An angry outburst from Minister of Police Piveni Piukala nearly escalated into a physical confrontation with former Cabinet Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu during a press briefing yesterday—forcing Deputy Prime Minister Dr Taniela Fusimālohi to step in.
Voices grew louder as speakers interrupted one another, exchanging sharp words during the livestreamed press conference.
This latest incident comes more than two months after Piukala was involved in a physical altercation in Parliament with Lord Tuʻilakepa, Chair of the Whole House Committee.
Prime Minister Dr ʻAisake Eke later confirmed he had issued a formal warning to Piukala and given him a final chance to remain in Cabinet.
Lavulavu maintained that the solution to the ongoing issues with Lulutai Airlines was not to continue injecting funds into it, but to shut it down entirely.
“To be honest, that’s not the answer—just declare it bankrupt and start another one,” he said in Tongan.
Addressing Cabinet Ministers at the press conference, Lavulavu argued that the government could not revive the airline unless, as he implied, domestic services were operated by a private company from overseas.
He claimed that Lulutai’s survival depended solely on its services to Vavaʻu, not to other outer islands.
“You have to listen to us from Vavaʻu,” he said.
“You can’t make decisions here in Tongatapu that could cause us to suffer.”
Airline Decisions Under Fire
He was then cut off by Piukala, who, visibly angered, abruptly returned to the podium after having just left it, and challenged Lavulavu over his comments.
Piukala blamed the airline’s problems on a former administration, in which Lavulavu served as a minister. Lavulavu denied any involvement, but Piukala insisted otherwise.
The Minister of Police responded, saying the Deputy Prime Minister—who chaired the press conference—had clarified that the airline’s problems stemmed from poor decisions made in the past.
Directing his remarks at Lavulavu, Piukala said that if he were in Lavulavu’s position, he would be embarrassed to speak on the issue.
“You are the ones, when you were in government, who initiated what we are now facing as problems,” Piukala said.
Lavulavu responded and told Piukala it was the former government before them but Piukala insisted it was them.
“You have been in a state of disarray in this company,” Piukala told Lavulavu.
Lavulavu responded and offered an apology, but Piukala raised his voice and said, “You initiated the airline, yet you never knew anything about how to operate it.”
Lavulavu replied in a similarly firm tone, telling Piukala he was wrong and should refrain from twisting the truth.
Piukala then accused Lavulavu of using the livestreamed press conference as a platform to campaign for the upcoming general election, in which he is a candidate.
“You made the wrong decision,” Lavulavu fired back, referring to Piukala’s role as Minister of Public Enterprises in making decisions about Lulutai Airlines.
Fusimālohi intervened and called for order.
