The new government of Tonga has been appointed by King Tupou VI with effect from Friday 5, 2018, a reliable source said.
Kaniva News understands letters of appointment were delivered by the palace office to the Prime Minister and all his proposed new cabinet ministers over the weekend.
The appointment was made after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi PÅhiva submitted his cabinet lineup to the king on Thursday.
It is understood the king was expected to have an audience with the Prime Minister sometime soon.
The Prime Minister’s office was expected to officially announce the new cabinet positions this week.
The ministerial appointment comes after Hon. PÅhiva, 76, became Tonga’s new prime minister on Tuesday 2, accepting reaffirmation to govern from the king after His Majesty dissolved Parliament in August 2017.
Hon. PÅhiva, who won a landslide 14 of the 17 peopleâs parliamentary seats in a snap election in November following the dissolution, has promised to lead a “king, nobility and people’s government” dedicated to social justice over the next four years.
New lineup submitted by PÅhiva
Hon. PÅhiva first announced the new lineup during a private meeting with his Democratic Party in Nukuâalofa last week before he submitted it to the royal palace office.
A copy of the list of the ministerial lineup was leaked to Kaniva News shortly after the meeting.
We sought confirmation of the list from the Minister of Justice before we published it on Thursday morning. The minister confirmed it and said it has yet to be officially announced because it was being submitted to the king as part of the constitutional process.
As we reported the new lineup is as follows:
- Samuela Akilisi PÅhiva â Prime Minister of Tonga; Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs
- SÄmisi Sika â Deputy Prime Minister; Minister of Tourism and Infrastructure
- SÄmisi Fakahau â Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, Forestry and Food
- Dr. PÅhiva Tuionetoa â Minister of Finance and National Planning
- Penisimani Fifita â Minister of Education and Training
- Poasi Tei â Â Minister of Energy, Environment, Information and Climate Change (MEIDEEC)
- âAkosita H. Lavulavu â Minister of Internal Affairs and Sports
- Dr. Tuâi Uata â Minister of Labour and Commerce
- Dr. Saia Piukala â Minister of Health and Public Enterprises
- Lord Maâafu â Minister of Lands and Survey
- Sione Vuna FÄâotusia â Minister of Justice and Prisons
- MÄteni Tapueluelu â Minister of Police & Fire Services; Customs and Revenue