From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tonga‘s Minister for Finance and National Planning, Hon. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, moved for the House to take two former Prime Ministers, Lord Sevele and Lord Tu’ivakano to court for the alleged misappropriation of government funds.

He told the House this morning, 24 September that the transference of $90m pa’anga from government to Tongasat was illegal. The issue arose following a Supreme Court decision that had stated that the transference of the $90 million Pa’anga from government to Tongasat, in two tranches in 2008 and 2011 was done illegally.

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia, informed members of the House that what the minister had stated was a Cabinet decision, and Cabinet could activate their decision but they needed the support of the House.

In the midst of loud exchanges between Cabinet Ministers and members of parliament, there was confusion over who were the two PMs that Hon. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa was referring to, until he named them as Lord Sevele and Lord Tu’ivakano.

The People’s Representative No. 3 for Tongatapu, Siaosi Sovaleni, reminded members that they could not talk about a person who was not in the House and the House could not take a member of the public to court.

The PM, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva told members that they could not ignore this issue, “it will never leave this House.”

Hon. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa made his speech and it was time to move on to the next member.

Niuas flights

The Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou People’s Representative, Vatau Hui  reported that the Real Tonga Airlines would be flying to the Niuas soon.

The Minister of Labour Hon. Tu’i Uata confirmed that Real Tonga would be flying to the Niuas on Saturday.

The Minister of Education, Hon. Penisimani Fifita expressed his frustration that there had been no flight to the Niuas this year, and they had not been able to send educational materials or personnel there but the annual examination would take place this Wednesday.

There was a concern that if all schools had their annual examination on Wednesday, except the Niuas, which may have it later, that it could have an impact on the outcome of the exams. Exam papers may leak out.

Lord Nuku suggested for government to charter an aircraft to fly to the Niuas now but, unfortunately, he was certain that the minister was more concerned with the petition than the examinations.

Before the House broke up for lunch,  the Acting Speaker, Lord Tu‘ilakepa expressed his disappointment with how the morning sessions in the House during the previous few days had been taken up with side issues, leaving little time for the agenda of the House.

He said that when they returned from lunch the Legislature would dissolve into the Whole House Committee to deliberate over Bills that had been tabled into the House.

Shift of authority

After lunch  a bill to amend the Civil Service Act was read. The Minister of Justice Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia explained that the Bill dealt with a shift of authority of National Planning from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to the Prime Minister’s office.

There was also a realignment of responsibilities between the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Finance.

Hon. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa explained that they thought it was appropriate that instead of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning being under him, the National Planning and the staff of this unit should be with the Prime Minister. "He is the man with the vision, and his vision should be within the plan."

He said that Economic Development was now with the Ministry of Labour and Trade.

Lord Nuku expressed his concern that they had just passed the 2018-19 National Annual Budget with budget allocations for each ministry, now the ministries had been restructured.

"We passed the budget based on what we were told at the time, but now the structures have been changed."

PM Pohiva stressed that the most important commodity was the money. "The changes will take place but the money will remain with the Ministry of Finance."

The Prime Minister is the one who sets the directions, that is how the world goes, he said.

Hon. Light of Day Taka, the Chairman of the Whole House Committee called for vote and the Bill was passed with votes 13-5. Against were five Nobles’ Representatives.

The Chairman called for votes on the Auditor General’s 2016-2017 annual report. It was carried 17-0.