9 Nov 2017

Pacific Forum observing Tongan election

8:41 pm on 9 November 2017

The Pacific Islands Forum has sent a team of observers to monitor the Tonga election next Thursday.

Dame Meg Taylor was Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum between 2014 and 2021.

Dame Meg Taylor was Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum between 2014 and 2021. Photo: AFP

It is the first time the Forum has sent observers to a Tonga election and follows an invitation from the government.

The team, which is already in Tonga, will observe activities through until the day after the poll.

The secretary general of the Forum, Dame Meg Taylor, said the invitation was a great demonstration of transparency and of Tonga's commitment to democracy and good governance.

The Forum observers will work in conjunction with a team of monitors sent by the Commonwealth.