From the House

By Pesi Fonua

The Tonga Parliament this morning decided off-the-cuff to close for the day to enable members to farewell a Papua New Guinea government delegation visiting Tonga since Saturday, 29 January.

The delegation led by Hon. Justin Tkatchenkon, the Papua New Guinea Minister for National Events, Sports and Tourism has been in Tonga for a few days to assess what they might contribute to enable Tonga to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

It has been estimated that it would cost Tonga USD$80 million to host the Games.

However, with only three years to go before the Games, most of the money making projects that government has announced have yet to be activated.

In an emotional plea this morning, the Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva wanted the House to close down for the day to enable members to attend a farewell reception, and to also farewell the delegation at the airport.

The PM was touched by the friendship that was extended to him and his delegation when they visited PNG two weeks ago seeking assistance to enable Tonga to host the Games in 2019.

The PM told the House that they stayed in the top hotel in Port Moresby and it was paid for by the government of Papua New Guinea.

The Speaker, Lord Tu’ivakano, Tonga’s former Prime Minister reminded Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva that the friendly relations between the two countries was well founded. He said that the last time he visited PNG as Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of PNG made a contribution of $5 million, which he forwarded to the Treasury.

He suggested for the Prime Minister and the Minister for Sports to go and farewell the PNG Minister and his delegation.

Lord Tu’ilakpea pointed out that there are pressing issues relating to the government’s efforts to finance the Games that government should clarify, such as what happened to the proposed Levy on foreign currency transfers and the Departure Tax.

He also wanted to know what happened to Tonga’s Pacific Games Organizing Committee. It had been well publicised for weeks that the Prime Minister wanted the Chairman of the committee Lord Sevele and his Committee to resign.

No reply

There was no answer from government to the questions in the House, they appeared to be all so emotionally touched by the gesture of the PM of PNG, Hon. Peter O’Neill, to send a delegation to Tonga following the visit by PM Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva and his delegation seeking help.

The Speaker called for votes for the House to close for the day so that members could attend a lunch reception and then say farewell to the PNG delegation at the Fua’amotu Airport.

According to the Clerk of the House all members were in favour for the House to close until 10:00 am tomorrow, Wednesday.