Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva says his government may withdraw all funding to TASANOC for Pacific Games preparations.

The announcement follows TASANOC’s re-election of Lord Sevele as vice president finance.

Pohiva said his government stood by its decision two months ago to terminate Lord Sevele’s office as Chairman and CEO of the Pacific Organising Committee.

He said the decision was made after the Government Facility Committee (GFC) took over the majority of the Pacific Game’s Organising Committee.

A government statement described the role of GFC as having inherited more than 60 percent of the responsibilities of the Organising Committee.

Last month new officials for TASANOC were elected on a four-year term contract. They were:

President: Lord Tupou

Vice President-Finance: Lord Sevele

Members:

1.‘Amanaki Fakakovikaetau

2.Michael Bloomfield

3.Lord Vaea

4.Viola Ulakai

5.Sione Taumoepeau

The election was attended by Vidhya Lakhan, President of the Pacific Games Council (PGC) who was appointed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) as its representative.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva says his government may withdraw all funding to TASANOC for Pacific Games preparations.
  • The announcement follows TASANOC’s re-election of Lord Sevele as vice president finance.
  • Pohiva said his government stood by its decision to terminate Lord Sevele’s role as Chairman and CEO of the Pacific Organising Committee.

For more information

TASANOC elections face legal challenge as anti-Pohiva candidates elected to committee