The Tongan government says it changed the law overseeing the 2019 Pacific Games so it can sack the head of the local organising committee, despite protests from the Pacific Games Council.
The Council's Chair, Vidhya Lakhan, says the sacking of Lord Sevele doesn't stand because it contravenes the hosting agreement.
However, the Prime Minister's office says changes were made as part of the Organisation Act 2013, which enables their governance authority to make such decisions.
The Deputy Secretary, 'Eti Teumohenga, says the government is the recipient of the Pacific Games Council's product and as such, it will be the government's decisions that will see the games happen.
Mr Teumohenga says the government and its people know better about ways to host the Pacific Games given council's sports-related requirements.