From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

Chinese visitors whose visit to Tonga is organised by a local tourist operator will be the only ones eligible for a 30-days visa free stay in the country, the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva told the Tongan parliament on Wednesday, 15 June.

The Prime Minister and the Chinese Ambassador HE Mr Huang Huaguang on 9 June signed a Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement for ordinary passport holders.

The agreement enables citizens from Tonga and China to be exempted from visa requirements for entry into, from or transit through the territories of the other for a period of stay not exceeding 30 days.

Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva said that the intention is to improve Tonga’s foreign earnings, and that the visitors would be tourists "and not workers".

He said that the local tourism operator is a Tongan registered company.

Lord Fusitu’a questioned why only one tour operator had this privilege, and if it was advertised.

The Prime Minister responded that the sole tour operator who was given this privilege was a Chinese/Tongan, but any tour operator could apply for such a business opportunity.

The Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement was raised while Members of Parliament were debating over the budget allocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Prime Minister is also responsible for the Ministry of Education.

Loan from China

On a different issue, Lord Nuku wanted to know if government has been successful in getting Tonga’s USD$119 million loan from China written off. A bulk of this loan was for the reconstruction of Nuku’alofa after it was burned to the ground by protestors in 2006.

The Prime Minister explained that the loan was for the reconstruction of Nuku’alofa and for road reconstruction. He said that a number of visits has been made to China over the loan, but they had not been successful in writing it off. He said that Tonga's loan is not as much our neighbours.

“We are just trying to collect and repay the interest,” he said, “with hope that one day something will happen.”

Going back to the visa issue, Lord Nuku commented on how Tonga’s main source of foreign earnings is from remittances, about $230 million. He asked that if government could make a visa free agreement with China, why not make a Visa Free agreement with our neighbour, New Zealand?

US properties

The other budgetary issue that was raised while debating over the allocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were the allocations for the maintenance of government properties in the USA, $81,400 for San Francisco, and  $445,000 for New York.

The Prime Minister said that the San Francisco property is old, but thanks to the lady who is looking after the place.

“The issue is, can we continue with the maintenance or not?” he asked.

Epistle of Paul

The Chairman, told members it was lunchtime, and while having lunch read a verse from the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians.

After lunch the Chairman called for votes on Vote No. 5 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and it was passed 17-0.

The proceedings moved on to Vote No. 6 of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

The Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces HMAF, Lord Ma’afu said that there is a slight increase in the 2016-2017 budget allocation of $190,000.

Lord Tu’ilakepa wanted to know if the HMAF still offers courses on pilot training.

Lord Nuku suggested for the recruitment entry level for HMAF to be lowered to make it possible for Form 5 and 4 school leavers to be recruited. He reminded the committee of the more than 2000 school leavers who leave schools annually, with very little chance of getting a job.

Lord Ma’afu, said that they were still offering pilot training and that he would look into the possibility of lowering recruitment to Form 5 and 4.

Vote No. 6 of HMAF was carried with votes of 21-0.

Prime Minister’s Office

Vote No. 7 of the Prime Minister’s Office.

There is a 2% or $45,000 increase.

The Ha’apai PR No. 12, Vili Hingano asked for clarification on the role of a legal adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office. He queried why there is a need for such a post, considering there is a Ministry of Justice and a Solicitor General.

The Prime Minister explained that they still seek advice from the Attorney General, “but there are Bills we should draft ourselves. We need these legal advisers. They also drafted our papers to be distributed overseas.”

Lord Nuku suggested that the Prime Minister's Personal Assistant (his son) should receive a salary from government.

“Legalise the case and give him a salary,” said Lord Nuku. He suggested that it is something that the Minister of Finance and the Public Service Commission should do.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. ‘Aisake Eke pointed out that a minister is free to bring anybody in to his ministry.

“If that is the case he should stay at home,” said Lord Tu’ilakepa.

The Tongatapu No. 4 PR, Mateni Tapueluelu (a son-in-law of the PM) told the House that he refused to be accept his pay for being a member of a House Sub-committee.

“That is a completely different issue. This issue will not go away,” responded Lord Tu’ilakepa. He pointed to $266,000 for overseas trips, and a high cost for the refilling of vehicles.

The Chair called for votes, and Vote No. 7 of the Prime Minister's Office was carried 19-0.

Book of Psalms

After afternoon tea, the House move on to the vote of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Vote No. 8.

The Chairman read a verse from the book of Psalms in the old testament. [Every Vote in the budget is being introduced with a verse from the bible].

The Minister of Finance, Hon. ‘Aisake Eke told the committee that there is a 1% or $800,000 reduction in his 2016-2017 budget allocation.

