Lord Ma’afu Tukui’aulahi has resigned as Tonga’s Minister of Lands and Resources as well as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
The Prime Minister has accepted his resignation this afternoon.
The reason behind the resignation was not released.
“I received this afternoon Lord Ma’afutukui’aulahi’s letter of resignation from Cabinet and I have accepted it,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office quoted Hon. ‘Akilisi Pōhiva as saying.
“I will now recommend to His Majesty, King Tupou VI, in accordance with clause 51(3)(a) of our Constitution that because I have received his letter of resignation, that Lord Ma’afutukui’aulahi’s appointment as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources as Minister responsible for His Majesty’s Armed Forces be revoked forthwith”, the statement says.
The Hon Prime Minister said: “I take the opportunity to publicly thank Lord
Ma’afutukui’aulahi for his dedicated service to Cabinet and to His Majesty’s Government”.
The noble’s resignation came after the Minister of Police Māteni Tapueluelu resigned on Tuesday but the Prime Minister, his father-in-law, did not accept it.
Tapueluelu resigned because he believed there was a lack of support from cabinet members over his proposal regarding his power as Minister of Police given by the constitution.
