House works first half-day [1]
Thursday, June 4, 2009 - 16:09. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua.
Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 1, Monday, June 1, 2009.
Highlights:
- Two new ministers and two new Nobles Representatives are sworn in.
- The House writes a letter of response to the King's speech from the throne.
- After lunch the House decides to have the rest of the day off.
First meeting
The Speaker, Hon. Tu'ilakepa led the singing and prayer in the first meeting of the Tongan parliament in its 2009 session on Monday June 1.
He then called for new members of the House, to take their oath. This included a new Nobles' Representative for Ha'apai, Noble Tu'iha'angana; the new Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Prince Tu'ipelehake; and the new Minister for Communication and Information, Hon. 'Eseta Fusitu'a.
The Chief Clerk of the House made the roll call. He told the Speaker that Noble Luani was not attending and Clive Edwards was coming late, and that any one who did not answer his call was probably coming late.
The Speaker thanked the members who were present, and on the behalf of those who were not attending parliament he pitied them with their numerous obligations for their families, church, and to the community, but he hoped that they would eventually be able to attend and help with the workload of the House.
Response to king' speech
The House had a ten minutes break, and when they returned the clerk read a letter from Hon. Fielakepa, the chairman of a sub committee that drafted a response to the king's speech from the throne.
The Speaker apologised for forgetting to call on the new No. 3 Nobles' Representative for Tongatapu, Noble Vaha'i to take his oath.
People's Representative, Teisina Fuko made his second attempt to speak but there was something wrong with the microphone. He wanted to make a correction to paragraph 2 on page 2 of the House's response to the speech from the throne.
The Speaker called on members to switch their mobile phones off because it was interfering with microphone.
The Minister of Commerce, said that the use of a Tonganisation of the word "economy" was exactly the same that the king used in his speech.
After some discussion over the Tonganisation of the word "economy" it was agreed that there was nothing wrong with it.
People's Representative 'Isileli Pulu asked for a Cabinet Minister to clarify a portion of the king's speech when he said that after the Commission for Political Reform submits their report to the House, the next two years should be ample for discussion and to prepare for the restructuring of the Legislative Assembly. In his calculation the reform would not take place until the end of 2011, which is contrary to the date held by members of the House and it was stipulated in the Bill for the formation of the Commission that was passed by the House last year.
People's Representative 'Etuate Lavulavu said that the House's response to the king's speech was inadequate. Firstly, there were six pages of the king's speech, their response was only three pages. There was no mention of the $1 million allocation for technical and vocational training. With regards to proposed formation of a Town Council for Nuku'alofa, there should also be a Town Council for Neiafu, because Neiafu got burnt down too.
He also wanted to know what happened to the $10 million that was allocated by the House last year for technical training. He wondered why the allocation had been reduced from $10 to only $1 million this year.
The Speaker pleaded with the member to pass the letter of response. He suggested that his other concern should be presented in the form of a motion to the House.
People's Representative 'Akilisi Pohiva supported 'Isileli's concern, and that one of the ministers helped draft the king's speech. He called for someone from government to clarify the issue. What did the king really mean when he said that the next two years should be ample to reform the political system? He said that the House should agree with one interpretation of king's speech, and avoid any public confusion.
The Governor of Ha'apai pointed out that the member had been in parliament longer than anyone else and he should know that what they passed in the law last year, remained the law, and only the House could change that, so he could not understand what the member was on about.
People's Representative 'Uliti Uata suggested that after they praised the king for his foresighted vision, they should insert the words, "and for the political reform to take place in 2010."
Misinterpretation
The Prime Minister did not think there was any confusion in the speech of the king, and the concern expressed by members was their own misinterpretation. He said that if they read properly his reference to two years, they would know what the king meant.
'Isileli Pulu wanted to know why it was difficult for the PM to say 2010. He said he was still confused. He asked the PM to say it straight. He is the PM and his words are the law.
The Minister of Works corrected the member and said it was not a wise thing to say that the PM's word is law. They were in the House as law-makers and their votes are what makes the law.
Teisina Fuko praised the speech of the king. He said that the whole country was waiting for the king to say something about the political reform, and he had said it and it was most welcome. He moved that they should vote.
The speaker called for votes and the House's letter of response was passed 22-0. There was no objection.
Indefinite break
The House broke for lunch. After lunch they decided to have the rest of the day off.
The Speaker told members that he would let them know when the House will reconvene again.