Speaker surrenders right to appoint chairmen of committees

The surrender by the Speaker, Lord Tu'ivakano of his right to appoint the chairmen of the eight Parliamentary Standing Committees, and the approval by the House of Semisi Sika to be the Chairman of the Whole House Committee, were two controversial decisions that parliament approved in its first formal session of the Tongan Legislative Assembly on Thursday, 22 January. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.