In a name-calling press release yesterday Tonga's new Minister of Tourism Hon. Fineasi Funaki, has labeled some of his fellow MPs as, "a bunch of Pharisees."

His remarks were directed at one noble and eight of the People's Representatives who are suing the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House and the Government of Tonga, over a claim that the opening of parliament by the Princess Regent, Princess Pilolevu on June 1 was illegal.

Hon Fineasi Funaki complained in a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office June 12 that the MPs concerned had signed for their weekly allowances for the first two weeks of the 2006 session before they filed their application with the Supreme Court to declare the session illegal.

"If the People...’s Representatives honestly believed in the righteousness of their Court application they would not have signed for their weekly allowances.

"This is the behaviour of Pharisees. This is the extreme example of hypocrisy and they should be ashamed of themselves,...” stated Hon. Funaki.

Court

The eight People's Representatives who are taking the Prime Minister, the Speaker and the Government to court were, Samiuela 'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, William Clive Edwards, 'Uliti Uata, Vili Kaufusi Helu, Sunia Fili, and Lepolo Taunisila.

The only noble's representative who joined them was Noble Lasike, while the only PR who was not a plaintiff to the case was the Vava'u No. 1 PR Samiu Vaipulu.

The Prime Minister's Office also stated that the records of the Legislative Assembly showed that, ...‘Isileli Pulu, Vili Kaufusi Helu and Sunia Fili signed for their weekly allowance for the first week on Thursday, 1 June; ...‘Akilisi Pohiva, William Clive Edwards and Lepolo Taunisila signed for theirs on Friday, 2 June; and ...‘Uliti Uata signed for his on 7 June. On 8 June, after they had filed their suit for the declaration that Legislative Assembly had not been legally opened on 1 June, all eight of them signed for their weekly allowance to the second week.

At the Legislative Assembly's session on 12 June, the Prime Minister Hon. Feleti Sevele moved that the House should adjourn until further notice so as to allow both sides to complete legal proceedings, and for the Supreme Court to hear and hand down a decision on the application.

Some of the People'’s Representatives who filed the case were not happy with the motion for adjournment. But Clive Edwards, '‘Uliti Uata and Vili Helu voted in favor of adjournment. The motion was passed with only a single dissenting vote.

The House will remain in adjournment until the case is resolved.