From the House by Pesi Fonua

HM King Tupou VI has appointed three Nobles of the Realm to close Parliament tomorrow 15 March. The appointments were announced today by the Speaker of the Tongan Parliament, Lord Fakafanua.

It was a surprise announcement for the public since parliament had only just begun its proceedings on 5 March, and there were a number of issues that members wanted Cabinet Ministers to clarify.

Lord Nuku, the Nobles’ Representative of ‘Eua, pointed out that a new Minister of Lands has yet to be announced since Lord Ma’afu resigned from the post earlier this month. Lord Nuku conveyed a public concern over a state of stagnation concerning land issues, specifically leases and mortgages.

Deputy PM Hon. Semisi Sika responded, saying that the portfolio of the Minister of Lands was with the Prime Minister and that “it does not have to be endorsed by His Majesty”.

Lord Nuku however, insisted that many people were having complications with land issues and that there was no one in the Ministry of Lands who could do anything about it. He suggested that the Prime Minister recall the former Minister of Lands.

With the House running out of time, members had to make final decision on a number of issues.

A motion that was tabled by Tevita Lavemaau, the People’s Representative from ‘Eua recommended:

• For government to pay school fees of students in all churches’ schools in Tongatapu and ‘Eua.
• For government to help churches rebuild churches’ schools.
• For government to pay non government schools now 50% of the annual grant that government pay churches’ school annually.

Lord Tu'iha'angana queried if the member had a rough estimate of how much the project would cost.

Tevita Lavemaau responded that the total cost of school fees alone were about $2.5 million Pa'anga.

The motion was passed with votes of 23 - 0.

The Speaker called for votes on whether to approve/disapprove the report of the Standing Committee on the Agenda of the House for 2018. The report's list of working agendas for parliament was read out and the report was approved with votes of 22-1. The Deputy Speaker, Lord Tu’ilakepa, was the only member to oppose the report.

Lord Tu’i’afitu expressed his concern that there were very few meetings scheduled for parliament this year, no meetings during July and August, and that they would meet for only seven days in September.

Debate continued on whether the House should vote to approve/disapprove a report from MEIDECC regarding the devastation that was inflicted by Cyclone Gita on Tongatapu and ‘Eua and the state of recovery work that had been carried out. At the end there was a conviction that there was no point of voting on the report because the recovery work is still in progress.

The Speaker called for the House to close until 10am tomorrow when they will reconvene for an official closure of the House.