Tonga will find out that it can't afford civil service pay rise, says PM [1]
Tuesday, October 4, 2005 - 17:45. Updated on Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 22:21.
Tonga's Prime Minister Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, told parliament last week that the country cannot afford to pay for the demands won by civil servants. He said that during the six week strike the Government's stance was to maintain peace. They could not afford the demands they had agreed to and that was basically what the country would find out.
From the House, a translation summary by Pesi Fonua.
Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 31, Monday September 26, 2005.
- $US10,000 gift from Fujian Parliamentarians to the Tongan parliament.
- Eight Bills were tabled into the House.
- Question by members on the legality of the Minister and the Ministry of Forestry, since one of the Bills that was presented to the House was for the establishment of not a Ministry of Forestry but a Ministry of Trees.
- 'Uliti moved for the rejection of the amendment and the proposed establishment of a Ministry of Trees, he said that it was a waste of $2 million pa'anga.
- 'Uliti Uata proposed for Sione Peauafi Haukinima to become Deputy Prime Minister, and for Dr Feleti Sevele to become Prime Minister.
- Dispute over who was operating in secret, the government, Clive Edwards or the People's Representatives.
- PM said that Ha'apai People's Representatives were trouble makers in the House.
The Speaker, Hon. Veikune, asked the Minister of Education and the Minister of Justice to accompany the Acting Minister of Finance on his swearing in as a member of parliament.
The Acting Minister of Finance, 'Aisake Valu Eke, took his oath.
The Speaker informed the House that a group of parliamentarians from the district of Fujian in China visited Tonga and presented a cheque of $US10,000. He said that it was a traveller's cheque, and it was made out to him personally, but it was for the House. He called for the House to proceed with bills which had been listed in their agenda for the day.
The Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, requested for the suspension of Bills No. 6 and 7 [titles unknown] for further adjustment.
The Clerk of the House gave the first reading of Bill No. 8, titled, the amended Forestry Act 2005.
In its first reading it was carried with votes of 16-0.
After its second reading a Ha'apai People's Representative, 'Uliti Uata, moved for the Bill to be tabled into Committee for debate.
The Clerk read Bill No. 9, an amendment to the Insecticide Act 2002.
It was carried after its first reading, and after its second reading the 'Eua People's Representative, Sunia Fili moved for it to be tabled into committee for debate.
Other bills read
The Clerk read Bill No. 10, an amendment to the Quaranteen Act. It was carried 16-0, but after its second reading a a Vava'u People's Represenative, Vili Helu, moved for it to be tabled into committee for debate.
The clerk read Bill No. 11, an amendment to the Noxious Weed Act. It was carried 16-0. After its second reading a a Ha'apai People's Representative, Fineasi Funake, moved for it to be tabled into Committee for debate.
Bill No. 12 was read. A Bill for an Act on International crimes and to stop terrorism. It was carried 16-0. After its second reading 'Eua People's Representative, Sunia Fili, moved for it to tabled into committee.
Bill No. 13, a bill for an act on illegal use of aircraft. It was carried 16-0. After its second reading 'Eua People's Representative, Sunia Fili, moved for it to be tabled into committee.
Bill No. 14, was read. An amendment to the Act on money laundering 2000. It was carried 16-0. After its second reading People's Representative, Sunia Fili, moved for it to be tabled into committee.
Bill No. 15 was read. A amendment to the National Reserve Bank Act. It was carried 16-0. After its second reading 'Eua People's Representative, Sunia Fili moved for it to be lowered into committee.
Forestry Act Amendment
The Speaker dissolved Legislature and the Chairman of the Whole House Committee, Noble Tu'iha'angana took his chair. He called for debate to start with Bill No. 8 2005, the amendment to the Forestry Act. He asked the Minister for clarification.
The Minister for Forestry said there were main amendments to the Principal Act. First is the deletion of the words Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to be replaced with the Ministry of Trees. Replace the word director with secretary and the deleting of all references to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and replace them with the Minister of Trees.
A Vava'u People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu, suggested that the changing in the Tongan language from the "Minisita Vaotata" to "Minisita of Vao'akau" should also change the English translation from the Minister of Forestry to a Minister of Trees.
A Ha'apai People's Representative, Fineasi Funaki, expressed his concern that the amendment would move the concern of this ministry from forestry to attending to flower gardens.
A Ha'apai People's Representative, 'Uliti Uata, queried the logic for the House to approve the establishment of a new ministry. He stressed that there was no urgent need for the establishment of such a ministry. He estimated that it would cost $2 million to set up this new ministry, for no good reason, whereas at the moment the Ministry of Agriculture could take care of the forestry as well. He moved for Forestry to remain under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata said that 'Uliti was talking about the waste of time and government's money, but if he was the elected People's Representative who was appointed as minister he would not say that the ministerial position was a waste of time.
