Tongan democracy needs more time to flourish, king tells parliament [1]
Sunday, June 9, 2013 - 21:05. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Prince Tu'ipelehake reads a message from King Tupou VI at the closing of parliament.
Tonga needs more time to allow its two-year-old democracy to flourish, HM King Tupou VI told the Tonga Legislative Assembly in a message on June 7.
The king was not present at Friday's "soft closing" of the recent session that began in 2012, and his speech was read by Prince Tu'ipelehake.
The king also praised the speedy passing by parliament of Bills during a special parliamentary session in March, which he attributed to the commitment of the 26-members parliament to address the concern of the people.
The king told parliament that an amendment to the Tongan Constitution to enable members to table a motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister and his government was a special privilege to test the new democratic system. However, he stressed that like all new privileges, there was a need for maintenance and care, with long-term commitment to address the welfare of the Tongan people.
One of the five Bills that were passed in March was a Bill for the Pacific Games Act 2013. Tonga will host the 2019 South Pacific Games and the king believed that it would encourage people in Tonga to try and keep fit and to become more health conscious.
With regards to the global financial crisis he said that there were signs that the Tongan economy is recovering, with a slight increase in the flow of remittances and income from tourism.
However the king envisaged that economic recovery in Tonga could be accelerated by improvement in areas that included:
- the running of private businesses;
- introduction of an appropriate tax system;
- establishment of sustainable energy sources;
- up-grading the public services;
- raising the quality and the quantity of public constructions;
- improve the standard of public transport;
- improve the banking system.
The King believed that if his proposals could be introduced, the Tongan economy could be further improved despite Tonga's limited natural resources.
Prince Tu'ipelehake was accompanied to the soft closing of parliament by Prince Tungi and Lord Luani.
New session
King Tupou IV will officially open the new 2013-14 Session of the Tongan Parliament this week on 13 June.