The Prime Minister Hon. Lord Fakafanua held today 17th August 2026, a Press Conference with the media at St. George Building. Amanda Vaipulu went to attend, representing Tonga Chronicle. She was told to wait at a room while they check if she is to enter the Press Conference. After a few minutes, she was told that she is being denied access and notification will be send by email tomorrow. This is in addition to 88.1FM People’s Radio’s denying of access to the Prime Minister’s Press Conference last week and still no written nor verbal notification has been received from the Prime Minister’s Office.

NUKU’ALOFA: Hon. Vika Sivoki Lavemaau has been appointed by Hon. Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua as Minister of Finance effective 17^th August 2028. With the inclusion of Hon. Lavemaau, the total number of female representatives in parliament has risen to two and is the second youngest female minister in Tonga’s history.

Hon. Lavemaau has been with the Ministry of Finance as an Economist in 2011 and in 2017, the Economic Advisor to the United Nations. In 2018 she became Prinicpal Economist and Chief Economist. 2023 she served in the Budget Department overlooking the national budget preparations and climate-resilient budgeting intiatives.

The Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) noted her appointment as a major milestone for female representation in Tonga’s parliament. They emphasized that her new role inspires young women to pursue leadership roles.

88.1FM People’s Radio and Tonga Chronicle congratulates you Hon. Vika Sivoki Lavemaau on your new role and we wish you divine guidance as you contribute to the navigation of our Kingdom as such time as this.

88.1FM People’s Radio and the Tonga Chronicle, we extend our warmest congratulations to Hon. Vika Sivoki Lavemaau on your new appointment. We wish you divine guidance as you help lead and navigate the Kingdom in a pivotal time such as this.

NUKU’ALOFA: Kuo kakato e sea ‘e 12 ‘o e kapineti´ ‘o fakatatau mo e Konisitūtone´ ‘aki hono fakanofo ‘a Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka ko e Ministā ki he Ngaahi Ngāue Lalahi´ kā ko e fakafofonga ia e kakai ‘o Tongatapu 1.  Ko e fetongi eni ‘e Hon. Tevita Puloka ‘a Hon. Semisi Sika, hili ia ‘a e mole hono sea´ ‘i Tongatapu 2´. ‘Oku toe fakanofo mo Dr Siale ‘Akauola ke toe foki mai ‘o hoko atu ko e Ministā Mo’ui, ‘o kamata ngāue he ‘aho 17 ‘o ‘Aokosi 2026. Ko e fetongia tu’unga Minisitā eni mo Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, ‘a ia na’e ‘osi fakanofo Minisitā Mo’ui ‘i Sanuali 2026, hili ia ha mahina ‘e 6 kuo toe fetongi. Toe fakanofo mo Hon. Vika Sivoki Lavemaau ko e Minisita Pa’anga fo’ou ‘a ia ko e fetongi ‘aki eni hono tolu ‘i he lakanga Minisita Pa’anga. Ko e ‘uluaki Minisitā Pa’anga´ ko Hon. Tangimana ‘i Faingata’a mei Niua 17, ‘a ia na’e fakanofo Minisitā ia ‘i Sanuali 2026 pea fakafisi ia ‘i Mē 2026 ‘a ia na’e mahina pē 4. Pea hoko atu ai a Lord Fakafanua ko e Minisita Pa’anga ‘o kamata lau mei Sune 2028 ki ‘Aokosi ‘aho 16 2026, fe’unga ia mo e mahina ‘e 3  pea ko ‘aneafi ne fakanofo ai e Minisitā Pa’anga fo’ou ‘o kamata lau mei he ‘aho 17 ‘o ‘Aokosi 2026.

