From the House by Pesi Fonua.

The Tongan Parliament before lunch yesterday, 25 September confirmed that the Standing Law Committee of the House would scrutinise the Cabinet’s decision to take two former Prime Ministers, Lord Sevele and Lord Tu’ivakano to court in relation to the transference of $90 million from government to Tongasat.

On Monday, there was an understanding that the Standing Committee on Finance and Public Account would scrutinize the Cabinet Decision before it was tabled into Parliament, but  on Tuesday morning, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa moved for the Cabinet Decision to be presented to a Select Committee, whose members were to be elected by the House.

Siaosi Sovaleni, the People’s Representative for Tongatapu No. 3, however, believed that the Standing Committee on Finance was the most appropriate committee to deal with the issue, and it would be good to have the view of Attorney General on the issue. He was convinced that the Attorney General should advise the House on what was the right thing to do, bearing in mind that Lord Sevele was not a current member of parliament.

The Prime Minister was not in favour of the idea and he advised Siaosi to go and read the Court Decision on the case.

Siaosi, instead, proposed the Privilege Committee.

The Minister of Police, Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu, however, proposed for the Cabinet Decision to be presented to the Standing Law Committee. He stressed that the legality of the decision and the way forward for the House was very important.

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Vuna Fa‘otusia, insisted that they should form a new Select Committee.

It was already lunch time, and they finally all agreed to leave the issue for the Law Committee.

Mokohunu

After lunch the Legislature dissolved into the Whole House Committee and on the agenda was the 2016-17 Annual Report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries.

The Minister, Hon. Semisi Tauelangi Fakahau, was not present, and his report was presented by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. Losaline Ma’asi.

The push by some members for Government to lift the ban on the harvesting of Sea Cucumber, Mokohunu, was put to rest after Hon. Ma’asi  told the House that the five-years ban would be lifted in 2020, so it was only two more years to go.

The harvesting of Mokohunu was a popular enterprise in the island communities, before a ban was introduced in 2015. But harvesting went out of control, and not only wiped out the sea cucumber but had cost a few lives because of the employment of inexperienced divers and using inappropriate diving equipment and gases.

According to the Minister for Economic Development, Hon. Tu‘i Uata, the Prime Minister wanted to have a tight control of the industry when it restarted in 2020. He said that government would get involved in the exporting of Mokohunu, to avoid what happened in the past when private exporters earned more than the people who were harvesting and processing the products.

Lord Tu‘ilakepa reminded the House that, in the past, government had a Board (Commodities Board) that was responsible for the buying of local products and exporting them. So it was interesting that government was thinking of going back to taking over the exports of local products from the Private Sector.

The fact that there was no Fish Market and no wharf for fishing boats was queried by Lord Tu‘i‘afitu.

The Prime Minister explained that the Faua Wharf  was set up the by the EEC as the fishermen’s wharf, and there was also a Fish Market. What was happening now in that whole area was very confusing, because there were areas there [on the wharf] that had been leased. He queried what happened to a property on that seafront that was built Sea Star, a company affiliated with the then Crown Prince Tupouto’a. He said that the main building now was owned by a Chinese, who bought it for $3 million Pa’anga.

“The question is, where is the $3 million pa’anga?” asked the PM.

Obsessed

Lord Tu‘ilakepa commented that the government appeared to be very obsessed with investigation rather than running the country.

The Chairman of the Whole House Committee, Hon. Light of Day Taka, called for votes on the 2016-17 Annual Report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries and it was carried 14-0.