PM wants to put Cabinet Minister into Privy Council [1]
Thursday, August 31, 2017 - 19:16. Updated on Thursday, August 31, 2017 - 19:19.
By Pesi Fonua
The composition of the Privy Council remains to be an issue of great concern for Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva following the dissolution of Parliament on August 24 when his term as Prime Minister was cut short by a year.
"There should be a Cabinet Minister in the Privy Council. There should be a connection between the Cabinet and the Privy Council,” the PM told a media conference in Nuku'alofa yesterday.
Royal prerogative
Using a Royal prerogative, King Tupou VI dissolved the Legisaltive Assembly on 24 August and commanded the current Government to continue as Caretaker Government until a General Election takes place no later than 16 November 2017.
The Prime Minister called the Press Conference to outline his view on the dissolution of Parliament. But there was nothing much forthcoming.
From the onset he apologised that he could not disclose his view because his letter was still with the king. The PM was certain that "it should be back before the end of the day" when he would broadcast his view on radio and television.
When asked if there was a project that he wanted to complete before the end of his term as Prime Minister, he responded that "all Ministries have Corporate Plans, and Budget Allocations."
He said economic development, was an issue that had been topical in public. Bills had been drafted but could not proceed any further.
Two months
Hon. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, the Minister for Commerce, Labour and Trade reminded the Press Conference that the 2017-2018 National Budget is Tonga’s biggest ever, $595m, but we have only two months to go.
“What can be achieved during the next two months?”
Tu’i’onetoa was convinced that road construction could be completed, but the construction of a foreshore on eastern Tongatapu's northern coastline, his constituency, would not be possible.
Political reform
The Prime Minister was asked if there was anything in the political reform that was introduced in 2010 that he would have liked to readjust.
He replied that there should be a Cabinet representative in the Privy Council.
“There should be a connection between the Cabinet and the Privy Council.”
PM Pohiva went on to stress his belief that an elected People Representative should be a member of the Privy Council. He detested the fact that unelected members of the Privy Council rejected Bills that were drafted and passed by elected members of parliament.