Pacific Games Organizing Committee and the Prime Minister ^Featured

28 January, 2016

Pesi Fonua

Editor
Matangi Tonga "Online"
Cnr Holomui & Railway Road
NUKU'ALOFA

Dear Editor

Pacific Games Organizing Committee and the Prime Minister

I  refer to your article this morning entitled PM and Lord Sevele at odds over hosting Pacific Games, and wish to make a few statements of facts and corrections.

The Hon. Fe'ao Vakata  is absolutely correct in saying that the Organizing Committee, chaired by Lord Sevele,  is not only the official Organizing Committee of the 2019 Pacific Games, but is the Committee established by an Act of Parliament. The Pacific Games Organization Act 2013 (Act No.2  of 2013) is entitled:

AN ACT  TO ESTABLISH  A STATUTORY  AUTHORITY  INDEPENDENT   OF GOVERNMENT TO ORGANIZE, OVERSEE AND CONDUCT THE SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES IN TONGA IN 2019 AND GENERALLY PROVIDED FOR THE GOOD ORGANIZATION OF THOSE GAMES

The Organizing  Committee, under its statutory powers pursuant  to the above Act, appointed Lord Sevele as its CEO and Chairman. It is also the Organizing Committee which  has the soJe statutory authority over the termination of Lord Sevele's appointment.

In response  to the PM's demand  for his resignation, the Committee unanimously voted for Lord Sevele to disregard  the PM's demand as Lord Sevele, the Committee and the staff had done a lot of work towards fulfilling their mandates.

The Organizing  Committee  membership  include well-known and well-respected  Tongans who have made and are making  important contributions to Tonga  in various  fields,  including sports  and sports administration,  and are placed better to appreciate the work of Lord Sevele and his staff of 2 for the first 18 months of their tenure: Lord Tupou,  Hon Tupou  'Ahome'e Tuita  Fa'upula,  Loukinikini  'Ahio, Semisi  Sika MP, Ross Chapman, Fakahau Valu, Paea Wolfgram  (former Olympian), Andrew Minogue (Rep, Pacific Games  Council),  and CEO's of 5 Ministries, including the Prime  Minister's own Chief Secretary and Secretary  to Cabinet.

On the allegations  of mismanagement  of NZ Aid funds for the Teufaiva Stadium Upgrade, this is a blatant untruth and misuse of written information by the PM, as, surely,  it cannot be through a Jack of understanding  of simple English sentences,  The letter from the NZ High Commission  to the Government  of Tonga  states:

"Of New Zealand's  overall  NZD$  2 million  commitment  to the Teufaiva  Stadium upgrade, NZD $1.898  million remains.  This is the balance after a deduction of NZD$ 102, 000 what we have provided in full to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning for the Stadium Upgrade Design and Games Venue Master Plan".

How the PM interprets the above as there being a shortage or missing funds to the tune of NZD$98,304.16 is a PUZZLE which only the PM can explain. It should  be clearly stated that the Organizing  Committee  has never handled  any of these  funds -  only the NZ High Commission and the Ministry of Finance and National  Planning.

The only funds that have been secured for the Games  are the above mentioned NZD 2million from the NZ Government,  negotiated by Lord Sevele, and the TOP 33 million  grant- aid from the Chinese Government for the Tonga  High School  Sports  Complex  -  a project negotiated and approved during Lord Sevele's time as PM, a visionary foresight of His Late Majesty King George Tupou V.

All the preliminary works for the Teufaiva  Stadium Upgrade Project have been ready for months, but the Prime Minister has not done his part in funding the necessary funding.  This is what delaying the start of the project.

By this statement, as a sportsperson,  a sports administrator and a patriotic Tongan,  I am appealing to the Prime Minister to stand aside and concentrate on his due role of acquiring funds for the facilities, and allow us in the Organizing Committee, the Audit and Governance Authority and Government Facilities Committee to get on with the preparations for the Games.  They are progressing well. This is a National Project, not to be treated as a personal and political football.

Malo.

Takitoa Taumoepeau

Ex-Officio Member of the 2019 Pacific Games orgnizing Committee
Director of Venue, Organizing Committee
Secretary General, TASANOC