He went on to talk about the government money that was given to the Tonga Development Bank (TDB) so that it could offer low-interest loans to the Private Sector. He said that about $5 million is still available to be borrowed from the TDB.

Lord Nuku suggested that if government wants to increase agricultural production, they should place an adviser in every district to advise growers on what and how to grow, as they used to in the past.

He said that it did not make sense for the Ministry to encourage people to grow sandal wood, when there was no sandal wood in the Ministry’s nursery.

The Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture, Hon. Semisi Fakahau admitted that the $5 million budget allocation for his ministry was too small. He said he was leaving soon to Rome for a meeting of the FAO, and he was hopeful that they might be willing to help with some capital fund, “and it should work.”

“You want to increase your staff, is it in your vote?” asked the Prime Minister.

“In Fisheries we need 27 employees, but we were given only five,” said Semisi.

Lord Nuku said, “We need more money, that is why he is going to Rome.”  He wanted to know what is happening to Tonga’s preparations to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

Over-time

The Speaker announced that the House would work over-time, until 6:00pm.

After a tea break, Lord Tu’ilakepa pointed out that there was an allocation of $300,000 to investigate a case relating to the Tongan Passports (an allegation of the illegal selling of Tongan Passports). He asked if the House could have a copy of a report of the investigation.

He also raised an issue that there is a conflict between the Prime Minister and the former Prime Minister Lord Sevele relating to the organising of the coming 2019 Pacific Games. He wanted to know if Tonga would still be able to host the games.

The Prime Minister repeated what he had told the House about visitors from the Papua New Guinea (PNG) government and from China who had left plans and pledged that they would build the sporting facilities, and they would be completed before the 2019 Pacific Games.

He moved for the Committee to pass Vote No. 8.

Delete the record

Lord Nuku wanted clarification about the reshuffling of Lord Sevele in the Organising Committee of the games.

The Prime Minister said that the reason for the change was because PNG wanted to help and they want to change the plan, that was it. “PNG cut the cost and that was why we accepted their offer. They pay for everything, and they want us to cut costs. That was why the change, and the involvement of the Facility Committee.”

“I don’t trust PNG,” said Lord Nuku.

“That is fine,” said the Prime Minister. “We trust PNG. We honour our talk.”

Hon. Semisi Fakahau said that he has just returned from Papua New Guinea, and they confirmed that they will help. He called to stop the media from publicising Lord Nuku’s comment.

“If PNG heard it they would say let's go and do it,” said Lord Tu’ilakepa.

“Strike it off!” said the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni.

“OK”, said Nuku.

“How? It is already out,” said Lord Tu’ilakepa.

“Take it out of our official record!” said the Chairman of the Whole House Committee.

“No law was broken,” said Lord Tu'i'afitu.

“Sports is for Peace,” said Lord Tu’iha’ateiho. “Now, it is stop that and allow that. . . With regards to PNG I also have doubts because because there is a Vote of No Confidence [against the Prime Minister and his government], and the shooting of students.”

The Chairman called for Votes on Vote No. 7. It was carried 18-0.

The proceedings moved on to Vote No. 8 of the Ministry of Revenue Collection and Customs.

More overtime

The Chairman read a verse from the bible, then the deliberation started.

The Minister for the Ministry of Revenue Collection and Custom, Hon. Tevita Lavemaau told the committee that the three pillars of his Corporate Plan are: Collect Revenue, Facilitate Trade and Protect Illegal Trading.

He said that the big jump in his Vote from $6 million last year to $25 million this year is because of the new $3.5 million Customs Building. It will be the first time for the ministry to have its own office. They have been using the Harbour Board Office and it has been very inconvenient for the public. In addition to the new building they will also put in place new computer equipment with appropriate software to speed up their service. He said that once the new office building with new computer software were in place they would go back to their usual low budget allocation.

Fatty mutton flaps

Lord Tu’ilakepa pleaded with the Minister to remove the extra duty that he placed on fatty mutton flaps. He reckoned that fatty mutton flaps is better than imported chicken.

He disagreed with government making money by putting heavy duty on mutton flaps and tobacco, which they claim to be bad for the people. He suggested that they should make money from something that is healthy.

Members started asking questions relating to different issues, such as allocations for Anti Corruption, Duty free on cleaning chemicals, no more international cargo ships calling at Ha’apai, and other things.

The Chairman called for votes on Vote No. 8. It was passed.

Bible verse

The proceeding moved on to Vote No. 9. The Chairman read a verse from the Bible.

The Prime Minister moved that they should vote.

Lord Tu’ilakepa  moved for the House to close.