(Commonwealth)_ A Pacific precedent, the nation’s capital town of Nuku’alofa hosted July 23rd and 24th, 2025. Two days of national consultation were convened by the Tonga Legislative Assembly at the request of the Speaker, when the three arms of state—legislature, judiciary, and executive—would sit in open forum to discuss how to improve governance. It was the first-ever discussion within the Pacific Islands that put the three arms of government on one table to bond and develop democratically.
The consultations were held in the Pacific Talanoa spirit, a courteous, open, and inclusive Pacific manner of speaking and listening. Talanoa is a Pacific manner of heart truth speaking and listening that creates space for understanding and trust. The Pacific cultural practice guided the process throughout to allow all voices to be heard and the process to be what it needed to be in the Pacific context.
Seasoned facilitators guided the delegates through structured sessions in which to deliberate on how the Latimer House Principles—a Commonwealth-initiated set of democratic principles—in practice may be invoked to the political process of Tonga. The principles that the Commonwealth nations adopted in 2003 include the independence of institutions, parliamentary accountability, integrity of the judiciary, and separation of powers. It is most applicable to Tonga, the Pacific’s sole constitutional monarchy and a nation that made democratic transition as recently as 2010.
The conference placed into perspective how to secure cooperation and communication among the three government institutions to work without undermining their independence. Members were taken through scenarios, problems, and options to arrive at mutual comprehension of each of their mandates. Out of it was a package of consensus guidance on inter-institutional communication and respect and less polarising democratic governance.
Forums depicted stakeholders who possessed a national stake in participatory governance. High commissioners, government principals, the judiciary, church leaders, civil society activists, youth, members of independent commissions, and women convened them. Representativeness enriched the discussion and reflected a vision of desiring to possess an effective and representative system of governance.
Beneath the controversy was an acknowledgement that the Latimer House Principles offer a working set of democratic stability and accountability. For Tonga, the principles are not ideals but practical standards to strive for in its experiment with the nation’s young democratic experience. As Tonga attempts its experimentation of getting its bearings in government by constitutional reforms, the use of the principles has been effective in establishing institutions and institutions’ accountability to the people.
The Commonwealth Secretariat was at the forefront of organising the event because of its broader programmatic support for good governance and separation of powers. The program respects all organs of government exercising power separately but still nonetheless in a position to coordinate themselves within the national interest. In a forum such as this one, the Commonwealth seeks to empower member states in upholding democratic values, human rights, and institutional capacity.
The timing of this successful transition is the right step towards consolidating democratic leadership in Tonga. It is also a positive example to the other Pacific nations who are always contemplating doing the same. It demonstrates the effectiveness of people-centered and culture-specific solutions to complex governance challenges, as well as the construction of durable, accountable, and responsive mechanisms capable of meeting the aspirations and needs of all citizens.
