NUKU’ALOFA: A widow has reached out to Tonga Chronicle and 88.1FM People’s Radio after hitting brick walls for almost 2 decades concerning her late husband’s 1 acre land that was surrendered to her 2nd son in 2006.
The landowner, Selevasio Fauola now deceased, surrendered a 1a, ir, 31p of his tax allotment at ‘Umusi to his 2nd son Roy Salakielu Fauola. After this 1a surrender, there is a 5a left to which his wife is now being held by the widow. The surrendered letter dating 7th September 2006 reads as follows:
‘Aho 7 Sepitema 2006
EIKI MINISTA
RE: KOLE KE MOMOI KELEKELE
‘Oku ou faka’apa’apa mo kole atu heni keke anga’ofa mu’a mo e hou’eiki kapineti ‘o tali ke tofi’i ange a e 1a 1r 31p mei hoku ‘api tukuhau ‘oku tuu i ma’ufanga ma’a hoko foha fika 2 ko Roy Salakielu Fauola.
Ko hoku ‘api tukuhau ‘oku konga 2, ‘a ia ko e 1a ir 31p, ‘a ia ko e 5a or 36p ‘oku tu’u ai e Blue Pacific pea ko e konga hono 2 ko e 1a ir 31p ‘oku lele fakaloloa pe he tafaki ‘o e api oku tu’u ai ‘a e Blue Pacific mei hala ki tahi, ‘a ia ko e konga ia ‘oku ou momoi ma’a hoko foha fika 2.
Kataki fakatokanga’i ange ‘oku ou fu’u fiema’u ke tofii fakaloloa mei he hala ‘o hifo ki tahi ‘a e konga ‘oku momoi.
‘Oku ou ‘oatu fakataha mo ‘eku tohi ni ‘a e fakaha loto mo e poupou mei hoku foha ‘ea Major Tu’ifaletahi Fauola ki he momoi ‘oku fai heni.
Faka’apa’apa atu
Selevasio Fauolo
His wife Mesia Fauola was the witness. The Minister of Land of the day was Lord Tuita. He accepted the application. On the 10th January 2007, Cabinet approved the application under Cabinet decision No. 49. Since 2007 to todate Lord Fakafanua, the estate holder, has not signed. According to Roy Fauola and the widow, every year they travel back to Tonga, they keep trying to reach Lord Fakafanua to sign on the deed with no success.
When the Fanga’uta Bridge was said that it would run from Folaha to ‘Umusi, they were informed that the bridge would need the 5a for the bridge connecting to ‘Umusi. They then had an understanding with ‘Aisake Eke’s government that the bridge would be connected through the 5acre. The Tenancy Agreement showed that the heir, Major Tauifaletahi Fauolo and the CEO of the Ministry of Lands had signed on the 5acre for the bridge.
“We then here, continued again to reach Lord Fakafanua for his signature where he kept lying to us”, said the widow. She said that ever since the passing of her husband, it has been much more difficult to reach Lord Fakafanua.
Last year, the widow in her efforts, reached out to the King’s secretary and sorted assistance to the Queen regarding this matter. The Queen accepted this and she had given direction for this to be carried out. This year, the widow traveled to Tonga and has been here for months trying to reach Lord Fakafanua and was still unable to see or speak with him and was consistently told that he was busy.
“I hired a lawyer and even the lawyer gave up from being given the same answers. I then thought of reaching out to the People’s Radio and ask Lavulavu to help me”, said the widow.
According to the widow, she went to the Ministry of Land’s office and one of the workers there told her to look at the map, it has been changed by the mapping people of the Ministry in February 2026. It shows that the new map that the bridge has been moved from the 5acre to the 1acre surrendered to the 2nd son.
“I was so surprised when I was told by the employee of the ministry that the bridge has been changed by the Prime Minister to the 1 acre surrenderd to Roy”, said the widow.
Showing below is the original map and the February 2026 remapping of the land to cater for the bridge. The widow and her sons were not informed of this change. The 1 acre surrendered has been claimed by the estate holder, Lord Fakafanua, therefore the bridge compensation will be paid to the estate holder. The Ministry of Lands office informed the widow that this was conducted under the direction of the Prime Minister himself. Devasted, the widow hired an independent surveyor to survey anew the land.
The widow and her sons are devasted with the way they have been dealt with and the widow is everywhere seeking help as the estate holder, Lord Fakafanua has not receive her as an audience for almost 2 decades now. Lord Fakafanua is the Acting Minister whenever the Minister of Lands and Survey, Hon. Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi, travels.
