Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva has vehemently denied reports that his government has hired former Finance Minister Dr. ʻAisake Eke to assist the treasury in creating its budget for the 2017-2018 financial year.
Hon. Pohiva sacked Dr Eke after he abstained in last month’s vote of no confidence.
“We cannot hire ʻAisake Eke as a consultant while he is a Member of Parliament representing the people,” he told a media conference in Nuku’alofa this afternoon.
“That is not how the policy works.”
Hon. Pohiva’s response was prerecorded and later broadcast by radio FM 87.5 through Tonga Daily News website this afternoon.
The Prime Minister implied that the allegation, which appeared to have been first broadcasted by the Tonga Broadcasting Commissionʻs radio, stemmed from comments by Minister of Finance Hon, Tevita Lavemaau about Dr Eke’s role with the Parliamentary Finance committee.
The Prime Minister said Dr. Eke was still a member of the finance committee and still had a responsibility to comment on the budget.
“If we hire some one as a consultant it has to be someone from outside and not a Member of Parliament,” Hon. Pohiva said.
The Prime Minister said it appeared Hon. Lavemaau was not prepared to talk about the issue when he was questioned and as a result his statement was open to interpretation.
Nepituno webpage said the Tonga Broadcasting Commission had reported that Dr. Eke had been hired by the government as a “special consultant”.
Radio Australia reported yesterday that “Tonga’s sacked former Finance Minister has been asked to help prepare the national budget as a consultant.”
The main points
- Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva has vehemently denied reports that his government has hired former Finance Minister Dr. ʻAisake Eke to assist the treasury in creating its budget for the 2017-2018 financial year.
- Pohiva sacked Dr. Eke after he abstained in last month’s vote of no confidence.
- “We cannot hire ʻAisake Eke as a consultant while he is a Member of Parliament representing the people,” he told a media conference in Nuku’alofa this afternoon.
- “That is not how the policy works.”
For more information
Eke “shocked” by PM’s claims, but says he has no choice but to resign
