Opinion | If There’s Evidence of Misuse, Show It: Tonga Needs Transparency, Not Vagueness
Allegations of excessive ministerial travel allowances have reignited public anger across Tonga, after reports surfaced that three former Cabinet Ministers may have received up to eight million paʻanga in total during the previous administration’s term in office. The breakdown—five million, two million, and one million, respectively—was not presented as fact by government officials, but raised by former Minister ʻEtuate Lavulavu during a press conference in Nukuʻalofa this week.
Lavulavu, now a media operator, claimed to have evidence of this spending, which he said was inflated by a 40 percent increase on top of the standard allowance. He further alleged that two of the ministers in question spent as long as three months travelling internationally. His concerns were not just about the cost but about fairness, particularly when around a quarter of Tonga’s population lives below the poverty line and just one million paʻanga was set aside to address poverty.
When Deputy Prime Minister Taniela Fusimālohi was asked about the claims, he declined to confirm or deny them. Instead, he acknowledged that the government’s travel budget has often gone over its allocated amount, as seen in official records. He also cautioned against ministers seeking luxury during official travel, but stopped short of addressing the central question: whether public funds were misused.
This kind of response does not inspire confidence. If the current government wants to distinguish itself from its predecessor, then vague statements and cautionary remarks are not enough. The DPM is in a position of authority, with access to Cabinet papers, spending records, and travel authorisations. If there has been wrongdoing, the government should be transparent and release the relevant documents. If the claims are unfounded, it should state so clearly and show the public the facts.
What is not acceptable is to allow serious claims like these to hang in the air without clarity. Allegations involving millions of paʻanga in travel funds—particularly while the country faces economic hardship—deserve more than sidestepping and general commentary. The public has a right to know whether their money was spent properly or not.
Fiji has already shown the way forward. When its Prime Minister came under pressure over ministerial travel, he did not respond with vague remarks or pass the responsibility to someone else. He published the travel expenses in full, showing how much was spent, by whom, and on what. That is what leadership looks like in a functioning democracy.
Tonga continues to operate without a Freedom of Information Act. In its absence, people are left to rely on leaks, claims made in press conferences, or comments from politicians with conflicting interests. That is not a healthy system. A Freedom of Information law would allow the public and the media to request travel budgets, ministerial expenditure, and other key documents as a matter of right, not political favour.
Online, the reaction from Tongans has been swift and pointed. Many are asking how such amounts could be justified, and why no one is showing the proof. This is not just a political issue, it is a matter of trust between citizens and their government.
It is time to stop treating transparency as a talking point. It must be built into the system. The people of Tonga do not need hints or half-answers. They need evidence. They need openness. And they deserve leaders who are willing to show it to them.
If there is something to show, show it. And if there is nothing to hide, prove it.
Tu’ifua Vailena
