13rd April, 2018 The Prime Minister, Hon Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, today revealed in a media conference at St George Building that he had dismissed Mrs.’Akosita Havili Lavulavu, the Minister for Internal Affairs, from Cabinet effective from 11 April 2018.
The Hon Prime Minister said, “Yesterday, I wrote to His Majesty, King Tupou VI, recommending that the appointment of Mrs. ‘Akosita Havili Lavulavu, as Minister for Internal Affairs, be revoked as from 11 April 2018 pursuant to clause 51(3)(a) of the Constitution”.
On 3 March, Tonga Police had arrested Mrs ‘Akosita Havili Lavulavu, and her husband, Mr. ‘Etuate Sungalu Lavulavu and charged them with three counts of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to section 164 of the Criminal Offences Act and three counts of knowingly dealing with forged documents, contrary to section 172 of the Criminal Offences Act. Their case had been adjourned by the Magistrate’s Court until 28 May.
The Hon Prime Minister said, “I had several one-on-one meetings with Mrs. Lavulavu in which I tried to persuade her to voluntarily resign from Cabinet because of the criminal charges but she refused. Cabinet had also discussed the issue several times, and the rest of the Cabinet Ministers supported my request that she should have resigned voluntarily. But she refused. So that left me no choice but to request His Majesty to revoke her appointment”.
The Hon Prime Minister also said, “It was very difficult decision to make but in the end I had to do it so as to protect the integrity and the reputation of His Majesty’s Government”.
ENDS
Issued by the: The Prime Minister’s Office, P.O. Box 62, Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Tel: (676) 24 644 Fax: (676) 23 888; For media enquiries- Email: pressoffice@pmo.gov.to Website: www.pmo.gov.to