Tonga's Deputy PM shocked over MP's call for his resignation [1]
Wednesday, June 8, 2005 - 17:15. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 13:08.
The bad smell of Tonga's lost $20 million National Trust Fund, resurfaced in the Tongan parliament yesterday morning, June 7, when the No. 1 Vava'u People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu, demanded that the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Cecil Cocker resign.
Samiu, in 2001, was the Chairman of a Parliamentary sub-committee to investigate firstly, if the investment of the Trust Fund was legal, and secondly, if there was any money left. He said that he discovered that the illegal handling of the Trust Fund started in 1994, and two Cabinet Ministers had since resigned because of the loss of the Trust Fund. Samiu therefore said he felt obligated to ask the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Cecil Cocker, to resign because he was the instigator of the illegal handling of the Trust Fund in 1994. Samiu did not elaborate more on the issue other than calling for Hon. Cecil Cocker to resign.
The Minister for Forestry, the Hon. Sione Peauafi Haukinima, said that what Samiu had said was news to the House, and he asked for the member to present some facts for the House to work with.
The Deputy Prime Minister later expressed his utter shock with what Samiu had said. He said that he was the Minister of Finance in 1994 and the Trust Fund was securely deposited at the Bank of America. He said that during his time the Trust Fund was still with the Bank of America, but he said he would like to see what evidence the member had found that he did something illegal.
The House then proceeded to the selection of its staff for 2005-2007.