‘I he taimi tatau ‘oku fetongi ‘e Hon. Hu’akavameiliku ‘a Hon. Semisi Sika he ‘Eiki Minisita Takimamata´. 

i he taimi tatau kuo kakato kātoa e lakanga Minisitā ‘e 12 ‘o e Kapineti´ talu ia ‘ene lele ta’e kakato mai mei Sanuali 2026 ki he ‘aho 16 ‘o ‘Aokosi 2026  meimei mahina eni ‘e 7.

‘A ia ‘i he ’ene a’u mai ki he ‘aho ni 17 ‘o ‘Aokosi 2026´, ko e kau Minisitā eni ‘e toko 12 fakakātoa.  ‘A ia ko e toko 9 na’e fili mai ia ‘e he kakai mo e kau nōpele´. Pea ko e toko 3 leva na’e fili mai pē ia ‘e he Palēmia mei tu’a. Fakatatau mo e Konuistūtone´ ‘oku ‘atā ke fili mai ha taha mei tu’a ‘o a’u ki he toko 4 ‘okapau ‘oku ‘ikai ke lava ke ma’u e lelei taha ki he lakanga minisitā´ mei loto mei he fili ‘a e kakai´ ‘i he ngaahi sea ‘e 17 mei he kakai´ mo e sea ‘e 9 mei he kau nopele´.

‘I he ‘ene pehē leva, ko e toko taha pē mei he kau nōpele ‘oku taau mo e lakanga minisitā´, ‘a ia ko e ‘Eiki Palēmia ‘o Tonga pea ‘ikai ha taha ia mei he hou’eiki nōpele ‘e toko 9 ne fili mai ki ha lakanga minisitā´. ‘A ia ko e fakafofonga nopele pē ‘e 1 Ha’apai ‘oku fakanofo minisitā he to’u falealea ‘o e 2026-2029. ‘A ia ko e fakafofonga nōpele ‘o Ha’apai fika ‘uluaki´ ‘a ia ko e lakanga minisitā mo e potifolio ‘oku ne ma’u he taimi ni ‘o kamata lau mei he ‘aho ni.    

1. Lakanga Palēmia ‘o Tonga   

2. Minisita ki he Fakamatala ‘ea, Fetu’utaki, Feliuliuaki e ‘Ea, Ngaahi Fakatamaki Fakaenatula,  pē ko ia ‘oku ‘iloa ko e MEIDECC,   

3. Minisitā ki he kau Polisi 

4 Minisita ki he Tamate Afi 

5 Minisita ki he Pilisone 

6. Minisita ki he PCS pē kau ngāue fakapule’anga

Kau miniista kehe leva:

Tokoni Palēmia Hon. Dr. Viliami Latu:   

1. Minisita Lao mo e  Potungaue Fakamaau’anga, pea toe fakamalumalu leva ai e   Komisiona Tau’i e Faihala, ‘Ateniseniale, kau fakamaau Polisi mo e kau fakamaau lahi   

2. Minisita ngaahi Trade, Innovation, Leipa,Lesisita Ngaahi Pisinisi, Fakafetauaki, mo e Leipa

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku   

1. Ministā Ngaahi Pisinisi e Puleanga   
2. 2 Takimamata

Hon. Viliami Sisifa   

1. Ngoue mo e Vao’akau   

2. Minisitā Toutai

Hon. Fane Fituafe 

1. Minisitā MIA ‘o kau ai e Sipoti, Kakai Fefine, Kau Vaivai, To’utupu

Hon. Seventeen Toumo’ua   

1. Tukuhau mo e Tanaki Pa’anga Hū Mai   2 Customs mo e Vaha’a Fonua

Hon. Dr Taniela Fusimalohi   

1. Minisitā Fonua, Savea, Palani mo e  Ngaahi Koloa Fakanatula

Hon. Dr Mo’ale ‘Otunuku   

1. Minisitā Ako mo e Ako Ngāue   , ‘Univesiti Fakafonua mo e TNQAB 

Tama Pilinisi Kalauni   

1. Potungaue Fakatipilometika moe Ngaahi Ngaue ki Muli   
2. 2 Taumalu’i Fonua a ‘Ene ‘Afio.

Talamonū atu e Letio ‘a e Kakai ki he Hou’eiki Minisitā fo’ou ko eni ‘e 3 kuo fakanofo mo e ngaahi fatongaia fo’ou kuo hilifaki ki ho’o mou uma ‘i hotau pule’anga ni.

