Tonga says Games Council ‘out of line’

TONGA – The Tongan government says it changed the law overseeing the 2019 Pacific Games so it could sack the head of the local organising committee, despite protests from the Pacific Games Council.

This is despite the Games Council’s Chair, Vidhya Lakhan, saying the sacking of Lord Sevele from the local committee doesn’t stand because it contravenes the hosting agreement.

However, the Prime Minister’s Office says changes were made as part of the Organisation Act 2013, which enables their governance authority to make such decisions.

The Deputy Secretary, ‘Eti Teumohenga, says the government is the recipient of the Pacific Games Council’s product and as such, it will be the government’s decisions that will see the games happen.

Teumohenga says the government and its people know better about ways to host the Pacific Games given council’s sports-related requirements.

Teumohenga says the Pacific Games Council needs to work through the Tonga Amateur Sports Association (TASA) so as not to be seen as interfering in sovereign affairs.

He says the Council has been out of line with its direct communications with the prime minister.

“As a matter of protocol, the Council’s agent in Tonga is TASA. It should be the mediating body between the Council and the government and would avoid a seeming interference of a foreign body in the sovereign affairs of Pacific island states of which Tonga is included.”

- RNZI