Tonga OKs purchase of power firm

[B]WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI/PIR)[/B]—The Tongan Parliament has voted in support of government plans to buy back the Shoreline electricity company.

Shoreline is a private company in which King George Tupou V has a significant shareholding.

In its budget in May the government allocated 25 million pa’anga, or nearly $14 million, for the buy back.

The Tonga Broadcasting Corporation quotes Prime Minister Feleti Sevele as saying Parliament on Tuesday voted by an overwhelming majority to back the re-purchase of the electricity assets.

However, three People’s Representatives, Akilisi Pohiva, ’Isileli Pulu and ’Uliti Uata, opposed the move, while Clive Edwards was not in the House, though Dr Sevele says he had indicated his support for the purchase.