NUKU’ALOFA: ‘I he ‘aho 14 ‘Aokosi 2026, na’e fakahoko ai ‘a e Press Conference ‘a e kau CEO ‘o e ngaahi Potungaue Fakapule’anga´ pea mo e ngaahi Kautaha Faiongoongo´ ‘i he St. George Building. Na’e ‘alu ki ai ‘a e faiongoongo’a e 88.1FM Letio ‘a e Kakai´ pea ‘i he ‘ene a’u atu ki he matapā hū ki loto´, na’e ta’ofi atu ia ‘e he tokotaha ngāue security ke ‘oua na’a hū ki loto.   

‘I he fai fononga mai hono fakahoko ‘o e Press Conference pea mo e ‘Eiki Palemia ‘o Tonga´ ‘i he laui ta’u ki mu’a´, ko e fuofua taimi eni ke hoko ai ha fakato’onga pehe ni. Mei he Pule’anga ‘o Hon. Hu’akavameiliku pea ha’u ai ki he Pule’anga ‘o Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Eke, na’e te’eki ha faiongoongo ‘e ta’ofi ke kau atu ki he Press Conference. Ko e fuofua taimi eni ‘i he hisitolia ‘o e Press Conference ‘i Tonga ni´ ke hoko ai ha me’a pehe ni.  

Fakatatau ki he ngaahi a’usia ‘a e 88.1FM Letio ‘a e Kakai´ pea mo e ‘Eiki Palemia Lolotonga´, ko e ngaahi me’a eni kuo nau ‘osi fou mai ai:

A. ‘I Ma’asi 2026, na’e ta’ofi ai ‘a e 88.1FM ke toe ‘alu ange ha taha ‘i he ‘ene kau ngāue mo ha me’afaitā ‘ata mo e lea, ke hiki fakahangatonu ‘a e ngaahi Press Conference. Kā ‘oku faka’ata ‘a e ngaahi lētiō kehe ke nau hū mo ‘enau ngaahi me’afaitaa´ ‘o hiki mo lekooti lolotonga e lele ‘a e Press Conference.

B. Na’e fononga mai ai ‘a e 88.1FM ‘o a’u ki he fakahoko ange ‘e fakahokohoko pē ‘a e fehu’i´ pea ke taki taha pē ‘a e fehu’i. Kā ‘i he lele ‘a e Press Conference, ‘oku taki lahi ‘a e kau faiongoongo kehē ‘i he ngaahi fehu’i.

C. Na’e toe ‘i ai e taimi na’e tu’utu’u ni ai ki he 88.1FM ke ‘oua na’a fai ha fehu’i noa’ia kae. ‘E fakafika ‘a e fakafehu’i ‘o fakatatau ki he ‘uluaki a’u ki he Press Conference pea fakahokohoko ‘aki ia e fetongitongi ‘o e ‘eke fehu’i´. ‘I he ngaahi taimi, ko e fuofua a’u atu ki he Press Conference ko e 88.1FM, ki mu’a pea kamata koe’uhi ke ne ma’u ‘a e fika 1´. Kā ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘oange ki ai ‘a e fika 1. ‘Oku ‘ave ia ki he faiongoongo kehe na’e toki a’u atu.

D. ‘I he ‘ene a’u mai ki Siulai, na’e fakatokanga’i ai ‘oku totongi ‘e he ‘Eiki Palemia ‘a e ngaahi Kautaha Faiongoongo kehe´ ke kau ange ki he ‘ene Press Conference kā ‘oku ‘ikai ke ne fakakau ‘a e 88.1FM ‘i he monu’ia ko eni´.