'Uliti Uata said that if he was appointed to this new ministry he would resign. He said that government did not do justice to the selection of the people. He said that the Minister for Forestry, Hon. Sione Peauafi Haukinima, should be the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour, Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele, should be Prime Minister. He moved for the proposed amendment to be rejected.
Ministers called
The Prime Minister told 'Uliti Uata that Cabinet Ministers were also elected, the difference was that they did not have to convince people to vote for them, like the People's Representatives, they had been just living their normal life at home, suddenly they were called to come and do a job and so they were doing they best they could. He said that the new minister was elected by the people of the Niuas and he believed that it was a very important ministry.
'Uliti said that there was no forestry in the Niuas.
The Prime Minister said that the Niuas needs were similar to that of Ha'apai, and the Niua Representative attended the House more regularly than those from Ha'apai, he said that most of the PRs were from Ha'apai and they were prolonging the work of the House.
Operating in secret
'Uliti Uata rebutted that the Prime Minister was a waste of time. He said that what they were doing was transparent, on the Radio and TV and the people knew what they were trying to do, unlike the ministers, including the Prime Minister who were operating in secret.
The Prime Minister said that government was not operating in secret. He said that the Tongatapu People's Representative Clive Edwards was one person who was operating in secret.
'Uliti asked, What did he do?
Prime Minister responded that 'Uliti should ask Clive about the constitutional changes that he was campaigning for, and he had shown to some of his relatives, and that 'Uliti was also involved.
Tongatapu People's Representative Clive Edwards wanted to correct the PM, that his proposed amendment to the constitution was given to the people first because that was what they wanted, and once they agreed, he would then present it to him. It was not ready yet to be presented to him.
The Prime Minister thanked Clive for the misinformation. He said he wanted to correct 'Uliti because 'Uliti was trying to please people because they voted for him, but in reality what he did for them was not what they wanted.
Clive Edwards remarked on how strange was the Prime Minister, that while he was correcting 'Uliti he accused him.
The Prime Minister said there was a connection, both 'Uliti and Clive were from Ha'apai.
'Uliti Uata replied that Clive was their legal adviser.
The PM responded that 'Uliti had been wrongly advised to go out and please the people who voted for him and not to do what he thought was best for the country.
'Ulilti Uata hit back by saying that the PM wrongly advised government, causing the strike.
Not affordable
The PM said that the wrong advice that was given by Clive to 'Uliti for the strike to continue, nearly did not end the strike. He said that the Government's stance was to maintain peace, and they had explained that it could not afford the demands and that was basically what the country would find out.
Clive said that under the PM's leadership government had been misguided. He said that the existing Ministry of Forestry was illegal because this amendment should have taken place first before the establishment of the ministry.
PM said that Clive was right and that he should have amended the law relating to the Chinese before restructuring immigration.
'Uliti in an effort to get the debate back to the Bill, moved for the amendment to be rejected and for government not to waste $2 million in establishing a Ministry of Trees.
Misled
The Prime Minister said that the $2 million was no comparison to the $35 million that government has to come up with to meet the salary rise of Civil Servants. He said that during the coming two years people would realize how they had been misled.
On a different issue, the Deputy Prime Minister said that it was not right that nobles who are Cabinet Ministers should receive three salaries.
A Vava'u People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu suggested that if Ministers were paid only one salary, a lot of money could be saved.
The PM responded to Samiu Vaipulu by saying that the best solution would be for no more salary rise for members of parliament and for the House to close early so that they could save a million to pay for the $35 million salary rise. He said that the House began the salary rise last year when it raised its own salaries. The House is also in the process of raising its own salaries, and that only the House where members have withdrawn all their pensions, before the government's salary rise.
Clive Edwards wanted to know why government did not stop the salary rises of the House if they thought it was not proper.
The Prime Minister said that this was the kind of lie which misled the people. He said that the majority in the House were the People's Representatives and the Noble's Representatives and not government.
Salary rise
Clive Edwards felt that the PM was lost because he talked about the salary rise of the House as though he was not a member of the House.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Cecil Cocker, said that it was a grave misunderstanding to think that Ministers received salaries from the House. He said that only members of parliament received salaries from the House and they were members of parliament.
Appointed ministers
Samiu Vaipulu pointed out that according to the Rules and Regulations of the House, members of Parliament meant elected members of the House.
The PM said that ministers were elected by one person as it was stated in the constitution, and that they did not go out and tell lies to people in kava parties.
Samiu Vaipulu insisted that Ministers were not elected members of the House, they were appointed.
The PM argued that they were elected by the king.
Clive Edwards pointed out that it was clear in their book of regulations that ministers were appointed and not elected.