22 Dec 2010

New Tonga PM sworn in

9:46 pm on 22 December 2010

Tonga's new prime minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, has been sworn in in a ceremony at the private residence of King George Tupou the 5th.

Lord Tu'ivakano is expected to make a national address tomorrow after meeting the heads of government departments this afternoon.

Radio Tonga reports that before the swearing-in the outgoing prime minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, formally ended his role.

He expressed his gratitude for the support he'd got from his deputy prime minister and his cabinet, government officials and the people of Tonga.

Dr Sevele told reporters, that despite the worldwide economic downturn, he was happy his government had been able to maintain core services and civil servants weren't made redundant.