E. Na’e fakahoko atu ‘e he 88.1FM ‘i Sune ‘a e kole faingamalie ke faka’eke’eke makehe ‘o ia mo e te’eki pe ke ‘i ai ha’ane tali mahino ki ai neongo ‘a e toutou muimui’i atu e tu’unga ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e kole faingamalie ko eni´. Lolotonga ko eni´ ‘oku ne tali ‘e ia ‘a e ngaahi Kautaha Faiongoongo kehe´ ke faka’eke’eke makehe ia.   

F. Ko e fakamuimui eni ‘i he ‘aho 14 ‘Aokosi 2026, ko e ta’ofi ‘e he security ‘i he matapa hu ki loto ‘i he St. George e faiongoongo ‘a e 88.1FM ke kau atu ki he Press Conference.

‘Oku hā ‘o ngali mei he ngaahi a’usia ko eni e 88.1FM ‘a e ‘Eiki Palemia lolotonga´, ‘oku ‘i ai ha filifili mānako ‘i he fakahoko ngāue ‘a e ‘Eiki Palemia´ ki he ngaahi Kautaha Faiongoongo´.  

Hange ‘oku ‘atā ‘a e faiongoongo kehe´ ke faita, fakafehu’i pea fakafehu’i tu’o lahi, totongi pea lava faka’eke’eke makehe ‘o ia, kae fakangatangata ‘a e 88.1FM mei he kotoa ‘o e ngaahi me’a ni.

Ko e totongi ‘o e ngaahi Kautaha Faiongoongo ke kau atu ki he ‘ene Press Conference, ‘oku totongi ia mei he pa’anga totongi tukuhau ‘a e fonua kae ‘ikai ko e pa’anga fakafo’ituitui ‘a ha taha ke pule pē ko hai ‘e totongi, mo hai ‘e ‘ikai totongi. ‘Oku totonu ke potupotu tatau ‘a e tufa ‘o e totongi ko eni´ he ko e pa’anga totongi tukuhau ia ‘a e fonua´.

Ko e ta’ofi ke ‘oua na’a kau atu ki he Press Conference ‘o e Falaite 14 ‘Aokosi 2026, ‘oku ‘ikai ‘oange ha ‘uhinga pea te’eki ke fakahoko ki he 88.1FM ha fa’ahinga fanongongo ta’ofi fakapepa, ke hā ai ‘a e ngaahi makatu’unga´. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha to’onga fakapolofesinale eni ‘i ha fa’ahinga ‘api ngaue pe.

‘I he ngaahi tu’unga ko ia, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e fifili pe ko e ha ‘a e ngaahi makatu’unga? ‘Okapau na’e maumau’i ‘e he 88.1FM ha kupu’i lao, ko e hā ‘a e ngaahi kupu’i lao ko ia´ pea na’e anga fēfē hono maumau’i ‘e he 88.1FM ‘a e ngaahi kupu’i lao ko ia´? ‘Okapau leva na’e ‘ikai ha kupu’i lao na’e maumau’i ‘e he 88.1FM, ko e hā ‘a e makatu’unga ‘o e totonu na’e fakahoko ‘aki ‘a e ta’ofi´?

Tanaki atu ki heni, ‘oku hā ‘o ngali mei he fakato’onga ‘a e pule’i mo hono takiekina ‘o e Press Conference, ‘oku ‘ikai fetaulaki ‘a ‘enau tu’utu’uni ‘oku tala´ pea mo ‘enau pule’i ‘a e tauhi ‘o ‘enau ngaahi tu’utu’uni´. ‘Oku fehu’ia heni ‘a e tu’unga ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e poto’i taukei ngaue ‘o e fakalele ‘o e Press Conference. ‘Oku hā mai ‘oku ‘ikai ke lelei ‘a e tu’unga poto’i taukei ngaue´. ‘I he tu’unga leva ko ia´, ‘oku ne toe fakalahi ‘a e tu’unga fifili´ pē ko e toe hā nai ‘a e ngaahi tafa’aki ‘oku ‘ikai tu’unga lelei ai ‘a e poto’i taukei ngaue?

