From the House, translation summary by Pesi Fonua.

Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 27, Monday August 22, 2005.

- The Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Cecil Cocker, expressed his disappointment that the striking Civil Servants were encouraging Tongans in New Zealand to demonstrate against the king in Auckland.

- Clive Edwards said there was no connection between the Striking Civil Servants and the Auckland demonstrators.

- The Governor of Vava'u appealed to House for members to work together and find a solution to the problem.

- 'Akilisi Pohiva reckoned that if government would not give in to the demand by the Civil Servants, the country would be destroyed.

- Samiu Vaipulu proposed for Prince Tu'ipelehake and the members of parliament to go to Pangai Si'i and appeal to the Striking Civil Servants to return to work, and let the House find a solution to their problems.

- 'Akilisi Pohiva's solution to the problem was for the Prime Minister to go on television and radio and apologise to the civil servants.

Acting Ministers

The Speaker, Hon. Veikune, said that the Secretary for the Prince Regent, Sateki 'Ahio, had informed him that the Prince Regent agreed for Paulo Kautoke to be the Acting Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries. He called on the Minister of Forestry Hon. Sione Haukinima and the Acting Minister of Education Hon. Viliami Takau, to come forward and assist in the swearing in ceremony.

Prince Tu'ipelehake wanted to know when the Acting Minister of Education was sworn in.

Strike negotiations

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, told the House of a meeting between a negotiation team of the Cabinet and that of the Striking Civil Servants, and discussed figures that were proposed for the salary rise of the public servants. He also expressed his optimism that a solution would be found before the end of the week.

Prince Tu'ipelehake asked the Minister to further elaborate on his remark that a solution to the strike would be reached before the end of the week. He wondered if the arrival of an independent arbitrator and an independent auditor would bring an end to the strike.

The Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Cecil Cocker, expressed his disappointment with striking civil servants who continued to incite Tongans overseas, particularly in New Zealand to demonstrate against the king at the royal residence, 'Atalanga in Auckland. He said that a group of about 100 people marched to 'Atalanga on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He urged the civil Servants to stop the demonstration while they were trying to bring in an arbitrator and an auditor.

A Tongatapu People's Representative, Clive Edwards, the legal adviser of the striking civil servants, told the Acting Prime Minister that the strikers had no connection whatsoever with the people who demonstrated against the king in Auckland. He said that some overseas trade unions had contacted the Public Servants Association PSA an offered their assistance.

The Acting Minister of Education, Hon, Viliami Takau, reported that all government schools in 'Eua had not been opened, and government schools in Ha'apai, Vava'u and 'Eua were partially in operation. He said that even Tongans had the right not to withdraw their service, some also had the right to continue to offer their service. He expressed his concern over the impact of the strike on the education of children.

Clive Edwards said that students (from Tonga College) who were arrested for the damaging of the college's property were to appear in court today, and he was thankful to the minister for his decision not to dismiss the students from school.

Family dies in fire

The Eua People's Representative, Sunia Fili, told the House of a disaster in 'Eua where a mother and her five children were burnt to death when their house went up on fire. He begged the Minister of Police, Hon. Nuku, for a fire engine for 'Eua.

A Vava'u People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu, asked if the matter that was discussed last Friday, about the demand by civil servants for a salary rise should be debated by the House.

The Governor of Vava'u, Hon. 'Akau'ola appealed for the House to work together to find a solution to the strike, particularly to enable teachers to return to work for the sake of Tonga's school children.

Job descriptions

The Legislature was dissolved into committee and the Chairman of the whole House Committee Noble Havea Tu'iha'angana took his chair.

A Ha'apai People's Representative, Fineasi Funaki, expressed his disbelief in the process of how the Job Description of a public servant was prepared. He thought that the process of a public servant preparing his own job description was unacceptable, and he suggested that government should prepare the job description. He said that the main cause of the strike was discrepancies over job descriptions in the different levels of the public service.

