Transcript
The prime minister says cabinet met last week and made the decision to pull out of the games.
Mr Pohiva says when he came across a World Bank report he realised what needed to happen.
"The former Minister of Finance, Richard 'Akolo, he strongly opposed the hosting of the sports to Tonga, based on the same report. So when I received the report a few weeks ago I copied the report and distributed it. Reading the report between the lines, I was convinced that there was no other option but to cancel the sports."
Richard 'Akolo was finance minister in 2012 when Tonga was awarded the games.
But the head of the local Games Organising Committee, Lord Sevele, says the economy can handle hosting the 2019 event and he doesn't understand why the government wants to pull out.
Lord Sevele says the prime minister presented the report to the committee.
But he says there is evidence Tonga can host the games successfully.
He cites an International Monetary Fund statement which said economic activity is expanding and likely to remain relatively strong with growth projected at a rate between 3 and 4 percent, boosted by construction and activities related to the games.
"On the recent reports from the IMF late in March of this year, they are painting a very rosy picture of the Tongan economy. The one that the prime minister brought to our meeting last week was one dated 2013. It's out of date."
Lord Sevele says hosting would not pose too heavy a burden on the government, as Tonga will only need to come up with around $US13 million.
"The funds that will be spent on hosting the games and the facilities, much of that has been promised from overseas, and also a fair amount will come from the private sector here by way of sponsorships."
The man responsible for the last budget says more information is needed around the reasons for withdrawing.
'Aisake Eke, who was sacked as minister in March after abstaining in a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister, says the games could have been held.
He says with the assistance of donors such as China and Papua New Guinea, the games would not have crippled the economy.
Dr Eke says the government needs to explain what will happen to the assistance committed to the event.
"Whether they will pull back as a result of cancellations. Locally we have raised funds through legislation exchange levy and also foreign exchange levy and also legislation for incentive for support from the business community. There were a few legislations and I think that the government have to come up clear what are the implications of that."
The prime minister says cabinet will decide how the locally raised funds will be used at its next meeting and he will talk to PNG about its plans while China will continue to provide financial help for sporting facilities.
While there have been construction delays, financial concerns, contractual disputes there has also been an ongoing feud between prime minister 'Akilisi Pohiva and organising committee chair Lord Sevele which culminated in the latter being reinstated by the courts after Mr Pohiva removed him.
Dr Eke says this may actually have led to the government move.
"It went to the extent of taking it to court and the court has come to a decision. That's another element and I guess that element might have been the basis of the decision and they probably used financial situations for being a scapegoat."
The Pacific Games Council only found out about the government plans via media reports.
Council president Vidhya Lakhan says there may be a small funding shortfall but plans are already in place to address that.
"There are two projects that we had requested the government, through the organising committee, to put in place. One of them they did, there is some revenue coming into the games organising committee through foreign exchange. And the other one I can't talk about it because it is still in the pipeline. But with those two projects we would be able to raise a substantial amount of money that we need."
Mr Lakhan says human resources and very little monetary contribution are required from the government.
He says there are other options available and corners to be cut to ensure Tonga remains Pacific Games host.