PLEASE READ AND THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND THE SUMMARY OF FACTS UNDERLYING THIS PETITION BEFORE FREELY EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE YES OR NO.
SUMMARY OF THE PUBLIC PETITION BY THE PEOPLE OF TONGA TO HIS MAJESTY KING TUPOU VI
PURPOSE: Deep Grievances of the Public Regarding the Performance and Execution of Duties by the Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua (Sanuali 2026-‘Akosi 2026)
- VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF TONGA (Clause 10 & Clause 48 of the Constitution; Section of the Land Act; Section 170 of the Criminal Offences Act)
- TPL / MEIDECC Lease at Matatoa:
Violation of Clauses 48 and 10 of the Constitution, Section 130 of the Land Act, and Section 170 of the Criminal Offences Act. This occurred through the execution of documentation by the 2026 Cabinet, wherein they falsely declared themselves as the Lessors, thereby breaching Section 130. They secured a loan from ANZ Bank ($58.1 Million) using the land as collateral, and subsequently lied by stating that no loan had been secured against the land at ANZ Bank. This claim was false, as millions of dollars continue to encumber the land at Matatoa, with approximately $19 million remaining unpaid to ANZ Bank.
- Fanga’uta Bridge Project:
Violation of Clause 109 of the Constitution and Sections 141, 142, and 143 of the Land Act. The Prime Minister abused his authority across his multiple portfolios—as Prime Minister (Government), Acting Minister of Finance, Acting Minister of Lands and Survey, Minister of Police, and Minister of MEIDECC – to unlawfully seize a portion of land beloinging to the Fauolo Family in ‘Umusi. Furthermore, an fraudulent map was drawn, which included a coastal portion of the allotment, conflicting with the original 1947 map of the property.
Lord Fakafanua, acting in his capacity as the Noble Estate Holder, directed the utilization of the Fauolo Family’s subdivided land portion from 2006 for the construction of the Fanga’uta Bridge. This directive was issued despite the fact that Cabinet Decision No. 49 of January 2007, which approved the subdivision, remains valid and has not been cancelled.
Lord Fakafanua, acting in his capacity as the Acting Minister of Lands, he expropriated a land parcel measuring 1 Acre, 1 Rood, and 31 Perches belonging to the second eldest son, Roy Fauolo, without serving the mandatory “Notice of Resumption of Land… by the Minister” to the Fauolo Family. This seizure was executed without any monetary compensation or land exchange.
- Freedom of Speech and Participation in Government Press Conferences as a Legally Licensed Journalist:
Violation of Clauses 7 and 4 of the Constitution through the expulsion and barring of Radio 88.1FM The People’s Radio / Tonga Chronicle from the Government’s Press Conferences, executed under his authority as the Prime Minister of the Government of Tonga. Out of six media organizations, he specifically expelled Radio 88.1FM while allowing the other five to remain. This action breaches the Constitution of Tonga, which dictates that the law must apply equally to all individuals without discrimination. This constitutes a severe infringement on the freedom of the press and the independence of journalists both within Tonga and globally.
B. FINANCIAL LOSS TO THE COUNTRY AND THE TAXPAYERS OF TONGA DUE TO NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW, STEMMING FROM DISCRIMINATORY DECISION-MAKING BY THE PRIME MINISTER:
– Fanga’uta Bridge Project
The nation and the government have incurred late-payment penalties and liabilities due to Lord Fakafanua and his administration’s failure to progress the works previously finalized by successive administrations from 2016–2018 and 2020–2025.
- From October 2025 to August 2026: Liabilities total approximately USD $15.7 million.
- Current Outstanding Late Fees (October 2025 to August 2026): Approximately TOP $31.3 million. This is a direct consequence of project delays and systemic postponements. The Prime Minister altered the pre-approved 2021 bridge alignment—which was originally designed to traverse a 4-acre allotment belonging to the Fauolo Widow —and ordered a redesign to reroute the bridge through the 1 Acre, 1 Rood, and 31 Perches plot previously allocated to the second son, Roy Fauolo. This arbitrary alteration delayed operations, incurring severe financial penalties while awaiting the revised maps and structural redesigns from Japan.
THE SAVINGS OF POSSIBLY $15 MILLION FROM THE VALUE ENGINEERING ASSESSMENT IS NOW ALREADY ABSORBED BY THE MONTHLY PENALTY FEE. The country is now facing daily compounding liabilities alongside a fiscal budget deficit of $38.1 million, demonstrating that the Prime Minister is unfit to lead the Government of Tonga.
