A Facebook comment by Viliame Takayawa, based on information he reportedly received from a relative in Tonga, has drawn serious concern from Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
Takayawa, who serves as General Secretary of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), has publicly apologised but characterised Rabuka’s threat to remove SODELPA from the governing coalition as an overreaction to what he described as merely a personal social media post, Fijilive reported.
The controversy emerged following a Fijian delegation’s visit to Tonga last week, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Hon. Manoa Kamikamica. The delegation aimed to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the two nations.
While Fijian media reports did not detail Takayawa’s specific comments, the visit was regarded as successful.
Tonga’s Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Kapelieli Lanumata, said Tonga has much to learn from Fiji’s rapid economic advancement.
He noted that Tonga has remained largely dependent on primary sector production, while there is an urgent need to develop secondary industries and manufacturing capabilities.
This meeting complements regional economic integration efforts, mirroring the recent focus of the PACER Plus trade ministers on boosting cross-border trade, investment, and cooperation.
Discussions focused on enhancing private sector collaboration, revisiting trade frameworks like the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), and exploring new bilateral agreements aligned with national interests and emerging economic opportunities.
Key areas identified for collaboration include tourism, aviation connectivity, foreign investment, and labour mobility.
