Pacific Games Council's response to the Tongan Government's move to terminate Lord Sevele's Contract Featured
Tongan Participants at the South Pacific Games, Port Moresby 2015.
31 May 2016. The Pacific Games Council (PGC) does not recognise the actions taken last week to remove the CEO/Chairman of the Tonga 2019 Pacific Games Organising Committee (TPGOC)
In accordance with the PGC Constitution ( Protocol 2), the 2019 Games Host Contract (Clause 1.6), signed by the Tongan Government on 19th October, 2012 (when TASANOC won the right to host the 2019 Pacific Games) and Tonga's own Pacific Games Organisation Act 2013 (Section 9 ) (which was approved by the Tongan Parliament), the powers of hiring and removing members of the TPGOC resides with the TPGOC, the PGC.s member association in TONGA which is TASANOC and the PGC itself. Such powers are not the remit of the Audit & Governance Authority or any other party.
Article 4 of the Pacific Games Council Constitution states that the "Responsibility for the direction and control of the Pacific Games is vested in the Council. The Council is the supreme and decisive authority in all matters concerning the Pacific Games. Any person or organisation belonging or having any relationship with, in any capacity whatsoever to the Council shall be bound by the provision of the Council Charter, and shall abide by the decisions of the Council".
In relation to this matter Article 4 has been invoked and the move to vacate the TPGOC CEO/Chairman's position is thus null and void.
TASANOC will be holding fresh elections on 16th June, and we will work closely with the incoming Executive Committee of TASANOC to ensure all stakeholders fully understand their individual roles and responsibilities and more importantly deliver on their commitments in a timely manner to ensure a successful 2019 Tonga Pacific Games.
Vidhya Lakhan
President, Pacific Games Council