- Legislative Assembly Rugby Spectator Tour (2024)
During a 2024 tour by the Office of the Legislative Assembly to watch rugby in New Zealand, public funds were utilized to purchase 26 tickets, yet only 20 individuals travelled. The Auditor General’s Report highlighted that the financial statements for this travel remains incomplete. The Office of the Legislative Assembly responded to this finding stating: “Noted.” This maladministration and financial dishonesty under the Prime Minister’s leadership—coinciding with his tenure as Speaker of Parliament—has resulted in an estimated loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayers’ money.
C. LOSS OF CREDIBILITY OF THE PRIME MINISTER – MISINFORMATION AND DECEPTION OF THE PUBLIC:
- Press Conference Statement (25 June 2026): The Prime Minister claimed that the delay in commencing the Fanga’uta Lagoon Bridge construction was strictly due to two distinct factors:
- The finalized engineering blueprints for the bridge had not yet been delivered.
- There were only two remaining land allotments in ‘Umusi requiring signatures, which would be resolved that very day. He further asserted that land matters on the Folaha side had been fully resolved.
- Fact-Check: The mapping and design process had already been fully completed and finalized since 2021, and remained fully settled under the Eke Administration in 2025. The project was delayed solely because Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua altered the pre-established plans in 2026 to forcibly expropriate Roy Fauolo’s land parcel in ‘Umusi.
- 27 September 2025: The Department of Lands issued a Valuation Report assessing the land portion belonging to the widow (Roy Fauolo’s mother) at $1.2 million.
- 5 November 2025: Katalaine Mo (representing Pacific Capital Industries Ltd) and the Department of Lands executed a formal agreement to surrender 3 Acres, 3 Roods, and 7.6 Perches currently leased out of the Fauolo Family’s tax allotment. This legally binding agreement explicitly accepted the $1.2 million valuation for the property.
- Contradiction: From November 2025 through August 2026, the Prime Minister continued to publicly claim—during his Second Interview with the Kele’a newspaper on August 13, 2026—that the Lessee and the Fauolo Family were demanding $10 million and $12 million, which is entirely false.
- 11 December 2025: A formal Notice of Resumption was issued by the Department of Lands to clear the Widow’s land parcel in ‘Umusi.
This process was completed by the Eke Administration in 2025 in full compliance with Clause 109 of the Constitution, Sections 132, 141–143, and 145 of the Land Act, and the National Spatial Planning and Management Act 2012.
The Fakafanua Administration (2026):
- 28 May 2026: A new map of the Fauolo Family property was drawn, slicing away 1 Acre, 1 Rood, and 31 Perches. The Project Steering Committee was directed to utilize this downsized plot. The delay in the bridge construction is entirely due to Lord Fakafanua altering the acquisition parameters from 3 Acres, 3 Roods, and 7.6 Perches down to 1 Acre, 1 Rood, and 31 Perches, and NOT because the 2025 Government failed to finalize arrangements with the Fauolo family. This has directly burdened the country with late-fee liabilities.
- False Claims Regarding Royal Estates: Falsely denied that Tonga Power Limited (TPL) held a loan at ANZ Bank secured against the Royal Estate.
- False Statements Regarding Contract Signings: Falsely claimed that the “Former Prime Minister” Dr. Aisake Eke signed the civil works contract with McConnell Dowell. He failed to correct this misinformation himself, only doing so in Parliament a month later when formally questioned by Dr. Aisake Eke, at which point the Prime Minister could no longer maintain the falsehood.
D. THE TAX ALLOTMENT “‘API KO TAU” OF THE FAUOLO FAMILY IN ‘UMUSI:
The severe grievances, spanning nearly twenty years, suffered by the Widow Fauolo and her fatherless children—alongside all documentary evidence concerning their land allotment, their historical lineage, and their experience with Lord Fakafanua in his concurrent capacities as Noble Estate Holder, Prime Minister, and Acting Minister of Lands—are hereby submitted to His Majesty the King.
E. PLEDGES MADE DURING THE PRIME MINISTERIAL ELECTION IN TISEMA 2025 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TONGA:
During the December 2025 election, he declared to the Parliament of Tonga that if elected Prime Minister, he would initiate the sale of Tongan sovereign passports, which would permanently resolve the Tongan Government’s future financial deficits. He formally pledged to sell Tongan sovereign passports to generate substantial revenue for the country, and further committed to unifying the Legislative Assembly. To date, the Prime Minister has failed to fulfill any of these explicit pledges. Consequently, his word and any future representations made by him to the nation are deemed completely untrustworthy.
