The announcement that Tonga’s new king plans to sell his many business interests in the country raises a number of questions, including:
- How did the former Crown Prince acquire so many assets in a country that is reported to be close to bankruptcy?
- What are the chances of finding Tongan investors to buy his business interests? Will the ownership of infrastructure such as electricity, telecommunications and broadcasting simply transfer to other privileged members of the Tongan nobility or end up in foreign hands and further impoverish the country?
- What does the king plan to do with the proceeds of sale? And why not turn over his wealth to the nation?