Tonga's Constitution and the Changing State

Abstract

Tonga is the only South Pacific nation to have remained independent and stable since the mid-19th century, but signs of change are emerging. Criticism of government began after reform of the taxation system in 1986, when probing questions were asked about the way in which parliamentarians had paid themselves exorbitant overtime allowance. A leader of the active group of critics, 'Akilisi Pohiva, was elected to parliament in the 1987 general election and subsequently won damages from the government for wrongful arbitrary dismissal from his public service position. A further consequence was that in 1988, amid a public debate about national financial management, he presented the king with a petition requesting impeachment of the minister of Finance. Neither the king nor the government took any further action on the matter. In 1989 there was a walkout of people's representatives from the Legislative Assembly (the parliament). The local press reported that the walkout was widely supported by the people at large. (First paragraph of introduction).