Ko e faka’osi, ‘i he tu’unga ko eni ‘o hono fakakehekehe’i ‘o e Kautaha Faiongoongo 88.1FM, ko e ha ‘a e makatu’unga? Ko e tupu mei fe ‘a e ngaahi makatu’unga ko ia? Ko e hā ha fa’ahinga fua fatongia ‘a e 88.1FM na’e tō nounou ai ‘i hono tu’unga ko e faiongoongo, ke vahe’i ai ia ki he tafa’aki?

Ko e faiongoongo´, ko e konga ia ‘o e pule’anga kotoa pe ‘oku ne taukave’i ‘a e pule lelei´ mo e ‘ata ki tu’a e fai fatongia ‘o e taki´ – Palemia mo e Pule’anga´. ‘I Fisi mo mamani, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e pateseti makehe mei he tukuhau ‘a e kakai ‘oku ‘ave ki he kau faiongoongo koe’uhi ko honau fatongia ko e kulī le’o ‘o e pule’anga´ ke fakasi’isi’i e faihala´, kākāa moe ta’efaitotonu. Ko e taha ‘o e ngaahi fatongia ‘o e faiongoongo ‘i ha pule’anga fakatemokalati ‘i mamani ko hono monitoa ‘a e fua fatongia ‘a e pule’anga, tuku atu ki he kakai´ ha fa’ahinga faihala pea ‘eke ‘a e ‘ata ki tu’a mo e fakamaau totonu. ‘Oku hoko ‘a e ngaahi Kautaha Faiongoongo´ ko ha fehokotakinga ia ‘i he vaha’a ‘o e pule’anga´ pea mo e kakai ‘o e fonua´, ako’i pea mo faka’ilo ki he kakai´ ‘a e tu’unga ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e fonua´ pea hoko ko e le’o ki he fonua´ ‘i hono siofi ke tauhi ‘a e kau taki´ mo e ngaahi potungaue´ ki he tali ui ki he ngaahi founga fua fatongia ‘oku nau fakahoko´. ‘Oku fakataumu’a kotoa eni ki he lelei fakalukufua ‘a e fonua kotoa pē.   

‘Oku a’u mai eni ki he ‘aho 14 ‘o Akosi 2026´ ‘oku kei talitali atu pē kakai ‘o e fonua´ ki ha tali mei he Pule’anga Tonga´ pea mo e Hou’eiki ‘o e Kapineti  2026´ ke tali mai ange ‘a e fo’i fehu’i mahu’inga ‘aupito ko eni´ ke lava ‘o mea’i mo ‘ilo ki ai e kakai ‘o e fonua´.

‘Oku fu’u mahu’inga ‘aupito eni. Ko e public interest eni he ko e project na’e langa ki he lelei ‘a e kakai ‘o e fonua´ pea mo e mahu’inga ke kei ‘ata ki tua, pea kei mahino ‘oku tonu pea ‘oku ikai ha me’a ‘e uesia ai ‘a e ngaahi langa fakalakalaka kotoa pē ‘oku fai ‘e he pule’anga´, ‘o hoa ngāue ai mo e ngaahi tokoni fakapa’anga mei tu’apule’anga ‘o makatu’unga ‘i he kakai ‘o e fonua´.

Ko e project ‘i Matatoa´ ‘o kau ai e Kautaha Tonga Power Ltd, ko e kautaha ia ‘oku ma’u ‘inasi kakato ai ‘a e Pule’anga Tonga´ mo e kakai ‘o e fonua´. ‘Oku faka’uhinga’i ‘e he Lao ‘a e Pule’anga Tonga´ ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ki he Kakai ‘o Tonga´ Fakalukufua. Ko e Pule’anga´ ‘oku faka’uhingai ia ‘ehe Lao´ ko e Kakai ‘o Tonga´. ‘A ia ‘oku faka’uhinga ia kiate koe mo au.

