The Prime Minister said he was happy with Tonga Broadcasting Commission review process and he expected appointing a chief executive officer that was impartial.
He said he wanted a new boss that was independent in the way the national broadcaster reported on him and his government.
Hon. Pōhiva was smiling while responded to a question from Kaniva News asking what type of a CEO he was expecting to become the head of the Radio and Television Tonga.
He said the feud was over. In Tongan he said: “‘Osi ia kai toe fai ha lau ia ki ai (mo ne malimali pe)”.
Pōhiva said ‘Ahongalu Fusimālohi has been appointed as the new TBC Board chair and he trusted him to review the broadcaster for better.
The TBC former general manager Nanisē Fifita has been dismissed by board after it received a letter from the Minister of Public Enterprises saying the move to automatically renew her contract without seeking his consent was unlawful and therefore the renewal was void.
Fifita has taken legal action against Government over her dismissal and termination of her renewed contract as CEO on 1 May.
An application for leave for a judicial body to review Fifita’s termination of her employment contract had been granted by the Supreme Court on May 19.
The application has implicated the Minister of Public Enterprises and Tonga Broadcasting Commission in Fifita’s dismissal.
Fifita and her lawyer were hopeful the Supreme court would grant an injunction against the defendants in 2 June.
For more information:
Pohiva declares war on TBC, declares it an obstacle and constraint on gov’t