A Tongatapu People's Representative, 'Akilisi Pohiva, told the member that the search for a solution to the strike had gone past job descriptions, the situation now was about figures, whose figures were right, the government's or the striking public servants?

The Minister of Works, Hon. Tu'ivakano, agreed with 'Akilisi and suggested that the debate focus of the figures that were provided by the two parties and leave the job description for individual ministries to deal with.

Arbitration

Fineasi Funaki expressed his concern over an estimated $100,000 that would be spent to get a foreign arbitrator to arbitrate the two parties to the strike.

Prince Tu'ipelehake queried the figures that was given by the member. He also wanted to know if there was an offer from one of the high commissioners to finance an arbitrator.

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, said that there had already been a proposal from one of the foreign missions.

Prince Tu'ipelehake wanted to know if the two negotiating parties had agreed on an arbitrator.

The Minister of Justice said that an arbitrator had been identified and both parties had agreed, and this person had been approached.

'Akilisi Pohiva referred to a meeting on Friday when both parties presented their figures, and according to his judgment the figures of the striking public servants were correct, and therefore he suggested for the government to give in to the demand of the Public Servants, because the alternative would be destruction of the country.

The Minister for Forestry said that the Cabinet had a representative in the meeting that 'Akilisi referred to and according to him both parties had not agreed so he suggested for the House to urgently work hard to find a solution and end the strike.

A Ha'apai People's Representative, 'Uliti Uata, wanted to know if the minister's salary that he received on July 15 was based on the new or the old salary scale.

The minister replied that he was paid on a scale that was passed by the House. He said that the House might not agree on the figures but they could all agreed on a solution.

Political reform

When the House re-convened after lunch a Tongatapu Noble's Representative, Prince Tu'ipelehake reminded the House of Resolution No. 1 that was passed by the House in 2004 for the establishment of a National Committee to look at political reform for Tonga. He was presenting some more details on his motion, including terms of reference.

The Acting Prime Minister pointed out that it was normal practice that following the passing of a resolution by the House to await a reply from Cabinet before the House takes any further action.

Prince Tu'ipelehake said that his presentation was in preparation for when Cabinet replied to the House's resolution.

The Speaker reminded the Acting Prime Minister that the Resolution was passed in 2004, and he was not in the House at that time.

The Legislature was dissolved into Committee and the debate continued with the Cabinet response to the Resolution that was passed by the House on the demand by the striking Civil Servants for a salary rise.

Peace and stability

The Speaker, Noble Veikune, expressed his concern over the possibility for the strike to lead to instability in the country with a possible destruction of properties. He suggested that it was important for members of parliament to remain neutral in their search for a solution to the problem and to maintain the peace and stability that Tonga was known for.

A Vava'u People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu, said that the strike had gone on for too long and it had affected the schooling of children and strangled economic development. He suggested that it was time for the House to get involved. He suggested for Prince Tu'ipelehake and the members of the House to go over to Pangai Si'i and plead with the strikers to return to work and let the House find a solution to their problems.

Samiu Vaipulu said that Clause 75 of the Constitution had been infringed by cabinet ministers because they had not done anything about the Resolution. He also pointed out that the country had lost millions because of this prolonged strike.

'Akilisi Pohiva said that the problem with the new salary scale was because of the big rise that was given to the top level, leaving the rest of the civil service too far behind, and that was how they justified their 60, 70, and 80% demand. He again stressed his belief that the situation was getting dangerous, and pointed to what had happened in Auckland.

The Minister of Police expressed a different opinion and said that as far as he was concerned things were getting better.

'Akilisi said that the Minister of Police was right and that things would get better, but first we would have to suffer.

The Minister of Justice wondered if 'Akilisi with all his expertise, what would be his solution to the problem.

'Akilisi said it was easy. He said that the Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, should go on television and on the radio and apologise to the public servants that mistakes had been made. He said that if the PM could lower himself and apologise it would end the strike.