Tonga Prime Minister Akilisi Pōhiva is firm on his decision and that is to withdraw from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games.

Pohiva met with the Pacific Games Council (PGC) president Vidhya Lakhan and chief executive Andrew Minogue Tuesday and yesterday as part of the PGC’s resolution to make one last attempt to keep the 2019 Pacific Games in Tonga.

In a statement sent out by Minogue yesterday stating that the Tonga Prime Minister stated that the Cabinet’s decision for Tonga to withdraw was final.

“The Prime Minister said the Government wished to focus its resources on other more important areas of economic development and that sport was not an urgent priority for the Government.

“The PGC expressed its disappointment in not being consulted before the decision was taken and in the Government’s unwillingness to negotiate a solution for whatever financial concerns it had,” Minogue said.

The Pacific Games Council would take legal action against Tonga for a breach of contract.

“The Prime Minister was reminded that the Government is a party to a legally binding contract and that in unilaterally withdrawing from hosting the Games, the PGC would seek legal advice with a view to formally terminating the Host Agreement and to seek damages for breach of contract,” he added.

The PGC Executive Board has previously advised its members that it has put contingency plans in place for the process of selecting an alternative host nation quickly in the event that matters with the Tongan Government are not fully resolved by June 30.

The Executive Board will now consider expediting this process further.

Edited by Osea Bola

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