From the House, by Pesi Fonua

After the Minister of Justice, Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia told the Tongan Parliament today that government ministries did not break any law, by employing daily paid labourers for 10 to 20 years without a working contract, the Speaker reminded the House that Tonga is the "Friendly Islands".

“Improvisation,” Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia explained, was the approach that government adopted. “they were just loosening up the law. We love our workers. They did not steal anything.”

He said that the initial contract for daily paid labourers is for four months but it could be extended for another three months, “but no longer than seven months in a year.”

He was convinced that the reason why government ministries kept employing these daily labourers for 10 to 20 years, was just because they were trying to help them.

The working contracts of government daily paid labourers became an issue in the Tongan Parliament, after Lord Nuku told the House last week that 19 daily paid labourers who were laid off by the Ministry of Internal Affairs were seeking parliamentary assistance.

It was reported that the PM, who is also the Minister of Internal Affairs, had recalled the 19 daily labourers back to work. The PM is currently overseas and was not in parliament.

Then again today, Lord Tu’ilakepa  told the House that 45 daily paid labours who has been laid off by the Ministry of Infrastructure, had contacted him, seeking parliamentary assistance.

These government labourers were in a similar situation as those that were laid off the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Some had been on daily labourer wages for 10 to 20 years.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Semisi Sika asked the Speaker to give him time to consult his staff and to report to the House tomorrow.

Reserve Bank profit

The House had more questions over a move by government to amend the Reserve Bank Act so that it could have access to $17 million of the $27 million, which is supposed to be a profit made by the Reserve Bank. This mystified members.

Some of the members unanswered questioned were:

If government can have access to the Reserve Bank’s $27 million profits, why didn’t they use that money to buy shares in the Tonga Cable Ltd. to extend the internet cable network to Ha’apai and Vava’u, instead of inviting in Digicel to buy shares and participate in exploiting what they consider a national assets?

The Chairman of the Whole House Committee Hon. Light of Day Taka was rushing to call for votes on the Bill amid repeated requests from Lord Nuku to defer the vote for tomorrow, to give members a chance to look at the Bill.

The Acting PM Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni agreed for the voting on the Bill to be deferred for tomorrow, and Hon. Light of Day Taka obliged.