Finance Committee calls for investigation into House spending [1]
Wednesday, June 8, 2005 - 16:15. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 13:08.
From the House, by Pesi Fonua
Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute no. 3, Monday June 6, 2005
On Monday, Tonga's former Speaker was refused an opportunity to rebut a claim by the House Finance Committee that about $108,000 was unaccounted for during the change over period to the new Speaker.
Both the Chairman of the House and the Speaker denied a request by the former Speaker, Noble Tu'ivakano, to reply to what he said were damaging allegations made by the Finance Committee.
The working agenda of the House for the day included the swearing in of two Acting Ministers; and the reports of the two Standing Committees, the Law and the Finance Committees.
There was also a fierce debate over a recommendation by the Law Committee for the House to issue letters and terminate the employment of staff in the House before they advertised for new staff.
Acting Ministers
Top on the agenda of the House was the swearing in of two Acting Ministers, Tevita Latu Malolo as the acting Minister of Lands, and Pita Faiva-'i-Moana Taufatofua as the Acting Minister of Agriculture.
Following the swearing in of the Acting Ministers, the Speaker called on the members of the House to stand in silence for two minutes, in the memory of the No. 1 Noble's Representative for Tongatapu, Hon. Vaha'i who had passed away on May 21 .
Committee reports
Next on the working agenda of the House was the presentation of reports from the Law Committee and the Finance Committee, but before the reports were read, the Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho queried the legality of the Speaker's decision for the committees to have more members than what was stated in the House's regulation, for Standing Committee not to have less than 9 or more than 12 members. He said that each of the committee had between 14 and 16 members.
The Speaker agreed with the Minister and pointed out that they could suspend their Regulation under Clause 179 in order for the House to proceed and for the reports, which had been tabled, to be read. He called for votes and it was carried, 22-0.
Clive Edwards raised an issue that under the constitution they could not pass retrospective decisions, but he said that the House had authority over its Regulation but a date must be set for when the Regulation was suspended. The Speaker called for votes on the suspension of the Regulation under Clause 179, to start from May 31. It was carried 22-0.
The Speaker called on the clerk to read the report from the Law Committee.
With regards to the staff of the House, the committee found that there were shortfalls and their recommendation to correct those shortfalls were -
1. For staff to be issued with letters, terminating their working contract for 2005 and for the posts to be advertised.
2. For new working contracts to be drafted.
3. To restructure the staffing, and new posts to be established with specified job description.
The committee proposed for the current staff to continue in 2005, and for all the new applicants to be informed that no posts were available.
Private Member's Bill
With regards to the Private Members' Bill of the nine People's Representatives, it proposed for it to be presented to the House for its deliberation.
The report was presented by the Chairman of the Law Committee, Hon Siaosi 'Aho.
The clerk then read the report from the Finance Committee.
The committee met and the Minister of Finance clarified his estimated budget and the Consumption Tax. There was also a discussion on the Customs Duty and the proposed government salary rise.
Concern
The committee also felt that the House should lead in accountability, transparency and honesty particularly in relation to financial matters. But there were areas of great concern -
1. Before parliament closed last year, the former Speaker requested $300,000 to meet some of the House's financial needs. According to the Pay Clerk, at the closure of the House on 15-11-2004 there was a balance of $281,520.69 left. During the period on 21-03-05 when the new Speaker took over from the old Speaker, the balance went down to $172,791.95. The committee believed that there was excessive spending within a short time, particularly when the House was not in session.
2. The committee was very concerned over how the budget of the House was spent.
3. There should be a monthly financial report and the books of the House should be audited annually by an independent auditor.
The Committee recommended for a report on the expenditure of the House since parliament closed, together with the monthly financial report of the House.
Staff of the House
The Speaker said that next on the agenda was to select the staff of the House.
The process of selecting staff for the House, although appearing to be a simple matter, had been a problem area for the House since 1994. Traditionally the staff were public servants who worked for parliament when parliament was in session, and then they returned to their government jobs when the House closed. The latest decision on how to select the staff was last year when it was decided for job vacancies to be advertised and for the House to select from applicants.
Clive Edwards further emphasised the recommendation made by the committee for a termination letter to be sent out to the staff before the vacancies were advertised, and for the House to select from the applicants.
'Akilisi said there was no need for the termination notice, because staff of the House took it for granted that there would be a selection every three years, and if they were not selected they lost their jobs. Clive insisted that there was an infringement of natural justice and they should be formally terminated before they advertised for new applicants.
The House was divided over the recommendation of the Law Committee and those who adhered to a decision passed by the House last year.
Hon. Siaosi 'Aho raised the fact that there was no point for the Law Committee to work overtime, which he estimated to have cost the House $3,000, if the House did not accept the recommendation of the committee.
After a long debate the Chairman of the Whole House Committee called for votes on whether to accept the recommendation of the Law Committee or not. It was rejected 15-14. For it were, 'Isileli Pulu, Clive Edwards, Samiu Vaipulu, Governor of Vava'u, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Acting Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Finance, Minister of Health, the Acting Minister of Land, the Attorney General, the Minister of Works, Nobles 'Ahome'e, Fohe, and Tangipa.
Former Speaker
The Minister of Works, Noble Tu'ivakano, the former Speaker, wanted to make a comment on the allegation by the Finance Committee that there was a huge overspending during the changing over period from him to the new Speaker. He asked for him to make a comment while the House was still in committee, he wanted to clear his name because he had been accused by the committee for misappropriation of funds. The Chairman did not want to give him an opportunity, he told him to ask the Speaker.
The Committee was resolved into Legislature and the Noble Tu'ivakano begged the Speaker for the matter to be discussed in Committee, but the Speaker said that they should discuss the matter outside and maybe include it in the agenda for another day.