Parliament closes softly after Tonga's year of challenges [1]
Thursday, April 22, 2010 - 19:53. Updated on Saturday, May 3, 2014 - 19:50.
After a year of challenges, the 2009 session of the Tongan Legislative Assembly was officially closed yesterday morning, April 22 by Lord Fielakepa, accompanied by Noble Ma'afu and Noble Fulivai, but there were less than a dozen spectators present.
The sombre occasion was in contrast to a past tradition of street parades in Nuku'alofa. This time there were no cheering children lining the street, no 21-gun salute, no brass bands music, no dignitaries or foreign diplomats with top hats arriving at the parliament. The king was not present to deliver his usual speech from the throne on the closing of the Legislative Assembly.
The Chief Clerk of the House, Dr Viliami Latu, described the closing of the 2009 session as "a soft closing."
In fact, it was so soft that even the national anthem was not played by a brass band, but came from a CD through the sound system.
A handful of spectators included members of press and the staff of the house.
Challenges
Lord Fielakepa read a speech from HM King George Tupou V who expressed his appreciation for the people and their courage during 2009, a year that presented many challenges with the Princess Ashika tragedy, the tsunami that struck Niuatoputapu, and Cyclone Rene.
Through Fielakepa, the King conveyed his sympathy to families and friends who lost loved ones at the tragedy. He thanked those who help with the inquiry into the tragedy.
The King expressed his confidence with the independence of the Judiciary, and with regards to the Ashika tragedy said that there are cases before the court.
The King announced that the election of a new composition of parliament would take place on Thursday, November 25, and the two important tasks that must be fulfilled before then are the registration of voters and the establishment of a National Identification Card system.
The King hoped that members of the Legislative Assembly would have a good break before the opening of the 2010 parliamentary session on June 3.
The National Anthem was played, again through the sound system, and that was the closure of the 2009 parliamentary session.