Tonga's PM told to step up and take charge

There is a call for the Tonga Prime Minister, 'Akilisi Pohiva, to step up and take charge of his government.

This comes after the Police Minister threatened to resign, apparently because he was not getting the backing of his colleagues to combat corruption in the force.

Another Minister, Lord Ma'afu, did resign, while a third has been charged with serious criminal offences.

Meanwhile there is a push to force the resignation of the Police Commissioner, Steve Caldwell, who is a New Zealander and whose post is funded under an Australian/New Zealand supported programme to rebuild the Tonga police service.

Mr Caldwell has been accused of bringing in prohibited weapons and ammunition for the military and the police.

The director of the Pasifika Centre at New Zealand's Massey University, Malakai Koloamatangi, told Don Wiseman that Mr Pohiva is not fulfilling his role.