Lisbon – November 2023. 4 November is the National Day of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is an important occasion in the history of this Polynesian island realm, as it marks the introduction of its first written constitution on 4 November 4 1875.
This pivotal moment paved the way for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, providing a foundation for the expression of its political and cultural identity, and its recognition as a state on the global stage. It is widely celebrated across the South Pacific country.
This month marks my own anniversary having served as His Majesty’s Hon Consul General of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic since 3 November 2022. His Majesty King Tupou VI decreed by Letters Patent my commission as the first Tongan Hon Consul General to Portugal on 27 May 2021.
In that role I have been busy as Tonga values it growing relationship with Portugal. Tonga and Portugal established diplomatic relations on 1 November 2008 and both countries are now celebrating 15 years of formal diplomatic ties.
In June and July 2022, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, the Hon Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, paid an Official Visit to Portugal on the occasion of the United Nation’s Oceans Conference.
The Prime Minister was received in Lisbon by the highest authorities of the Portuguese state, including HE President of the Portuguese Republic Professor Marcelo Ribeiro de Sousa, and HE The Prime Minister of Portugal Dr Antonio Costa.
In July 2022 the Foreign Minister and Minister of Tourism of Tonga, the Honourable Fekita Utoikamanu also paid an Official Visit to Portugal and held numerous bilateral meetings including one with her counterpart HE The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Dr Joao Gomes Cravinho.
In July 2023 as Consul General, I hosted 105 Tongan nationals who had travelled to Portugal to join over 1.5 million other pilgrims at the World Youth Day – the largest Catholic and youth event in the world.
Further high-profile events took place the Consulate General of Tonga including a Welcome Ceremony in honour of the Head of the Royal House of Portugal, HRH The Duke of Braganza in August 2023.
As Consul General I have also paid courtesy visit HE Zacarias Albano da Costa, Executive Secretary of the CPLP – Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa. I have called on numerous ambassadors accredited in Portugal including from Kuwait and the head of the EU Commission office. It was pleasure to visit Dr Alberto Laplaine Guimaraes, Secretary General and Diplomatic Counsellor to the Mayor of Lisbon.
During the past year I have also had meetings with Portugal’s Head of State, HE Professor Marcelo Ribeiro de Sousa at Belem Palace and with HE Aníbal Cavaco Silva, who served as the 19th President of Portugal from 2006 to 2016.
Earlier in the year I also held fruitful discussions with the Portuguese Secretary of State for International Trade and Foreign Investment, Bernardo Ivo Cruz at the Foreign Ministry in Lisbon.
For those interested in learning more about my work please visit www.tonga-gov.pt and consider following me on our Facebook page Consulado Geral Honorário do Reino de Tonga na República Portuguesa. The Consulate General is also available on instagram #tongapt
So, to all Tongan friends near and far congratulations on reaching your 143rd state birthday and to all those in Tonga and Portugal who have worked over the past 15 years to deepen ties between both maritime nations.
