Tonga Broadcasting Commission

He said he was also considering sacking board member Aloma Johansson according to Kaniva News.

This is the latest twist in the Prime Minister’s feud with the Tongan national broadcaster, which he has accused of reporting unfairly on his government.

Media watch groups and journalists have accused him of threatening to undermine freedom of the media in the kingdom because of his comments about the TBC and his clashes with individual members of staff.

Mr Pohiva said he was not happy with how the Tonga Broadcasting Commission operated and a review would be carried out over the next month.

The prime minister said the services may be better carried out by a different provider.

Mr Pohiva, who has long been at loggerheads with the management of the TBC, said the broadcaster was an obstacle and a real constraint on the work of government.

The Tonga Broadcasting Commission would be either closed down or sold off under legislation the Prime Minister says he intends to introduce.

Mr Pohiva has had very public differences with the TBC and its journalists in the past, calling for reporter Viola Ulakai to be sacked for asking tough questions of him at a press conference.

Tongan publisher Kalafi Moala says the Prime Minister appears to have decided to do something about his concerns, but he may not have much support from the rest of cabinet.

The head of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, Nanise Fifita, says the investment will bring great benefits to the people of Tonga.

It will have a lot of impact positively on the operation of both Radio and Television Tonga of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.

The money is to help “sustains its operation and acquiring of equipment” according to a cabinet decision on January 11, 2017 seen by Kaniva News.

The grant was made after the Tonga Broadcasting Commission had delivered a TOP$30,000 dividend this year to government.

The funding indicated the government undertook to support the national broadcaster despite recent incidents in which Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva strongly accused its staffers for producing programmes that intended to discredit his government.

Two programmes presented were; a 39 episode animation suitable for children titled the “Tico and Friends,” depicting an adventure of an eleven year old girl who travelled around the world with a seven-tonne, eight metre long killer whale.

The second programme is a five episode drama of various lifestyles and social practices of the Japanese people, titled the “Love Stories from Fukuoka.”

According to RNZI, Viola Ulakai said the Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva recommended the suspension to his Minister of Public Enterprises who wrote to the TBC board.

Mr Pohiva previously said Mrs Ulakai misrepresented herself when making a request for a press conference on behalf of the Tongan Media Council.

The restructuring of the Board of Directors of government enterprises became an issue in the Tongan Parliament in early September when the Minister for Public Enterprises,Poasi Tei told the House that the directors of six enterprises has been informed to voluntarily resigned by the 30 October were:

* Tonga Broadcasting Commission

* Tonga Communications Corporation

* Tonga Post Ltd.

* Tonga Power Ltd.

 * Tonga Water Board

 * Tonga Waste Authority

The offer of voluntary resignation is part of government reforms of government-owned public enterprises.

 Another board member, Lady Tuna Fielakepa has also refused to step down. They are the only two from six public enterprise boards that have not accepted the offer of voluntary resignation from government.

 Last Friday, Lady Fusitu'a and Lady Fielakepa received a final offers of resignation from Government with benefits and compensation. They were both given until 12 noon today to respond.

 According to Lady Fusitu'a she will not voluntarily resign.