"I should talk about where we are heading", PM tells budget debate [1]
Sunday, June 12, 2016 - 19:13. Updated on Sunday, June 12, 2016 - 19:49.
From the House by Pesi Fonua.
Tonga's Prime Minister pleaded for a chance to speak in parliament on June 9, when the novice Chairman of the Whole House Committee continued to put a damper on the budget debate.
"I should be given a chance to talk about where the country is heading," Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva pleaded with Penisimani Fifita, the new Chairman of the Whole House Committee.
It took a bit of convincing to change the mind of the Chairman, who was all set to continue where he left off the day before, and for the Minister of Finance, Hon. ‘Aisake Eke to continue and answer more than 20 questions that members had asked about his 139-pages Budget Statement.
Lord Vaea urged the Chairman to allow the Prime Minister to speak, “He is your boss, he is the leader of your party, let him talk.”
The Ha'apai People's Representative No. 13, Light of Life Taka, agreed. “Let the Prime Minister talk,” he called out.
“We will do that,” the Chairman finally agreed.
The Prime Minister reminded the Chairman that the 2016-2017 Budget Statement outlined the government's financial policy for the next financial year and he should be given the opportunity to talk “about where we are heading.”
He wanted to address a concern over the fact that the biggest allocation in the Budget is the Ministry of Education. But firstly, he wanted to talk about a public concern over the inefficiency of the Ministry and a drop in the standard of education in the country.
He said that in 2013, the Minister of Education at the time reported that she did not know where the status of Tonga’s education was heading, and when he became the Minister of Education at the end of 2014 he discovered that the Tongan education system was still in the same status.
He told the House that in orde to fully understand the situation one had to look at the examination marks, at the Raw Marks, not the Standardized Marks which were the final marks that are awarded by the examiner after an Internal Assessment of the work of the student and his or her answers to the examination questions.
The Prime Minister's solution to the aimless direction that he believed that the education system was heading in, was for Tonga to stop using Standardized Marks and go back to Raw Marks. He made the decision as Minister of Education in March last year.
Flick of fingers
Concern was also expressed by Members of the House over the sudden shift that has caused an uproar within the Ministry, teachers, parents, and students.
Lord Fusitu’a stressed that such a major change should be introduced gradually, not with a flick of fingers.
Lord Tu’ilakepa also expressed his concern that the system had changed but the curriculum had not changed.
The reaction from the Prime Minister was, “I have made a decision. We are already at sea and there is no going back.”
Light of Life Taka also reminded the House that “we have already fallen into a deep hole.”
The Chairman, all of a sudden, expressed an opinion that he was ready to call for Votes on the Budget Statement.
Lord Tu’ilakepa reminded the House that in last year’s Budget they allocated $260,000 for the Ministry of Education to buy computer software from Piveni Piukala and Siaosi Pohiva (a son of the Prime Minister).
Mateni Tapueluelu (a son in law of the PM) called out for the chairman not to allow Lord Tu’ilakepa to hijack the House.
The Prime Minister then warned, “This country will be in an upheaval. This is trouble making...”
Lord Tu’ilakepa responded, “This is a debate, and we are talking about the money of the country.”
Mateni moved for the committee to vote.
Lord Tu’iha’ateiho pointed out that it was important for the House to understand what is happening. “Our role is to scrutinize the work of government.”
Light of Life Taka said there are “bad hearts” in the House.
Sit down
Lord Tu’ilakepa and Lord Fusitu’a wanted to speak but they were told by the Chairman to sit down.
The Prime Minister asked for the Chairman to allow him to finish his speech on the policy of the Budget.
He told the House that when he spoke at the UN (early this year) he raised the issue of West Papua because morale issue is very important to him. He was different from other leaders who spoke at the UN. “Their priority was on Trade.”
After lunch, the Chairman told members to focus their debate on the Budget, because once they drifted away and talked about other issues they were getting into trouble. “Remember the public can hear what is going on in here,” he reminded them.
