Tongan MPs regret House closure [1]
Thursday, June 15, 2006 - 12:15. Updated on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - 17:35.
by Pesi Fonua
The eight members of parliament who forced the Tongan Legislature to close this week changed their minds yesterday afternoon, and now, in an abrupt turnaround, they want the House to reopen, fearing that they have given the government a free-rein on the new Budget.
Withdrawal is not going to be easy or cheap for the plaintiffs who, after claiming that the opening of Parliament on June 1 was illegal, have applied to the Supreme Court for their Civil Case, to be "discontinued".
They also have written to the Speaker of the House, asking him to reopen the House today, June 15.
None of the eight are admitting whose idea it was in the first place, but it now sounds as if they are beginning to think that forcing the closure of the House was a dull move that will sabotage their own budget debate.
Budget more important
Lawyer, and People's Representative, Clive Edwards, one of the eight plaintiffs, told a Press Conference on June14 that the decision to discontinue with their case was because of their belief that it was more important for the members to debate the budget, "rather than to query the legality of the opening of parliament".
'Akilisi Pohiva, one of the plaintiffs said that when they filed their case with the Supreme Court they were expecting government to respond and file a defence by this week.
"There has been no defence from government and we suspect that they want to play for time with the Budget," he said, fearing that now the budget will be passed in one day with little debate, "and to blame us for any extra expenses that government will acquire because of the case."
$24 million shortfall
'Akilisi said that there was a $24 million Supplementary Budget to be passed before the end of this financial year. "We want to know details of the $24 million, which we believe the intention was to meet a lot of short falls in government."
Clive said there was no explanation note with the $24 million Supplementary Budget, and they are worried because of possible government loans and new taxation legislation that would be rushed through and passed with little debate before the beginning of the new financial year on July 1.
Time for defence
Meanwhile the defendants, the Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, the Speaker of the House, Hon Tu'iha'angana and the Government of Tonga, have until July 4 to file their defence with the Supreme Court against the charge that has been levelled against them, claiming that the opening of parliament by the Princess Regent Princess Pilolevu on June 1 was illegal.
It is understood that they are bringing in costly overseas legal teams.
Clive said that following yesterday's Chamber, with their application for their case to "discontinue", they were to have another chamber today in anticipation of a response from the defendants. But he said that the defendants were asking for time because their counsel was admitted to hospital this week.
If by the end of June the House has not opened and debated the budget, Clive believed that, "there will be no allocation for the public servants and we might as well all go home".