Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Forestry Peauafi Haukinima of Tonga

drunkenness, according to the Matangi Tonga website.

detail what the minister had said.

Mr Haukinima says links need to be restored urgently as locals are having difficulty getting to Tongatapu for medical treatment or family engagements.

Mr Haukinima says he doesnt understand why its taken more than 10 months for flights to be restored.

Mr Haukinima was one of the first elected Peoples Representatives to be appointed to the cabinet by the late king.

Haukinima was later arrested by the police and locked up for drunkenness, according to the Matangi Tonga website.

He said Haukinima was drunk and verbally abusive, but would not detail what the minister had said.