The PM continued about his speech at the UN, and Tonga’s foreign relations. He reminded the House that Tonga is a Sovereign State, and though other countries make trade a priority in their foreign relations policy, but for Tonga, he said “morality is our priority” particularly with regards to our relationship with West Papua.
2019 Pacific Games
He told the House that the Papua New Guinean government is eager to help Tonga [building facilities for the 2019 Pacific Games] because of the dedicated work of Tongan Missionaries in Papua New Guinea.
With regards to the 2019 Pacific Games. The PM said “it will happen.” He said that a PNG delegation was in Tonga and they have left their plan of facilities for the games. They will build the stadium, and they have even paid for travelling expenses to Tonga and back to PNG.
A Chinese delegation had also been through and left behind their plans of facilities, swimming pools and a bowling green. "They reassured us that they will be all be completed before the game in 2019."
"It is all good," he said, “let's reduce our deficit.” He reminded the House of a saying "Limited Resources v Unlimited v Want. Government is a collective effort.”
“Don’t bring that communism concept here,” responded Lord Tu’i’afitu.
“I am not taking away anyone’s independence,” said the PM.
“Deficit of government is government expenditure and revenue. Nothing to do with private spending,” said Lord Fusitu’a.
“I am talking about something deeper than that,” said the PM. “Anyone who goes to hospital is paid for by the whole country. There is deficit because we can’t produce. That is why we are trying to employ everyone. Other people will come and get the reward.”
He said that the productivity of a Tongan government ministry amounted to only 18% of its full capacity, comparing the Chinese, which is 80%.
“What is your policy to solve the problem?” asked Lord Tu’I’afitu.
The PM responded – “The reason why there was a coup in Fiji – there was no other way. We have to work hard. No Tongans are working over there," he said [referring to the construction of St George Palace across the road, employing only Chinese labourers].
“We are all going to go and live in the sea,” said the PM. [It was the same day that he signed the visa free short term visitor agreement with China]
The PM went on to say that his vision for Tonga is to be “Independent.”
Lord Fusitu’a reminded the PM of the government Budget deficit and asked, “what are you going to do about it?”
The PM responded that the redirecting of the education system from Standardized Marks to Raw Marks is one solution to the Budget deficit. He also proposed for Tongan men to reduce their consumption of Tongan Kava, and for people to reduce their eating habit. Over weight is a problem he said, “But we are proud of it.”
Lord Tu’ilakepa warned the PM that people would not be happy for a restriction in their Kava consumption; and with regards to his comment that the Chinese will be taking over the land and the Tongan will go and live in the sea. He said that government should limit the number of Chinese who are coming into the country, but instead he said he heard that he was about to sign an agreement, making it easier for Chinese to come to Tonga.
The PM ignored Lord Tu’ilakepa’s comment and went on to talk about a drop in Tongans’ life expectancy.
Lord Fusitu’a. asked, “You blame everything, but what is your Policy to generate revenue?”
The PM backtracked on kava drinking and said that he did not mean for people to stop drinking kava, but they should go and do some work instead of staying around, doing nothing.
He said that a school is a factory, and that was why they have to look at the curriculum. “The question is, is the factory ready?”
Multiple issues
All of a sudden a number of different issues were thrown into the debate.
Samiu Vaipulu claimed that government had run out of money during the current financial year and it had to inject new funds into the government budget. Samiu claimed that the government did all this without approval of the House and it was illegal.
Lord Tu’I’afitu claimed that there is a rift between the Privy Council and the Cabinet, and he wondered how the working relations between these two bodies could be improved.
Lord Nuku reminded the House that foreign remittances are Tonga’s major source foreign earnings. He said that there is nothing in the budget that is directed toward making it easier for Tongans to go and work, in New Zealand, Australia or the USA.
The Minister of Finance, Hon. ‘Aisake Eke was willing to respond to these questions, but by then it was time for the House to close for the week.