From the House, by Pesi Fonua

Tonga's Prime Minister and his Cabinet struggled to answer hard questions in Parliament yesterday, October 4. Members were demanding to know how an American, charged with murder escaped from prison in Neiafu and managed to sail away on his yacht? They also wanted to know when the construction of sports facilities for the 2019 Pacific Games will start? And what is the government's foreign policy on West Papua?

The Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva was very defensive in his response to how the prisoner escaped from the prison in Neiafu. “The problem,” he said, “is the Minister of Police has no authority over the Police. We have to change the law. The Privy Council is in power but we (the Cabinet) have no say.”

Lord Fusitu’a wanted to know the connection between the running away of a prisoner, and the Privy Council. He reminded the Prime Minister that blaming the Privy Council is “blaming the king, the head of the Privy Council.”

The Minister of Police, Hon. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa told the House that the problem he faces as the Minister of Police is that “the Police Cmmissioner has no obligation to do what whatever I request.”

The Police minister said that he sincerely believed that the recruitment and the dismissal of the Police Commissioner should be the responsibility of Parliament and not the Privy Council.

The Prime Minister said he had told the King

“I have told His Majesty twice that I want this person [the Police Commissioner] to be replaced,” said Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva. “For a prisoner to run away like that, there is definitely something wrong.”

The People's Representative for Vava’u No. 15, Samiu Vaipulu reminded the House that the law relating to the appointment of the Police Commissioner was drafted in this manner because of the riots that destroyed Nuku’alofa in 2006.

Other matters

After a petition relating to Fruit Pickers in Australia was read, the Legislalture was dissolved into the Whole House Committee WHC.

Penisimani ‘Epenisa Fifita, the Chairman for the WHC announced the bible reading for the day, from the Book of Psalms.

The top of the agenda of the WHC was the 2015 Annual Report of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.

But Lord Nuku expressed his doubt that the reconstruction of the Teufaiva Stadium and other facilities in preparation for Tonga's hosting the 2019 Pacific Games would be completed by September 2017.

He pointed out that the construction of sports facilities at the Tonga High School compound was supposed to start this month, but so far none of the construction of any of these facilities had started. He expressed his doubt over the value of the report.

Lord Nuku’s comment sparked a snap reaction from the Prime Minister, the chairman of the Facility Committee, which is responsible for the construction of sporting facilities for the 2019 Games. He said that they are clearing up the way, “waiting for the Chinese to come. China is not going to lie to us.

“Papua New Guinea is having a bit of a problem, but they will give us the money in November this year.”

Begging

“Don’t worry, the sport will go forward, we will be ready by 2019. It is not our money, we are begging for help,” the PM reassured Lord Nuku.

The 2015 Annual Report of the Reserve Bank was voted on and passed 17-1. Against was Lord Nuku.

West Papua

Proceedings in committee moved on to the 2015 Annual Report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Prime Minister is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Lord Fusitu’a wanted to know the government’s Foreign Policy on West Papua, which is a state of Indonesia.

The PM said he did not want to talk about it. “It is a moral obligation. I am concerned about the ill treatment of the Papuans.”

“But what is the government's Foreign Policy?” insisted Lord Fusitu’a.

“As the government of the day… the Good Samaritan…I am a Christian,” said ‘Akilisi.