On August 1, before the House decided to go into recess due to the ongoing civil service strike, the Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, expressed his dismay with what Clive Edwards had been saying on television, calling on the strikers to do something about public servants who were not on strike but were still working for government. He thought it was unusual for a former Minister of Police to say things like that. He said that what Clive was doing was inciting people to riot.

From the House, translation summary by Pesi Fonua.

Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 22, Monday August 1, 2005.

- Clive Edwards called on the Minister of Finance to clarify his figures of $36 million and $39 million, comparing with the $20 million that was calculated by the PSA.

- The Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, who chaired the Cabinet's negotiation team reported on offers and the negotiation.

- 'Akilisi Pohiva called for the House to close while they tried to find a solution to the strike.

- The Prime Minister said that the problem with 'Akilisi was that because he has no ears he could not hear that that was what he had been saying.

- Speaker called for the House to close until 2 p.m. Thursday, August 11.

President of Tahiti visits

The Speaker told the PM of a surprise visit by the President of Tahiti, Oscar Temaru, who landed at the Fua'amotu Airport on July 29 with 17 members of the Tahitian parliament, including the Speaker. He said he welcomed them at the airport, brought them to town and gave them refreshments.

A Tongatapu People's Representative, Clive Edwards wanted the Minister of Finance to clarify a statement he made in the House the previous Thursday, July 28, that the salary scale proposed by the striking Public Servants would need between $36 and $39 million. Clive said he was later informed by the public servants that they had met the Minister and he admitted to them that his figures were wrong. Clive said that if that was so, then the Minister had given the House wrong information, and he should withdraw the information he gave the House.

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho tried a number of times to respond to Clive Edwards because he was the chairman of the Government negotiation team, but Clive insisted that he wanted the Minister of Finance and no one else to clarify the issue.

The Minister of Finance explained that the proposal by the Public Servants Association (PSA) to raise the salaries of public servants from Level 2 to Level 14A amounted to $20 million. He said that in his calculation the figure was $36 million. He pointed out that the PSA figures excluded the police, prison warders, the Tonga Defence Service and government pensioners.

Clive thanked the Minister of Finance.

PM dismayed

The Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata also thanked the Speaker for welcoming the President of Tahiti.

On the issue of the civil service strike he expressed his dismay with what Clive Edwards had been saying on television, calling on the strikers to do something about public servants who were not on strike but were still working for government. He thought it was unusual for a former Minister of Police to say things like that. He said that what Clive was doing was inciting people to riot.

The Attorney General and the chairman of the government negotiation team Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, said that his committee met with representatives of the Public Servants Association at 7pm on Friday July 29. He said that it was for the first time that the PSA made it known to Cabinet that they wanted to talk since they called for a salary rise of 60, 70 and 80% before they returned to work. He said that the Cabinet's proposal was for a 12.5% rise across board based on the salary scale as it was on June 30.

He called on members of the House to work together to find a solution to the problem.

He expressed his concern that there was a trial by the media on television.

The Minister of Justice also told the House that he had just received a note from PSA requesting for a meeting.

Go and do something

A Tongatapu People's Representative, 'Akilisi Pohiva called for the proceedings in the House to close and for the Cabinet's committee to go and do something.

The Prime Minister said that if only 'Akilisi had ears because that was what he had been proposing, for the House to go on recess, allowing the negotiating team of the Cabinet time to talk with the negotiating team of the PSA.

The Speaker announced for the House to close until 2 p.m., Thursday August 11.