Tonga govt taken to task over broadcaster sell off plan

A prominent publisher in Tonga says the government's decision to part-privatise the public broadcaster is the result of a personal vendetta.

The public enterprise minister, Poasi Tei, told parliament last week the Tonga Broadcasting Commission has not been able to pay its dividend and 49 percent of it will be sold.

The broadcaster and the prime minister, 'Akilisi Pohiva, have been squabbling for months after Mr Pohiva fired the broadcaster's chair and labelled the TBC an "enemy of the government."

The publisher, Kalafi Moala, told Don Wiseman, he is not surprised at the government's move.