PM demands apology from 'Akilisi Pohiva [1]
Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 21:22. Updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 - 16:38.
From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua.
Highlights from Thursday June 19, 2008:
- The Prime Minister demanded an apology from 'Akilisi Pohiva for lying in the House the day before when 'Akilisi claimed that the PM had personally attacked him on TV Tonga over the salary rise of the House in 2006. But the Speaker changed the subject and no apology was recorded.
- Teisina Fuko (the president of the People's Democratic Party) wanted to know if there was an agreement with Shoreline when it took over the power distribution facility. If there was then it should be distributed in the House.
- 'Akilisi said there is no separation of power in the Tongan government. The Minister of Justice told him to read the Constitution.
Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 8, Thursday June 19, 2008.
The Clerk made the roll call. He told the Speaker that Noble Tu'ipelehake was away overseas. Noble Lasike and Tangipa were away sick and the rest of the members, he presumed, were coming late.
The Clerk made the first reading of the Appropriation Bill 2008. the Speaker called for votes and it was carried 21-0.
After its second reading People's Representative 'Uliti Uata moved for the Bill to be tabled into the Whole House Committee.
The Clerk read the Bill for the establishment of a Commission to amend the Constitution and the Electoral Act, and to draft legislations in preparation for the parliamentary election of 2010.
It was carried by 18-0 votes.
After its second reading People's Representative Sunia Fili moved for the Bill to be tabled into the Whole House Committee.
A Bill to Amend the Westpac Bank of Tonga Act had its first reading, and it was carried 19-0. Sunia moved for the Bill to be tabled into the Committee.
A Bill to amend the Income Tax Act 2007 had its first reading, and it was carried 14-0, and Sunia moved for the Bill to go to Committee.
PM demands apology
The Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele, demanded an apology from People's Representative 'Akilisi Pohiva for lying in the House the day before when 'Akilisi had claimed that the PM personally attacked him on TV Tonga (claiming 'Akilisi was the prime mover for the salary rise of the House in 2006). The PM said that personally he does did not think like that and he asked 'Akilisi to provide proof to support his claim.
The Speaker said he was sure 'Akilisi heard what the PM said. He then suggested for the establishment of a select committee to vet petitions that have been presented to the House. He said that some of the petitions were questions, some had been answered, and some had turned from questions to petitions, including one that has been presented by 'Akilisi. There were petitions that should be motions.
'Akilisi did not think there was a need for a select committee. He then continue to summarised his petition, which was about a Memorandum of Understanding between government and Shoreline, and about an exchange letters between him, 'Isileli Pulu and the Minister of Finance in 2006.
The Speaker could not get 'Akilisi to sit down. He then said that there was not need for the petition to be presented to the House because the member has already read it out.
'Akilisi said that the House needed a better Speaker. He said that what the Speaker was trying to do was unconstitutional.
No right
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Noble Tu'ivakano said that it was proper to screen petitions that are presented to the House. He praised the leadership role of the Speaker, and asked members of the House to respect the Speaker and his decisions. He said that no one had the right to correct the Speaker.
The Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Tangi read an excerpt from the Rules and Regulations of the House, which spelled out that a petition may be presented to the House if it is relevant to the proceedings of the House.
'Akilisi said that Viliami was wrong because his petition had not been presented to the House, and the House had not made a decision.
The Deputy Prime Minister told 'Akilisi that was exactly what he was getting at, because he was talking about his petition as though it had been accepted by the House for debate.
The Governor of Ha'apai did not think there was a need for a select committee to vet petitions. He said that it was the responsibility of the Speaker and his staff.
The Speaker insisted that there was a need for a committee to vet petitions that are presented into the House.
Niuas grievance
On a completely different issue, Samiu Vaipulu told the House about a man and his family from Vava'u who went to Niua in March with the understanding that he would be recruited as a teacher. Instead, he was employed by the Ministry of Education on a daily basis and since March he had not been paid. Samiu said that the man was a member of the Mohetaha Kava Club in Neiafu.
The Minister of Education said sorry, and the grievance of Niuas Teachers would be sorted out before the end of the new financial year.
People's Representative 'Etuate Lavulavu suggested that each member should donate a $1,000 each for this poor teacher.
The Speaker told the member not to interfere with the job of the Minister of Finance.
Missing law books
Teisina Fuko complained to the Speaker that there were missing volumes of law books from his set.
The Speaker named members of a committee to vet petitions, The PRs from Niuas; No. 2 from Ha'apai; No. 1 from Tongatapu; and No. 1 from Vava'u; two Cabinet Ministers and himself, the Speaker.
The Chairman of the Whole House Committee, Samiu Vaipulu reminded the House that he stopped 'Akilisi on Tuesday for responding to a comment made by the Prime Minister earlier that day because the PM was not in the House. He said that the PM was in the House and it was now proper for 'Akilisi to make his comment.
Shoreline power
'Akilisi said that his comment was related to the allocation in the budget to buy back the electricity power supply from Shoreline.
He raised the issue that Shoreline was issued with a Development Licence to import $20 million worth of goods, duty free. He said that the licence was issued in record time, only two days.
The PM did not think it was proper for the House to allow this type of talk in the House. He said that the issue of the Development Licence had been raised in the House and action had been taken. He did not think it was proper to run down individuals in the House.
'Akilisi continued with some statistics that he had collected on the price of diesel, how many litres that Shoreline imported and how many units of electricity that they produced and so on.
The Minister of Finance and the Deputy Prime Minister expressed doubt on the accuracy and the reliability of 'Akilisi's figures and information.
Still on Shoreline, 'Uliti Uata referred to meetings that were called by the Prime Minister, and he also queried why PRs were not included in a committee, which was made up of three Cabinet Ministers to negotiate with Shoreline.
No plan
The Prime Minister corrected 'Uliti that he did not call them to a meeting, they called him that they wanted to talk in August 2006. At the end of the meeting the PRs were supposed to return with a plan, but they had not produced anything since. He reminded 'Uliti that in their last meeting the PRs stressed their belief that Shoreline running the power generation was illegal, and he told them that if they thought so they should sue Shoreline.
People's Representative Teisina Fuko (the president of the People's Democratic Party which sued Shoreline) wanted to know if there was an agreement with Shoreline when it took over the power distribution facility. If there was then it should be distributed in the House.
The Minister of Justice, Hon. 'Alisi Taumoepeau said there was an agreement. She then talked about the different responsibilities of members of parliament, government executives and the judiciary.
'Akilisi did not think there is a separation of power in the Tongan government.
'Alisi told 'Akilisi that there is a separation of power and it is written in the Constitution.
The House was closed until 9.30 am, Monday, June 23.