.

Nanise Fifita was sacked from Tonga's Broadcasting Commission in May even though her contract had a right of renewal clause.

The move came a few months after the Prime Minister had called the TBC an enemy of government after numerous clashes with staff.

The Public Enterprise Minister Poasi Tei and the TBC were defendants in the case.

They argued that the Minister was not consulted, as required by the Public Enterprises Act, when she was reappointed, making the decision void.

'Akilisi Pohiva's government is proposing an amendment that would see top roles such as the attorney general, police commissioner and anti-corruption commissioner, appointed by the prime minister and cabinet.

Currently, such appointments are made by the privy council and the king.

A former justice minister Clive Edwards said the current system provided an important balance against the power of the prime minister in a nascent democracy.