The TASANOC members who were disqualified before the election of new officials last month were right to be unhappy, Tongan New Zealand-based lawyer Sione Fonua said today.
Fonua said something was not right with TASANOC’s election, according to its constitution, although he did not detail what he thought went wrong.
He said there was something wrong with his own nomination to the election and he had e-mailed TASANOC and pointed out the mistake.
However, Fonua said he accepted their wrong decision as he considered that it was important they should move forward and do the work for the Games.
Fonua said he was not one of those who were seeking legal action against TASANOC because of their disqualification before the elections.
Kaniva News has previously reported that 11 members of TASANOC were disqualified before the election, including Sione Fonua, Lord Vaea, Semisi Sika, Emeline Tuita, Timote Katoanga, Ahongalu Fusimalohi, Siosaia Fonua, Michael O’Shanessy, Leafa Wawryk and Paea Wolfgramm.
Emeline was supposed to stand against Lord Sevele in her position as Vice President Finance. When she was disqualified Lord Sevele became the only candidate for the election,
Lord Vaea was re-elected because he was nominated through another position after he was disqualified.
Trust
As Kaniva News reported on June 26, there have been claims that the election was held illegally because it was held with 26 days’ notice instead of the 30 days required by TASANOC’s constitution.
Some of the disqualified members who talked to Kaniva News since the election said TASANOC should have followed its new constitution approved on May 19.
“How can the government trust them if they refuse to uphold their constitution?” one disqualified member said.
“We believe that the constitution is for protection, not convenience.
“We believed that an error was made in good faith in setting the date for the meeting, but it has to be acknowledged as an error and accepted that the only way forward is a fresh notice that complies with the constitution.
He said the election was held with 26 days’ notice instead of the 30 days required by the constitution. It did not matter that a previous meeting approved the meeting.
“Instead of admitting we could count to 30, we just ploughed on and created further breaches of the just approved constitution,” he said.
“It is very important for the national sporting federations to understand the potential consequences of this decision, which is why we sought to correct the error first to avoid the ramifications of a stubborn stance against the Constitution.
“We desired a fair election and one of the benefits of addressing the 30 day notice would have been to call for a new election process which we may or may not have benefited from.
“Instability in TASANOC is a significant issue for Government as a primary financier of Team Tonga to the Pacific Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games and international competitions such as World Cup in Rugby and Rugby League.
“In pursuing further action, the primary purpose is not to be voted in, although we would welcome the opportunity to serve. It is to ensure we follow the Constitution to the letter and make sure the proper processes are carried for the benefit of all, not just a few.”
The main points
- The TASANOC members who were disqualified before the election of new officials last month were right to be unhappy, Tongan New Zealand-based lawyer Sione Fonua said today.
- Fonua said something was not right with TASANOC’s election.
- A total of 11 members of TASANOC were disqualified before the election, including Sione Fonua, Lord Vaea, Semisi Sika, Emeline Tuita, Timote Katoanga, Ahongalu Fusimalohi, Siosaia Fonua, Michael O’Shanessy, Leafa Wawryk and Paea Wolfgramm.
- There have been claims that the election was held illegally because it was held with 24 days’ notice instead of the 30 days required by TASANOC’s constitution.
For more information
TASANOC elections face legal challenge as anti-Pohiva candidates elected to committee
