Nuku’aofa, Tonga – Communities in villages across Tonga have voiced frustration after an unexpected power outage disrupted Fakamē Day celebrations on Sunday, May 3.
Fakamē Day, also known as Children’s Sunday, is a significant annual event for Protestant churches in Tonga, observed on the first Sunday of May.
The day is dedicated to children’s religious performances, where they recite Bible verses, deliver speeches, and participate in choir singing—often before proud families and church congregations.
However, this year’s celebrations were overshadowed by a sudden blackout that left many children struggling to be heard during their performances.
Sources told Kaniva News that the outage occurred without warning, cutting electricity mid-programme and plunging churches into silence as sound systems went dead.
“We were very disappointed,” one churchgoer said.
“The children had practised for weeks. Then suddenly, there was no power, no microphones, and many of them could barely be heard.”
Parents and organisers described scenes in which children were forced to continue their recitations and speeches without amplification, with some visibly unsettled by the unexpected disruption.
“It was heartbreaking to watch,” another source said.
“The younger ones especially rely on microphones. Without them, they became shy and struggled to project their voices.”
Lack of Notice Criticised
The outage has sparked wider concern among communities already frustrated by what they say are ongoing electricity reliability issues.
A search by Kaniva News of Tonga Power Limited’s official Facebook page found no public notice of a scheduled power shutdown for Sunday, May 3, raising questions about the cause of the disruption. The most recent planned outage notice posted on the page was dated May 1.
However, TPL later issued an apology in the afternoon—after many churches had already concluded their Fakamē programmes earlier in the day, stating:
“Tonga Power Limited (TPL) understands the inconvenience caused by the current power outage affecting all areas of Tongatapu. The outage is due to damaged power lines, and our teams are on-site working urgently to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. We sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding as we work together to resolve these issues.”
The lack of prior warning has been a major point of criticism, with residents arguing that advance notice could have allowed churches to make alternative arrangements, such as securing generators.
This latest incident comes amid growing dissatisfaction with TPL, which has faced strong criticism over repeated outages spanning more than a decade. Many residents have previously complained about inconsistent supply and the impact it has on daily life, businesses, and important community events.
Fakamē, a term derived from the month of May and referring to the performances held during that time, represents a moment when families and churches come together to celebrate the spiritual growth and importance of children. It is widely regarded as a joyful and sacred occasion, where young people take centre stage in worship.
Despite the setback, many children continued their performances bravely, with congregations offering encouragement as they adapted to the situation.
“They did their best,” one parent said. “Even without power, they kept going. We are proud of them—but this should not have happened on such an important day.”
