NUKU’ALOFA – The gloves are off in Nuku’alofa. Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has denied claims of nepotism made by failed political rival ‘Eliesa Fifita.

Fifita claims Pohiva is guilty of giving special privileges to a member of his family by appointing his son, Siosiua Po‘oi Pohiva, as his personal assistant without advertising the post publicly.

Fifita stood unsuccessfully against the Prime Minister for the Tongatapu 1 constituency in the last election.

In a letter which was copied to Kaniva News, Fifita also claimed that Pohiva had ignored sexual improprieties committed by two of his ministers.

Kaniva Pacific was unable to obtain answers from the prime minister in time for publication.

However, Pohiva told Radio FM89.5 that he recruited his son as his personal assistant because he trusted him.

He said Po‘oi was not paid the government salary allocated for the post, but was instead paid directly from his prime ministerial salary. He said Treasury had been informed of the arrangement.

Pohiva said this would save taxpayers’ money, in line with his policy of wise management of the country’s finances.

Fifita has also claimed that the prime minister selected an MP to join his cabinet even though he was aware of allegations that he had been involved in extra-marital affairs.

The failed politician claimed that the minister had fathered three illegitimate children.

He said Pohiva’s actions went against the principles of transparency, morality and honesty he had championed while he was a fierce critic of the former governments.

In his letter to Kaniva News, Fifita said Pohiva had earlier proposed that government posts must not be selected in such a way that people appeared to have been chosen because of nepotism or favouritism.

Pohiva has been a long time critic of what he described as unfair distribution of the country’s opportunities and wealth among the nobility.

The prime minister responded to allegations about the appointment of his ministers by saying that he had no option but to choose from a small number of politicians who held the balance of power.

The Prime Minister told Radio FM 89.5 that the most important thing for him was to use people who had been scrutinised and elected by the people.

Pohiva said the ministers had vowed to leave what had happened behind them and do their best to build the nation while they were in the new government.

In the post-election period there was a strong push from Pohiva’s supporters to engage in horse trading with the independent politicians so the Democratic Party could form the best government for the people.

One week before the premiership election on December 29 Pohiva said he had held various secret meetings with some of the independents to try to persuade them to join his government.

“They must be given whatever ministerial posts they want so that we would form a democratically elected government,” he told Kaniva News.

Fifita’s letter has been hotly debated on social media, with Pohiva’s selection of his son as his personal assistant secretary the most discussed topic.

Critics said it was a conflict of interest that did not reflect well on his government.

Olivia Ve’etutu aid: “PM does not look good with it in the international level after all those numerous years of calling for good governance!”

Arthur Fonua said: “The appointment of his own son does not enhance or strengthen his own foundational vision of inclusion. Not well thought out from a democratic perspective.”

Senolita Swan commented: “What a shame. Do what you preach. I had such a high hope for this PM.”

However, the new prime minister’s have supporters rallied around.

Sione Talanoa Fifita commented in Tongan on the Democracy for Tonga Facebook page that Pohiva had not committed nepotism because his son was paid from the prime minister’s own salary.

Maggie Tupou said: “The way I see it, there is no conflict of interest as his son’s wages are paid out of the PM’s pocket. It is normal for people to handpick their own personal assistants.”

Alex Tora said: “Interesting indeed. My one cent contribution – PMs the world over pick their own personal assistants and pay for them from their own pay packets. If that is what PM Pohiva has done, then I do not see any problem with that.

“I think he is worried about having someone who will not be able to do the job as he wants it done – making it happen so to speak. So he has gone for his son because he may trust his son more to be able to perform than those who have been sitting there for some time. Interesting indeed.”