Hon. Semisi Sika told Kaniva News this afternoon he was not a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and said he had never spoken to the media on behalf of the church.

Hon. Sika made the comments following criticisms he received after an article published by Kaniva News last night about Prince Ata’s baptism into the Mormon Church.

The story was headlined ‘LDS leader attacks Prince’s baptism, charges “terrorism” and “bribery”’

Although he was president of Mormon Church’s Liahona High School global alumni, Hon. Sika said he is just a normal member of the church and did not want to be seen by the public as one of its leaders.

The Liahona High School Global Alumni manages an investment fund of TP$3million (NZ$2 million) to help pay for children whose parents cannot afford to pay for their school fees.

Last night’s story was based on comments Hon. Sika made on Facebook.

He did not deny the comments were his and said we were free to report them.

Hon. Sika said he had not wanted to make any public comments on the issue since it was revealed the Prince had been baptised in Hawai’i last month.

He said he acted after he saw some comments about the Prince’s baptism on a family member’s Facebook page in Hawai’i.

He said these comments were misinformed.

He said he made his own comments to clarify the issues and say what had actually happened before the baptism took place.

The baptism of King Tupou VI’s second son, Prince Ata, has caused rifts among LDS church members, with many saying it was an insult to Their Majesties.

Supporters of the baptism argued the Prince was an adult and free to make his own choices and decisions.

Prince Ata  was originally to be baptised at the Mormon Church in Haveluloto in November 2014.

His Majesty sent his royal guards and former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano to persuade him to postpone his baptism until an overseas royal commitment already scheduled was fulfilled.

The Prince subsequently agreed to postpone his baptism after he sent away the royal guards and refused to listen to Lord Tu’ivakano.

The Prince decided to postpone his baptism after Stake President ‘Alavini Sika, a younger brother of Hon. Sika, supported Lord Tu’ivakano’s plea.

After the postponement Prince Ata attended LDS church services regularly and was a regular guest at Hon. Sika’s house.

In his comments Hon. Sika accused Lord Fulivai of being behind the plan to baptise Prince Ata.

He said that in the past he had been in touch with Lord Fulivai from time to time, but that since the baptism he had had no further contact.

“Why does Lord Fulivai keep silent in Vava’u?” Hon. Sika asked in Tongan.

The Chairman of Tonga’s Parliament’s Whole House Committee claimed there had been bribery involved in the baptism,  including paying for the Prince’s air ticket to Hawai’i and purchasing him a new blue van.

Hon. Sika called the baptism of the Prince an act of “terrorism” and “attention seeking”.

The main points

  • Semisi Sika told Kaniva News this afternoon he was not a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints and had never spoken to the media on behalf of the church.
  • He made the comments following criticisms he received after an article published by Kaniva News last night about Prince Ata’s baptism into the Mormon Church.
  • Sika said he had not wanted to make any public comments on the issue since it was revealed the Prince had been baptised in Hawai’i last month.
  • However, he said he acted after he saw what he described as misinformed and inaccurate comments about the Prince’s baptism on a family member’s Facebook page.