MPs question NCPR proposal for new 26-member parliament [1]
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 - 22:45. Updated on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - 17:40.
by Pesi Fonua
Tonga's Legislative Assembly on Thursday will go into a fifth day of deliberations over the recommendations of the National Committee for Political Reform that has proposed the formation of a new and elected 26-member parliamentary structure for the kingdom.
In an all-day session today, members of the House tried to understand the recommendations contained in the nine chapter, 145 page report on Tongans aspirations for political reform that has been presented to the House, by the NCPR chairman Dr Sitiveni Halapua, starting on October 3. There was lengthy and heavy questioning of the proposals that were compiled after six months of consultations with Tongans at home and abroad.
Dr Halapua, the author of the report, and his deputy chairman, a Vava'u People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu, continued presenting their report to parliament on October 5, and yesterday, while today's session was reserved for questioning. However, at the end of today members still needed further clarification and so the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tu'iha'angana has scheduled a final question session for the afternoon of October 12.
Most of the questions about the proposed parliamentary reform that were asked by members of parliament today, related to why no members of parliament are to be appointed by the king, as it is now with the 16 Cabinet Ministers, and how the people and the 33 nobles were to elect the 26 members of the proposed parliament.
The report recommends that a new 26-member parliament be made up of 17 People's Representatives to be elected by the people, and nine Noble's Representatives to be elected by the 33 nobles of the realm.
From these 26 elected members the king will then appoint a Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister will elect his ministers from the elected members.
Elected Prime Minister
Noble Luani, a Vava'u Noble's Representative wanted to know what would happen if the king would not like to appoint a Prime Minister from any of the elected members.
Dr Halapua replied that if the king gave his consent to the amendment of required legislation for a new parliamentary structure then he would have to abide with the procedure.
Dr Halapua elaborated that the institutions of a Parliament, Cabinet and the Privy Council enabled the three main sectors of the Tongan society, the monarch, the nobles and the people, to make decisions on how to run the country. He said that the King heads the Privy Council and the Prime Minister chairs the Cabinet, which he described as a bridge between the elected parliament of the people and the Privy Council.
More People's Representatives
The 'Eua People's Representative, Sunia Fili, wanted to know who would elect the two governors from Vava'u and Ha'apai, and the Speaker of the House, and why the change in the number of people's representatives from each of the island districts. In the proposed parliament there will be seven PRs for Tongatapu, three PRs for Vava'u, three PRs for Ha'apai, two for 'Eua and two for the two Niuas including the island of Tafahi.
Dr Halapua said that with regards to the two governors, they are representatives of the king and it is for the king to decide who he should appoint, the king also has the responsibility to appoint the Speaker of the House. The new allocation of people's representatives for each island group was to enable a fair representation of these districts in the House.
Electoral constituency rejected
The Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Viliami Tangi, wanted to know why the NPCR and Dr Halapua did not want to adopt the concept of Electoral Constituency because it could fit in perfectly with the new allocation of People's Representatives.
Dr Halapua responded that the committee looked into it and decided that such an approach would make it difficult for an appointed minister to focus on the welfare of Tonga as a whole, "he would have the tendency to focus only on the welfare of his constituency."
Nobles seats
With regards to the proposed composition of the House, of 17 people's representatives and nine noble's representatives, a Tongatapu PR 'Akilisi Pohiva queried how would it be possible for the House to have quality members when the 33 nobles of the realm choose nine nobles representatives while the rest of the population elects 17.
Dr Halapua responded that if they were talking about qualifications then individual members have their own strength, but he stressed that nobles have a special skill on how to look after the people, tauhi kakai. He recalled that while they were trying to find a solution to the Civil Servants' strike last year that they should have included a noble in their negotiation team, "because of their skill in looking after the people".
King's sacredness
On a separate issue 'Akilisi queried the emphasis that the report puts on the sacredness of the king. But 'Akilisi argued that an executive decision made by the king is not sacred and it can be challenged.
Dr Halapua and also the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Viliami Tangi responded that the monarch had always been involved in the running of the country, even before the proclamation of the Tongan Constitution in 1875.
Questions and further discussion on the report will resume when parliament reconvenes on Thursday afternoon.