‘I he fu’u mahu’inga ke lava ‘e he Palēmia ‘o Tonga´ mo e Kapineti´ ke nau tali mai e fehu’i mahu’inga ‘oku ‘eke atu mei he kakai ‘o e

fonua´.

Fakatatau mo e fo’i Project langa fakalakalaka ‘i he Tofi’a ‘o e Tama Tu’i King Tupou VI ‘oku tu’u ‘i Matatoa´:

Ko e Fehu’i mei he Kakai´ ki he ‘Eiki Palemia ‘o Tonga´ pē ko hai e hingoa ‘o e toko taha mei he Kapineti ‘o e 2026 na’e tohi nima loi mo fakamo’oni loi ma’ae Lesoa´ hili hono kaniseli e fo’i sublease ‘e he Kapineti ‘o e 2026?

‘Oku tui e kakai ‘o e fonua´ ‘oku ‘ikai ke tonu mo kakato ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala faka’ofisiale ‘oku ‘osi tuku mai ‘e he ‘Eiki Palemia´ mo ‘ene Kapineti´ ‘o e 2026 ki he ngaahi tōnounou kuo nau fakahoko ‘o maumau ai e foi lisi fakakatoa ‘a e Tonga Power Ltd.

‘I he taimi tatau ‘oku fu’u fiema’u ‘e he kakai ‘o e fonua´ ke nau ‘ilo’i ko e fiha leva ‘a e pa’anga toenga ‘o e nō ‘a e Tonga Power Ltd mei he Pangike ANZ ‘i he ’ene a’u mai ki he ‘aho 14 ‘o ‘Akosi 2026?

‘I he taimi tatau ‘oku toe fie ‘ilo ‘ehe kakai ‘o e Fonua´ pē ko e kaniseli ko eni ‘e he Kapienti ‘o e 2026 ‘a e Sublease foi ‘eka ‘e 2, ko e hā leva e me’a ‘e hoko ki he toenga nō ‘a e Tonga Power Ltd ‘oku kei toe ai e lau miliona ‘oku te’eki ai ke totongi, ‘a ia na’e malu’i ‘aki e fo’i lisi ‘eka ‘e 8 ‘a e Tonga Power Ltd?

Kataki pē Houeiki Kapienti kā ko e ngaahi fehu’i ko eni´ ‘oku kole atu ai e kakai ‘o e fonua´ ke mou tali mai mu’a , he ‘oku ‘i ai ‘enau totonu fakakonusitūtone ke nau ‘ilo ki ai, he ko e pa’anga kotoa pē ‘oku nō mai, pē ha pa’anga tokoni mai , pē ha pa’anga kuo tānaki mai ‘e he TPL pe ha kautaha fakapule’anga, ‘o fakatatau mo e lao´, ‘oku ‘i ai e totonu ‘a e kakai totongi tukuhau kotoa pē ‘i Tonga ni ke nau ‘ilo ki ai? 

Main points from 88.1FM Radio / Tonga Chronicle ‘Talanoa-Program with the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and National Resource’s CEO – Mr. Taaniela Kula:

