Tonga is drafting a landmark Whistleblower Protection Bill designed to empower civil servants to report corruption and abuse of power without fear of retaliation, Prime Minister Eke announced last week.
The proposed legislation, currently in development, would legally shield government employees who expose misconduct by superiors or colleagues.
“Many civil servants witness potential wrongdoing but remain silent out of fear,” the Prime Minister said in Tongan.
“This bill will give them the confidence to speak up—because corruption can only be stopped if it is first exposed.”
The Prime Minister said the law aims to change the Tongan culture of longo, or the culture of silence, in which individuals fear embarrassment or repercussions for speaking out.
“They must speak openly when they see something wrong, so we can take immediate action.”
While no implementation timeline was provided, he confirmed the draft is being prioritised amid growing calls for government accountability.
If passed, Tonga would join Pacific neighbours like Fiji and Samoa in establishing formal whistleblower protections. Transparency International has long advocated for such measures in the region, where fear of reprisal often silences corruption witnesses.
The bill comes as Tonga’s Public Service Commission investigates several undisclosed allegations of official misconduct.
Authorities say the new protections could help uncover systemic issues while safeguarding those who risk their careers to expose them.
