From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Today's swearing in of Tonga’s new Cabinet Ministers, to govern the Kingdom for the next four years 2018-21, has left two minsterial portfolios vacant.

The portfolios of Defence and Foreign Affairs were not allocated to anyone during the swearing in.

According to the Clerk of the House Gloria Pole’o, the names of Ministers with their allocated portfolios were handed over to Parliament by the Prime Minister’s Office, and they had noticed that the portfolios of Defence and Foreign Affairs were missing.

The new Cabinet has 12 members, including the Prime Minister.

One Cabinet Minister, Hon. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, was not present at the swearing in this morning, but his name was read out.

Lord Nuku, the ‘Eua Nobles’ Representative, queried the absence of the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Pohiva Tu'i’onetoa, who was supposed to be in New Zealand for some urgent medical treatment. Lord Nuku queried if the House was paying for the Minister's medical treatment, while pointing out that Tu'i’onetoa had not been sworn in as a Member of Parliament.

The Minister of Health, Hon. Saia Piukala tried to clarify the situation, by saying that the medical treatment of the Minister in New Zealand was being paid for by the government, not by the Legislative Assembly.

The House was also reminded that Hon. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa had been appointed by the King as a Cabinet Minister.

During the process of swearing-in the Cabinet Ministers as Members of Parliament, the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva had to take his oath twice, once as a Prime Minister and again as a Member of Parliament.

He also introduced his Cabinet Ministers.

Unwell

In spite of his effort to attend the session, and take his oath, it was obvious from the way the Prime Minister talked that he was not very well.

The Prime Minister left Parliament to return to hospital before the House closed for the day, before lunch time. [His physician, Dr Latu, who travelled in the vehicle that brought the Prime Minister to Parliament House, confirmed that the PM had not yet been discharged from hospital].

New Cabinet

The ten Cabinet Ministers who took their oaths this morning were:

1. Hon. Semisi Lafu Kioa Sika, the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism [returned]. Deputy Prime Minister [newly appointed].
2. Lord Ma’afu. the Minister of Land and Natural Resources [returned].
3. Hon. Penisimani ‘Epinisa Fifita, the Minister of Education and Training [returned].
4. Hon. Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, the Minister of Health [returned] and Public Enterprises [newly appointed].
5. Hon. Semisi Tauelangai Fakahau, the Minister of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries [returned].
6. Hon. Sione Vuna Fa’otusia, the Minister of Justice and Prisons [returned].
7. Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei, the Minister of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications [newly appointed] [formerly Minister of Public Enterprises].
8. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu, the Minister of Revenue Collection, Customs, [newly appointed];  Police, Fire and Emergency Services [returned].
9. Hon. ‘Akosita Havili Lavulavu, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Sports [newly appointed].
10.  Hon. Dr Tevita Tu‘i Uata, the Minister of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour [newly appointed / unelected Ministerial appointee].

 During this morning's session the House re-elected Veivosa Light of Day Taka as the Chairman of the Whole House Committee with votes of 19-0.

They also approved the draft of a response from the House to the message from the Throne to open the 2018 Parliamentary Session on 11 January.

The Speaker, Lord Fakafanua appointed Lord Vaha’i and Losaline Ma’asi to deliver the House’s response, to His Majesty’s message, to the Palace Office.

The Speaker declared the House closed, to reconvene on Monday morning 22 January.