THE former Prime Minister of Tonga who is also Tongatapu 10 constituency MP has been laid to rest today at Talafo'ou after his body was repatriated from the United States at the weekend.
The Hon. Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, Nobles and Members of Parliament, diplomatic corps, civil servants, members of the clergy, Tupou College EX-students, colleagues and loved ones today bid farewell Tonga’s 17th Prime Minister, late Hon. Rev. Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa.
The Late Hon. Tu’i’onetoa became Tonga’s Prime Minister on 8 October 2019. He passed away in the United States last month in California.
His memorial service was held today at his Niutao residence.
The Chief Clerk of Parliament Gloria Pole’o also conveyed a condolence message from the Lord Speaker Fakafanua to the family and loved ones for the death of the former PM.
Yesterday, His Royal Highness Crown Prince attended the government’s prayer service. A combined Cabinet and Parliament’s prayer service were also attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament followed by different government ministries.
The former Chartered Accountant entered Parliament following the 2014 general election. He served as a public servant for over 30 years.
While he served as Tonga’s former Prime Minister, he was also appointed as Minister for Public Enterprises. During late Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s government administration he was also responsible for the then Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries now called the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development and the Police, Prisons and Fire Services and the Minister for Revenue and Customs until September 2017.
He was later appointed as the Finance and National Planning Minister in January 2018.
Late Rev. Dr. Tu’i’onetoa was made a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Australia (FCMA) in 2021.
The former PM died at the age of 71.
He is survived by wife Hena Tu’i’onetoa and children.