From the House, by Pesi Fonua

The Budget debate in the Whole House Committee of the Tongan Parliament was stymied yesterday, as questions piled up in a 150 minute brain teaser - whereby the Minister of Finance was not allowed to answer until members had no more questions.

The new procedure was introduced by the new Chairman of the Whole House Committee, Penisimani Fifita, for members to ask all their questions about Tonga’s biggest budget of $545.1m, while ‘Aisake was to take notes and prepare to answer them when they finished.

However, after about two and a half hours of questioning what is a historical budget for an economy that is struggling to see the light of the day, without hearing any answers or sensing any reaction, one wondered what was going on in the Falealea – the House of Talking.

The message from the new Chairman of the Whole House Committee Penisimani Fifita was that the Minister of Finance would be given a chance to answer the member's questions later when the proceeding moved to his budget statement. The other Cabinet ministers would be given the chance to talk only on the vote of their specific ministry, later.

Well, after lunch, the Prime Minister asked if they could comment on a matter of policy relating to some of the questions that had been raised, and leave the details relating to specific vote of a particular ministry to when they get there.

The answer was "no, you have to wait for your turn".

The Prime Minister left the proceedings before the People's Representative for Ha’apai Constituent No. 12, Vili Manuopangai Hingano told the Committee that they were going in the wrong direction, and that the minister would not remember all the questions that they had asked.

It seemed to strike a chord and the Minister of Finance was given the chance to try and answer about 22 questions.

He started from the latest ones, either because those were the only one he could remember, or they were the easier ones.

Constituency Fund

With regards to the proposal to increase the Constituency Fund to meet the need of constituents. The Minister of Finance said that they had been given about 900,000 street lights by the Chinese Government to be distributed to the villages.

With regards to the report on ‘Etuate Lavulavu, he said that the report had been handed over to the Public Service Commission.

The question on "what is the biggest challenge to our development?", was asked and answered by Lord Fusitu’a as "Corruption".

'Aisake said that Climate change was the biggest challenge, and that was why they are looking at developing a Green Economy.

While the Minister of Finance was still trying to answer members’ questions, the Chairman was posing to call for a vote on the Budget Statement, but Vili Hingano again saved the day, by querying the Chairman, "Why the hurry, leave it for tomorrow?".

Questions for the Minister of Finance to answer remained:

Mateni Tapueluelu -

1. What is happening to the construction of the facilities for the 2019 Pacific Games?

Samiu Vaipulu -

2. Why wasn't the $3.5m allocation for the construction of the Customs Building included in the initial budget that was circulated to members of the House?
3. In the initial budget there was a deficit. Why?
4. Why do we have to amend our law because of pressure from overseas, so that we could become a signature to CEDAW?
5. He believed that the budget allocation for the various island group of Tongatapu, Vava’u, Niua, Ha’apai and ‘Eua is unfair, with 60% for Tongatapu, 4% for Vava’u and 2% for Ha’apai.
6. He said that the Prime Minister lied to the House last year about actual amount that government paid the Forbes Magazine.

Lord Vaea -

7. Wanted to know if there was a public consultation over the Tonga Strategic Development Plan?
8. Queried the big increase in the budget allocation of the Ministry of Education, considering that this is one ministry that has not been doing a good job.
9. Wanted to know if the 2019 Pacific Games will go ahead.
10. There is a lot of talk about deep sea mining. Are there minerals under our sea?
11. Concern about our foreign relations. Specifically, he was concern with the Prime Minister confronting Indonesia about Irian Jaya. He did not think it was good for the Tongan Prime Minister to be photographed together with "terrorists", West Papuan Freedom Fighters.

Lord Fusitu’a -

12. He wanted to know how government is financing the budget, since there is no tax increase. Are we relying entirely on overseas aid to finance the budget?
13. He expressed his concern that a high percentage of the budget goes toward the salaries of civil servants. How does Sustainable Development fit into that?

Lord Tu’ivakano -

14. He commented on the theme of this year’s budget "Plan the work and work the plan..." He said that this is not happening in the Ministry of Education.
15. He believed there is a misuse of public funds, when government recently bought a lot of broken vehicles.
16. He also expressed his concern over an increase in the number of civil servants, which he said is now about 5,000.
17. Queried the Chinese loan for the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa. He said that the loan should be repaid by the companies whose properties were rebuilt and not by government.
18. Queried the payment of $1m for the lease of the Vava’u Market. He wanted to know if government was just paying a lease or buying back the market?
19. Wanted to know the deal that government agreed to over the Tanoa Dateline Hotel.

Lord Fusitu’a -

20. Asked a question which he also answered. What is the biggest challenge for our development? "Corruption".

Lord Vaea -

21. Wondered if he could have a copy of the Auditor’s report on ‘Etuate Lavulavu, that was supposed to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance.

Mateni Tapueluelu -

22. Wondered if it is possible to increase the House’s $150,000 Constituency Fund.