Tonga Government

The government's Technical Committee has told Radio Tonga that site has been approved at Siumafua'uta, Popua.

The location is to the east of the old dumpsite at Popua where a new public park was constructed.

The original plan after the various proposed sites were turned down to extend the current golf course at 'Atele.

In October the Prime Minister 'Akliisi Pohiva told Parliament that he had doubts Tonga could host the event, partly because no land had been found for an 18 hole golf course.

As Kaniva News reported on September 15, Mr Vakatā was dismissed after a complaint from the Ministry’s Director of Women’s Affairs, Tupou ‘Ahau Fakakovi, that he hurled a glass of wine at her in Vavaʻu last month.

Mr Pōhiva told Kaniva News he would meet with his Cabinet ministers today to discuss the matter.

He mentioned Lord Vaea, Lord Tu’ihangana and Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu as potential candidates.

Local news organisations have been grumbling for weeks about a lack of accessibility and a long time associate of Mr Pohiva, journalist and publisher Kalafi Moala, said the Democratic Party government was the most closed in the country's history.

But Mr Pohiva said that was not the case.

The issue was raised by Lord Nuku in response to the on-going public debate where two members of the Board of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission have refused to voluntarily resign following an offer by Government.

Member of Parliament, Lavulavu pointed out that Parliament was not the place to discuss such an issue as it is before Cabinet.

However, the Acting Speaker of Parliament, Lord Tu'i'afitu did not agree with the views and insisted that the issue be discussed by Parliament.

A refusal to resign by two directors of the board of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, and their willingness to take their case to court was agitating the Prime Minister.

The PM stressed to the House that all the directors of the six boards of six Public Enterprises have to resign, to support the government’s reform of public enterprises. He said that there must be resignations by board directors so that government ccould move on forward with its reform programme. “The others have resigned, even though they know their legal rights.”