Finance Minister seeks aid donors to meet budget expenses [1]
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 14:43. Updated on Sunday, June 15, 2014 - 20:39.
From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua. Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 11, June 26, 2007 (evening).
The House discussed the estimated Budget and started on the Votes of the Ministries. The Minister of Finance said that they were still looking for aid donors to meet some of the estimated expenditure.
-The Minister of Finance said that of the figures in the estimated budget, some are real and with others they were still looking for donors.
- 'Akilisi wanted to know where is the Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet who had been gone for six months? The Prime Minister replied that she is overseas on a government mission.
-The Minister of Finance said that the construction of the Royal Chapel had been deferred and the money was spent on other projects including the cleaning of Nuku'alofa after November 16. The $1 million allocation was for the Coronation in August next year.
- The Minister for Public Enterprises said that they are looking into the operation of the Chronicle.
- 'Isileli Pulu queried the existence of the Commissioner for Public Relations, and what they were doing. The office has a budget of $180,000.
- 'Akilisi proposed for the Chronicle to be terminated and let the Taimi take over the role of the Chronicle.
- Noble Lasike proposed that if 'Akilisi was serious about cutting the expenditure of the House, then members should cut their salaries by half.
Tuesday evening, June 26, 2007:
IN committee Lepolo Taunisila thanked the Minister of Finance for continuing with government subsidies of air and sea travel to the Niuas. She also expressed her optimism that in the $5 million that has been allocated for national road repair and maintenance, the Niuas' portion would be enough to tar-seal their road. She supported the idea of developing coconut oil as an alternative to diesel fuel. She pleaded with government to deal with the Niuatoputapu High School problem, which left the construction incomplete. She also requested more money for the Women's Affairs Division.
'Isileli Pulu, said that they could not complete their debate on the Budget without dealing with papers No. 4 and No. 5. He suggested that they debate first on the two papers, which dealt with the quality of the service that is offered by the Public Service and the salaries of Public Servants.
The Minister of Finance said that it was more relevant for them to use the three papers in their debate.
Sunia Fili supported the view of the Minister of Finance, for Papers 4 and 5 to be used for the debate of the estimated Budget, and he suggested that they start with the vote of the House and look at the performance of the House, the salaries of members and the vote of the House.
The Governor of Ha'apai told 'Isileli Pulu that they could not discuss votes, prior to discussing the estimated budget. He reminded the member of the privilege of the House to increase or reduce a vote, but that can be done using the three papers as sources of information, but not to deal with them in isolation. He supported the view of the Minister of Finance.
Where is the Chief Secretary?
In the end 'Isileli Pulu gave up. He then asked of the whereabouts of the Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet, who has been away from her position for about six months. He also wanted to know what would happen to the Cabinet Ministers who were appointed from elected members of the House, when their term is completed next year.
With regards to the number of advisers who work for the Prime Minister, he suggested for the PM to take more advice from other Cabinet Ministers rather than from his advisers. He also made a comment that for a person to climb the ranks to become a Cabinet Minister he should have been an experienced Civil Servant. He said that it appeared that the Ministers who were appointed from elected PRs were still learning.
The Prime Minister told the member to remain with the Budget, and wait for his turn when he become a Cabinet Minister then he can run it the way he wants.
Going back to Paper 4/5 and the Estimate, Samiu Vaipulu moved for the Minister of Finance to take all these papers back because he said the figures did not match.
The Minister for Public Enterprises reminded the member that the most important document is the Estimated Budget, because it is supported by legislation. The others, the Budget Statement and documents No. 1 to 5, were just background materials for them to read.
Going back to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet, 'Akilisi wanted to know where is she?
The Prime Minister replied that she is overseas on a government mission.
Clive Edwards queried that there were no adviser posts in the PM's vote. He wanted to know if the PM's advisers were paid with aid money, where is it shown in the documents.
The Minister of Finance said that some of these advisers work on contract basis and they are paid by overseas donors. They are not civil servants so their posts and salaries are not in the budget.
The Chairman called for votes on the Budget Statement. It was carried 27-0.
Votes of Ministries
He declared for the debate to start on the budget, dealing with votes of ministries.
