The Prime Minister’s Office has denied that the government was planning a taxpayer-funded Hū Louifi ceremony to seek forgiveness from King Tupou VI, responding shortly after Kaniva News published the allegations last night.
Before publication, Kaniva News asked Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua on Monday 24 to confirm whether the ceremony was being planned and, if so, explain why it was considered necessary.
No response had been received by the time the story was published. The report therefore clearly stated that the allegations had not been independently verified and that Lord Fakafanua had not responded to questions.
Shortly after the article appeared online on Thursday 26, the Prime Minister’s Office responded and said there was no planned Hū Louifi to the King.
Its response denies the central allegation contained in the original report.
Alleged cultural presentations
Information obtained by Kaniva News had alleged that the proposed ceremony would include a TOP$30,000 cash envelope, a pig valued at TOP$5,000, Tongan handicrafts worth TOP$9,000, yams costing TOP$3,000 and kava toho valued at TOP$3,000.
Together, the alleged presentations would have cost at least TOP$50,000. It had also been alleged that they would be funded with taxpayers’ money.
Those allegations were not independently verified and have now been denied by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The response did not explain the origin of the information or indicate whether any informal discussion about such a ceremony had taken place. However, it stated clearly that no Hū Louifi was planned.
Allegation linked to Matatoa
The alleged ceremony had been linked to the controversy surrounding royal land at Matatoa, which had originally been leased to the government for a specific purpose before being subleased under a previous administration.
Reports indicated that His Majesty was dissatisfied with aspects of the arrangement.
Lord Fakafanua previously said the documented transaction did not appear to be illegal. However, he expressed the view that the government responsible for the sublease should have informed the King because the land had originally been leased for a different purpose.
It was subsequently alleged that this position had prompted the Fakafanua government to consider seeking the King’s forgiveness through a formal Hū Louifi. The Prime Minister’s Office has now denied that any such ceremony is planned.
Response follows publication
A Hū Louifi is a highly formal Tongan ceremony through which participants demonstrate profound humility and remorse while seeking forgiveness from an aggrieved person.
In matters involving the monarch, participants traditionally approach the King in a deliberately humble manner and may offer cultural presentations as part of the apology.
The denial was received only after the original report had been published, despite Kaniva News seeking comment beforehand.
The Prime Minister’s Office’s response has now been reported to provide the government’s position and update readers on the allegations.
