Sevele was sacked last Friday (May 27), despite the PGC having already warned the country they faced the risk of having the event taken away from them if the internal struggle continued. 

Tonga’s Solicitor General Sione Sisifa has already been earmarked as his replacement.

A row has since developed between the PGC and the Government in Tonga, who claim they are responsible for appointments to the Organising Committee for the event in three years’ time.

According to the PGC’s Constitution, however, only the Organising Committee, the Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC), who are the PGC’s member in the country, and the PGC itself have the power to hire and fire people within Tonga 2019.

“The Government of Tonga, as a sovereign state, is not to submit to the PGC to decide for Tonga on who to employ to facilitate the Pacific Games 2019,” a statement from the Audit and Governance Authority (AGA), chaired by Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva, said.

In response, the PGC said in a statement: “The Pacific Games Council (PGC) does not recognise the actions taken last week to remove the CEO/chairman of the Tonga 2019 Pacific Games Organising Committee (TPGOC).

“The Council is the supreme and decisive authority in all matters concerning the Pacific Games.

“Any person or organisation belonging or having any relationship with, in any capacity whatsoever to the Council shall be bound by the provision of the Council Charter, and shall abide by the decisions of the Council.

“In relation to this matter Article 4 has been invoked and the move to vacate the TPGOC CEO/Chairman's position is thus null and void.”

PGC President Vidhya Lakhan also stressed the importance of the upcoming TASANOC elections, where a new Executive Committee, who will have a key role within the organisation of the event, is due to be elected.

The development marks the latest problem affecting the build-up to Tonga hosting the Pacific Games for the first time and follows crisis talks being held at the PGC’s General Assembly in Vanuatu last month. 

During the meeting, held in Port Vila, the PGC reiterated its support for Tonga staging the Games, which came after Lakhan had issued a stern threat to organisers that they could lose the event if they were unable to rectify the Organising Committee’s leadership issues.

It followed a leaked Audit and Governance Authority letter calling for the resignation of Sevele, the former Prime Minister of Tonga, from his role.

Lakhan claimed the suggestion to remove him from his position contravened the Pacific Games Charter and Host Agreement.

As well as rifts in the Organising Committee, preparations for the 2019 Pacific Games have been hit by financial concerns.

Last July, Tonga Chamber of Commerce President John Chapman urged the Government to pull out of hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games amid growing fears over how they will be financed.

Chapman’s comments followed Pohiva claiming the financial position of the country was unsatisfactory and warned it may be impossible for the them to prepare properly.

PGC executive director Andrew Minogue had said they were “happy” with progress but that efforts needed to “step up pretty quickly”.

Venue construction was put back not long after the conclusion of the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby as the Government attempted to raise the required funds.

Tonga is still planning to begin building facilities at some point this year.