'Isileli Pulu wanted to know the source of a $5.8 million grant to government. The $5.8 million is part of a $63 million cash aid from overseas donors.
The Minister of Finance said that no donor had yet committed to provide the $5.8 million, but they were thinking of China. He said that of the figures in the estimated budget, some are real and others they were still looking for donors.
'Isileli Pulu expressed his annoyance over what he claimed to be a whisper by the Minister of Justice for him to read the Budget properly, but the Minister denied that she said anything.
'Akilisi on a separate issue commented on how some nobles were away overseas but they still received their salaries from government.
Noble Lasike said that the member was out of step with his comment and a noble is free to go where ever he wants to.
'Akilisi said that nobles salaries are tax-payers' money.
The Minister of Youth and Sports said that the member's comment was inappropriate. He also pointed out that the nobles' salaries are paid out from the king's own private purse.
Coronation
Sunia Fili on a separate issue wanted to know what happened to the $2.5 million that was allocated last year for the building of a new Royal Chapel, and he also wanted to know the national celebration that $1 million was allocated for.
The Minister of Finance said that the construction of the Royal Chapel had been deferred and the money was spent on other projects including the cleaning of Nuku'alofa after November 16. The $1 million allocation was for the Coronation in August next year.
The Chairman called for vote on the Palace's Vote. It was carried 23-0.
The debate proceeded with the Vote of the Legislative Assembly.
Parliamentary national tour
'Akilisi proposed for the House to cut on its expenditure by cancelling their national tour this year, and to cut down on overseas travelling.
The Minister for Youth and Sports reminded the member that there are overseas trips that could not be cancelled because of Tonga's membership in some of those organisations such as the CPA and APPU.
Noble Lasike said that the national tour is very important for members to go out and meet the people in the outer islands, and get to know their real needs, and he did not support the move to cancel the national tour to save money. He proposed that if the member was serious about cutting their expenditure, then he proposed for members to cut their salaries by half.
Noble Tangipa said that the reason why the economy was so depressed was because of the destruction that the PRs did last year, and this year they are calling cut! cut! cut!. He proposed for the PRs to pay for the national tour this year.
Noble Tu'iha'angana proposed for the debate to continue and pass the estimate, they would look at the travelling budget of the House.
The Chairman called for votes on the vote of the House and it was carried 27-0.
Chronicle allocation
Debate continue with the Vote of the Prime Minister's Office.
'Isileli Pulu commented on an allocation of $6 for the Office for Overseas Tongans. He wondered if it appropriate for this office to be under the PM or should it be Foreign Affairs. With regards to the $300,000 allocation for the Chronicle, he wondered if the paper was making any profit.
The Minister for Public Enterprises said that his Ministry is looking into the operation of the Chronicle.
'Akilisi Pohiva said he has done some research into the operation of the Chronicle, he had received complaints from small shops owners because of the piles of unsold Chronicle which are left with them every week. He said that it is joke among shop owners of how it has been a weekly exercise to replace an old pile of Chronicle with a new pile. He proposed for the Chronicle to be terminated and let the Taimi take over the role of the Chronicle.
Minister for Public Enterprises said that they are looking into the operation of the Chronicle. He said that he buys and read the Chronicle.
Samiu Vaipulu proposed for the hospitality allocation of $8,000 for the Governor of Vava'u to be increased to match his obligation, particularly this year when the retreat of the Pacific Forum Meeting in October will be held in Vava'u.
The Minister of Finance said he would look into the concern of the member.
The Chairman called for votes on the Vote of the Prime Minister's Office. It was carried 26-0.
Commissioner for Public Relations
'Isileli Pulu queried the existence of the Commissioner for Public Relations, and what they were doing. He said that five people worked at the office and one of them has a salary of more than $40,000. The office has a budget of $180,000.
'Akilisi said that the Commission is useless.
The Prime Minister advised the members to go and find out more about the work that is carried out by the commission before they make such allegations about it. He said that following on from the establishment of the Commission would be the appointment of an Ombudsman and the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Commission.
Clive Edwards was also very critical of the Commissioner for Public Relations, he said it was a utter waste of money. He said that the Commission could not correct any wrong doings by any government departments, because it has no power.
The House closed its evening session at 9 pm.