The Speaker of Tonga’s Legislative Assembly, Lord Vaea, has raised concerns over the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Taniela Fusimālohi, travelling overseas while yet to take his oath as a Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament — the second time the Minister has missed the opportunity to be sworn in due to official travel.
Two Members of Parliament who had not yet taken their oaths—Nobles’ Representative for Tongatapu 3 Lord Tuʻivakanō and People’s MP for Tongatapu 7 Piveni Piukala—were sworn in on Monday.
The Speaker’s remarks revive debate over the Ministry for Land’s overseas travel practices, which have previously attracted public criticism.
A 2024 government-led global consultation tour by the Ministry was widely criticised as costly, with some questioning whether such trips deliver meaningful results or place unnecessary strain on public resources.
Lord Vaea said he would consider strengthening the law to prevent MPs from failing to take their oath as required.
The Speaker’s concerns emerged on the opening day of Parliament’s new session, during which Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua was to present the government’s Budget Estimates.
While it appears Minister Fusimālohi had been formally excused to travel, the Speaker indicated that the situation raised questions about judgement and prioritisation.
He noted that the Minister and the Prime Minister should have been aware of the importance of taking his oath at the earliest possible opportunity, particularly with Parliament now in session.
This is the second occasion the Minister has been unavailable for the oath ceremony due to overseas commitments, a detail that has amplified parliamentary concern and public scrutiny.
Under Tonga’s Constitution, Members of Parliament and Ministers must take the prescribed oath before carrying out their official functions in the House. Although administrative allowances can be made for travel, the expectation remains that newly appointed ministers complete this requirement promptly to ensure full compliance with constitutional processes.
Renewed scrutiny of ministry travel
Minister Fusimālohi is currently conducting meetings with Tongans in Australia to discuss and address land matters and related needs in Tonga.
In January 2024, the former Minister of Lands Lord Tu’i’āfitu came under fire after leading a government delegation on a global tour to consult Tongans living abroad through the Toe Talatalanoa Overseas Programme.
The initiative, which included visits to Australia, the United States and New Zealand, was criticised by some as an unnecessary expense at a time when domestic service delivery concerns remained unresolved.
Critics alleged the programme reflected a pattern of “globe‑trotting” by government officials, with questions raised about the use of travel allowances and the tangible outcomes of such trips. The Ministry had previously conducted a similar exercise in the 2010s, yet concerns persisted that recommendations from those engagements had not been meaningfully implemented.
Public dissatisfaction with the Ministry has also been longstanding, particularly in relation to land administration delays and disputes.
Complaints from applicants over processing backlogs and the unavailability of senior officials have contributed to a perception that core services are frequently disrupted — sometimes coinciding with overseas travel.