1. More staff, more equipment, and more funds are needed to improve and expand the staffing and equipment of the Ministry to reduce the coordination timing and waiting time for the people of the country.
2. The Agency spends approximately $6.7 million annually from its budget. The Agency can raise only $1.2 million annually. In this case the cost is higher than the amount of money raised.
3. Protocols and processing procedures has been improved to reduce conflict of records and people disputing to the Ministry, their rights to their lands. There is a need to increase the number of staff and lawyers in the Ministry as there are so many land rights issues, and to make the Ministry’s submissions to Cabinet more clear, accurate and informed.
4. According to the Act, only the Land Court can amend a registered lease. The Minister cannot revoke a lease that has already been registered. The current procedure is that the Ministry submits to the office of the Attorney General and from them to the Court, putting foward that the registration was incorrect together with reasons being. If he agrees to change the registration, then the registration will be amended. All expenses are borne by the Government.    
5. The Ministry carries out its functions, with the CEO reporting to the Minister and the Minister reports to the Prime Minister. All information are released from the Prime Minister’s Office, including information relating to the Fanga’uta Bridge and the NDRMO’s sublease from Tonga Power Ltd.   

1. Articles 84 and 85 of the Land Act remains unchanged. A younger brother who already owns a piece of land cannot claim rights to his deceased eldest brother’s rural or urban allotment. Only a son, grandson or unmarried daughter may apply for such. The 2020 amendment only amends some wording to make it more modern but does not change the Land Act.
2. The Ministry has a Working Committee, which deals with land issues including matters relating to Articles 84-85. The Working Committee is chaired by the Minister and consists of the CEO of the Ministry, the CEO of the PSC, 2 lawyers and the Government’s legal advisor.  
3. The proper procedure for a construction work on a piece of land is :
   • First – Register the land in your name (claimed or lease)
   • Second – Make sure the lease agreement is ready if it is a lease

Only then should construction be carried out. If a house is built on someone else’s land, the house becomes the house of the person to whom the land is registered.

9. Despite all the work and challenges, only Righteousness can make our works succeed. The most important testimony is RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is the key to doing our daily work despite the difficulties and challenges.

10. Mr. Taaniela Kula joined the Department in 1995 as a Cadet Droughtsman. He has worked in various areas within the Ministry including the Geology and Urrban Planning Departments. He became Deputy CEO in May 2012 and on 23rd January 2024, became the CEO.  Since 2012, he has served a total of 4 Ministers, 5 Prime Ministers and 2 Acting Prime Ministers. He holds a Master of Applied Science (MSc) from the University of Sydney and Bachelor of Science (BSc) from the University of the South Pacific. Decades of service within the Ministry have equipped him with a profound wealth of institutional knowledge and technical expertise. This deep-rooted experience now drives his visionary leadership, steering the agency through a highly efficient, data-driven, and technocratic transformation.

This is his 31st year with the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources.

NUKU’ALOFA: The delay in the commencing of the Fanga’uta Bridge construction is on the counting into millions as penalty fee, in accordance with the Agreement signed by the Government of Tonga in September 2025 and ground breaking ceremony by His Majesty the King Tupou VI on 20th October 2025. But we are now in August 2026 and still have not been able to solve pending issues that is costing millions of tax payers money that will be drained to, due to the lack of skills of the country’s leaders in such development projects.

The Prime Minister said at one of the press conference in 2026 that land will soon be settled on both sides of Fanga’uta Lagoon (‘Umusi and Folaha) where the bridge will run and construction will begin.

And in his monthly interview program with Viola Ulakai, CEO of TBC on Tuesday 11 August 2026 on Youtube, he said he had just learned that day, 11 August 2026, that the bridge overlaps to part of Veikune’s land at Longoteme that also needs to be sorted. Their efforts in sorting the land issue this year is slow. He added that he has also just been aware of weak points of this project including the need for a project manager. The post was advertised, interviewed and contracting was being currently processed. Coordination with the project stakeholders are also dragging.

Tonga is quite aware that the Government is carrying out tasks so that the construction can commence. However, we are now in August 2026 – HOW MUCH DO WE NOW OWE McCONNELL DOWELL CONSTRUCTION LTD DUE TO THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT’S LATE IN COMPLETING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION? That is the question. The question is not asking for the amount after negotiations to lower it. The question is asking about the total amount owed now, in August 2026, in accordance with the amount stated on the agreement that the Government of Tonga signed in September 2025.