Tonga’s road to the Pacific Games in 2019 hit another pothole today after with the leaking of letters from Pacific Games Council chair Vidhy Lakhan warning the kingdom could lose the international tournament.
The Nuku’alofa Times reported today that Vidhy Lakhan gave the warning in a letter to a committee chaired by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
The Times said Lakhan told the Audit and Governance Authority, which is headed by Hon. Pohiva, that if its proposal to ask for Lord Sevele’s resignation as chair of the Games’ organising committee went ahead, the Pacific Games Council would start looking at the termination clauses of the host country agreement signed by Tonga.
The Prime Minister’s dissatisfaction with Lord Sevele is of long standing.
Hon. Pohiva wrote to Lord Sevele on December 18 last year demanding his resignation over alleged failings and delays in preparation for the Games.
At the time Lord Sevele denied Hon. Pohiva’s accusations, accusing the government of not acting fast enough to support the planning and wanting to change the way preparations were carried out.
Lakhan said neither the Tongan government nor the Audit and Governance Authority had the right to remove Lord Sevele without consulting the Pacific Games Council first.
At a media conference in Tonga earlier today May 5, Lord Sevele said the government should pull itself together and concentrate on preparing for the Games.
Meanwhile, Lord Tupou, a former President of TASANOC and a member of the Organizing Committee, said the AGA did not have the power to terminate Lord Sevele.
Tonga’s ambitions to host the Games have faced a number of problems, including dissension among those organising the Games and the sheer cost of running an international event.
The government has announced a variety of measures to raise money for the event, including increasing airport taxes and international money transaction fees.
According to a report from consultants Beca International, the kingdom will need to find up to NZ$73.6 million to fund the Games, but the real cost could be more than NZ$100 million.
Beca International said its cost estimates were accurate within a range of minus 15% to plus 40%, which means they might be slightly less, but could be nearly half as much again.
All facilities used in the Games have to meet international standards, particularly those of the International Rugby Board and the International Amateur Athletics association. The main expenditure items are work on the Tonga High School, the rugby sports field and a new golf course.
Work on the Tonga High school site is estimated to cost NZ$30.32 million.
According to the report, NZ$13.67 million will need to be spent on the Teufaiva National Stadium.
The other major cost item is the golf course which will need to be redeveloped to a par 72 facility with clubrooms. Costs are estimated at being between NZ$6.5 and 8.7 million.
The main points
- Tonga’s road to the Pacific Games in 2019 hit another pothole today after with the leaking of letters from Pacific Games Council chair Vidhy Lakhan warning the kingdom could lose the international tournament.
- The Nuku’alofa Times reported today that Vidhy Lakhan gave the warning in a letter to a committee chaired by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
- The Times said Lakhan told the Audit and Governance Authority, which is headed by Hon. Pohiva, that if its proposal to ask for Lord Sevele’s resignation as chair of the Games’ organising committee went ahead, the Pacific Games Council would start looking at the termination clauses of the host country agreement signed by Tonga.
- Pohiva wrote to Lord Sevele on December 18 last year demanding his resignation over alleged failings and delays in preparation for the Games.
For more information
PM waits for advice from department heads after Lord Sevele refuses to resign from Olympic body
Games costs could hit NZ$100 million mark and estimates do not include many items
