From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tonga’s construction of sporting facilities, in preparation for the 2019 Pacific Games will start “not long from now,” Hon. Fe’ao Vakata, told the Tongan Parliament on Tuesday, 28 June.

Hon. Fe’ao Vakata, the Minister for Internal Affairs, Employment and Youth, was responding to a query by Lord Nuku who asked “when will the construction start?”

Hon Vakata expressed an opinion that because the upgrading of the Teufaiva Stadium is urgent it would start soon, funded with $1.9 million, the remnants of a New Zealand government aid package for the upgrading of Teufaiva.

He said that the upgrading of Teufaiva is a priority, to enable Tonga to host international rugby test games here.

Rugby test

The ‘Ikale Tahi are scheduled to play Wales at Teufaiva early next year.

For the ‘Ikale Tahi to qualify to participate in the 2019 World Rugby Cup in Japan, it will have to play Uruguay and Italy in November.

Hon. Vakata was also optimistic that the construction of other sporting facilities for the 2019 Pacific Games, funded by the Chinese government would start either later this year or early next year, and that they were still negotiating with PNG.

Lord Vaea suggested for Hon. Vakata to forget about rugby and concentrate in preparing for the 2019 Pacific Games.

Apostle and 9 programs

The budget debate in the Whole House Committee over Vote No. 17 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – Employment and Youth, began with the chairman's fondness for reading a verse from the bible- this time from the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians.

Hon. Vakata told the Committee he has nine working programs.

He said that Cultural performance is one and they are planning to make it part of the annual Agricultural Show. The Cultural Centre at Tofoa is back under the care of his ministry and they are looking at reopening the museum.

He said that there is a $5 million World Bank program to Up-skill Youth and wood carving, and sports which had been proven very successful.

He claimed that over a million wood carved products were exported within seven weeks, and with sports he told of success stories of young Tongans who were recruited to play professional sport in the USA, and one young man in his early 20s, who had just visited Tonga has just signed a $21m sporting contract in the USA.

There were also the fruit pickers, 1,250 in New Zealand and 2,179 in Australia, their success and fail stories.

With regards to CEDAW, he is conscious that there was opposition but they are looking at the possibility of having a woman's seat in parliament, and for women to become Town and District Officers.

Human rights

On a different issue, Lord Tu’iha’angana moved for the $600,000 allocation for each of the four Development Committees of ‘Eua, Ha’apai, Vava’u and the two Niuas to be moved from the budget allocation of the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Employment and Youth.

Lord Nuku queried the allocation of $2.2 milion for training and conference on human rights.

Hon. Vakata explained the allocation was an Australian aid to finance the drafting of  legislations to protect women’s right and to reduce the abuse of women.

Gossip

The issue of women committing adultery was raised, and Lord Tu’ilakepa told of a case, that once the woman said that she admitted that she likes the other man, she won the case.

The Chairman expressed his surprise that adultery is free.

He called for votes on Vote No. 17 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Employment and Youth was carried 21-0.

Hymn reading

The Chairman called for the proceeding to move on to Vote No. 18 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

(Normally, it is the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries, but this year the Fisheries Division comes under Vote No. 24).

This time instead of reading a verse from the bible, to bless the debate on Vote No. 18, the chairman spelled out Hymn No. 204.

Lord Tu’ilakepa moved for the committee to pass Vote No. 18.

Lord Nuku queried the drop in money prizes that used to be awarded during the show from $100,000 to $10,000.

The Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries, Hon. Semisi Fakahau said that the total allocation for this year’s show is $500,000, and tourism will also be part of this year’s show.

He stressed that the budget allocation for Agriculture, Food and Forestry is only for 2016. (The total budget allocation was not stated).

Lord Tu’i’afitu pointed the fact that the total budget allocation for the show is $500,000, and the cost of tents for the show amounted to $700,000.

There was no clear explanation, but the chairman called for votes on Vote No. 18 and it was carried 20-0.

When they voted for Vote no. 18 they also included Vote No. 24 for Fisheries in the same voting.

Psalms and palms

The proceeding moved on to Vote No. 19 of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Tourism.

The Chairman did his bible reading from the Book of Psalms.

Lord Vaea expressed his concern that the Minister was not present. He pointed out that a big portion of the $53 million allocation for the Ministry is for Infrastructure. He also reminded the house that there was a big mess up in the Ministry of Infrastructure last year. He said that there were many questions to be answered. He proposed for the debate on Vote No. 19 to be deferred until the minister returned.

The Chairman called for votes and Vote No. 19 was carried 20-0.

More Psalms

The proceeding in the Whole House Committee moved on to Vote No. 20 of the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources.

The Chairman’s bible reading was again from the Book of Psalms.

Lord Vaea wanted to know something about the work of the Ministry relating to the land, survey and mineral resources and its $7 million budget.

Lord Ma’afu said that a survey is being carried out to help them make a decision if it is still justifiable for government town allotment at three poles and tax allotment at eight acres, taking into consideration the massive internal migration from the outer islands to Nuku’alofa and Tongatapu.

He also reminded the Committee that 83% of his budget allocation is to buy back the market in Neiafu, Vava’u; the ‘Utukalongalu Market.

With regards to deep sea mining, two companies are scheduled to start next year, and that China will help with our search for oil.

The Chairman called for votes and Vote NO. 20 was carried 21-0.

Gospel according to PSC

The proceeding moved on to Vote No. 21 of the Public Service Commission.

The Chairman read from the Gospel According to Luke.

The Prime Minister said that there is a slight increase in the Vote from $1.4 million to $1.6 million. 70% of the Vote is for salaries and 30% is for working capital.

He said that the Public Service Commission PSC manages the civil servants. They select a panel that selects Chief Executive Officers.

He said that currently there is a confrontation between the PSC, the civil servants, and the Remuneration Authority but he was optimistic that they would sort things out.

Lord Nuku expressed his concern that because the PSC selected the CEOs, and in turn the CEOs controlled the Ministries.

The Prime Minister explained that the PSC selects panel that selects the CEOs. The Minister has a right to say something about his selected CEO. He said that there have been complaints about the selection of the members of the PSC and the panel that selects CEOs.

He admitted that it has not been an easy process because the Minister and the CEO may not be able to work together.

Lord Tu’ivakano (a former Prime Minister) reminded the committee that the PSC is under the PM, and the PM has the final say on the selection of the members of the panel to select the CEOs.

“The PSC is responsible for running this country,” said Lord Nuku.

The Chairman called for votes on Vote No. 21. It was carried 21-0

Proverbs and floods

The proceeding moved on to Vote No. 22 of the Statistics Department.

The Chairman did his bible reading from the Book of Proverbs.

There was no reaction from the floor, then the Chairman called for votes, and Vote No. 22 of the Statistics Depart was carried 21-0.

Bible reading

The proceeding moved on to Vote No. 23 of the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.  

The Chairman went on with his bible reading from the books of Psalms.

Lord Vaea commented on the financial allocation of this ministry, which in addition to its $78 million budget allocation, it also has a $134 million three years development allocation, relating to Information, Climate Change etc.

He queried how during the heavy rain that flooded parts of Nuku’alofa, government said it has no money.

“That is not true,” said Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni.

The Prime Minister said that when he said no money, he meant that they did not have enough money to remove all the flood water from the flooded areas.

It was then about 6:00pm and the Speaker said that that was enough for the day.