The Members of Parliament have poured cold water on the idea of bringing back the Pacific Games 2019 to the kingdom after the House voted against the motion by 12 – 9.
The motion by the nobles supported by some independent MPs was signed and submitted to the House by MP Lord Nuku and MP Viliami Manuopangai.
The Parliament has also rejected two petitions that had been submitted to support the idea of keeping the Games in Tonga.
One was a petition to the king organised by TASANOC and the other was presented by residents of Kolomotu’a constituency.
But they were both thrown out this morning following fierce debates in the Legislative Assembly between some of the government ministers and the nobles.
Tonga had decided to cancel hosting the Games last month four years after a former government successfully bid for the host in Wallis in 2012.
The Pohiva government said it was not ready to host the Games and it has other priorities for the nation.
