Nuku’alofa, Tonga—Deputy Prime Minister Dr Taniela Fusimālohi has issued a sharp warning to journalists, urging them to verify facts before reporting.
This follows criticism of an FM87.5 radio program hosted by Siaosi Lavaka and featuring New Zealand-based Tongan lawyer Nalesoni Tupou.
According to Fusimālohi, the controversy arose after Tupou allegedly claimed that the government acted illegally when it terminated contracts of the former Board of Directors of the government.
Fusimālohi strongly refuted the claim during a press conference in Nuku’alofa this afternoon, stating that the termination was “nothing wrong.”
He claimed that the caretaker government had wrongly renewed the contracts, as it was legally prohibited from making decisions that could result in such “financial commitments.”
The Deputy PM went further, suggesting that the radio program should be shut down, after accusing it of spreading misinformation that could mislead the public.
Katalina Tohi, owner of FM87.5, challenged Fusimālohi regarding the contract terminations. She warned that similar situations had occurred previously when the government made decisions that resulted in court cases in which the government was ultimately fined.
However, the Prime Minister stepped in, clarifying that a caretaker government, according to the law, was not in a position to make decisions that should have been left for the upcoming government.
It is understood that the Board of Directors’ contracts were supposed to end in March 2025, but the caretaker government renewed them around December 2024.
The government has not indicated whether it will take formal action against the station, but Fusimālohi’s remarks signal a hardening stance against what officials perceive as irresponsible journalism.
This latest clash highlights ongoing tensions between the Tongan government and media over reporting standards and legal interpretations.
The Minister of Public Enterprises Piveni Piukala has accused local journalists of reckless reporting regarding allegations about the review of government boards.
He said that none of them had actually approached him with questions to verify the facts surrounding the issue.
