Tonga’s king sacks his

finance minister

Tonga’s Finance Minister Mahe Tupouniua has been sacked by King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV because of the minister’s refusal to provide extra public funds for the king’s travels.

The king’s move has caused a sensation, and two other top finance men have resigned.

Tupouniua’s sacking (officially, the king asked him to resign, and he did so) followed the king’s request for travel funds over and above those budgeted for.

Tupouniua replied in writ ing that public funds were low and near to dry, and that extra travel funds had no priority.

The king made the request twice and got the same answer before calling for Tupouniua’s resignation.

Mahe Tupouniua, a com moner married to the queen’s sister, is highly regarded in the Pacific. As director of the

South Pacific Bureau of

Economic Co-operation

(SPEC), he proved a com petent, straight-shooting ad ministrator. On retiring from the SPEC post two years ago, he returned to Tonga, having been told he was required at home.

The king’s decision will have important political re percussions in Tonga, es pecially in the post-cyclone conditions of today.

Some observers believe that Tupouniua’s resignation could prove a blessing in disguise for SPEC. It could offer the organisation a chance to get him back as director, following the death in office of his successor, Dr Gabriel Gris, of Papua New Guinea. Dr Gris died sud denly at a meeting in Raro tonga in March. (See ‘Deaths of Islands People’.) Cecil Cocker has been appointed Tonga’s acting

minister of finance.

-Arthur

Blackstock.