30 Dec 2014

New PM of Tonga touted as 'facilitator'

7:21 am on 30 December 2014

A prominent publisher with links to the Democratic Party in Tonga says the new Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva's trademark will be his delegation and facilitation skills.

The party leader won a vote of representatives by 15 to 11 to defeat former deputy prime minister Samiu Vaipulu in a secret ballot.

Kalafi Moala says Mr Pohiva wants to be seen as a facilitator in government.

"He has always been advocating good governance and that Tonga's big problem is not so much the lack of resources but the good management of those resources. He has always believed that you need to have a good political framework before you start doing economic and social development."

Kalafi Moala.