From the House by Pesi Fonua

When the Tongan parliament closed for the week on Thursday, 14 March, there was public concern over the current composition of the Legislative Assembly, with only Cabinet Ministers and their four People's Representative supporters attending.

Since parliament resumed its 2019 session on 18 February, there has been confrontation over the working agenda. Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva's government classified some legislation as being “urgent”, and was insisting that parliament had to set other items in their working agenda aside and address these urgent matters.

Some members were convinced that some of the proposed legislation should be made accessible for public consultation before the bills were tabled into the House.

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet however reacted to this, by conducting what they claimed was public consultation, by getting the Attorney General to explain the bills on Radio Tonga and to answer any informal questions, along with talk-back shows on the issues.

However, members, led by Nobles’ Representatives insisted there should be a proper Public Consultation over some of the new legislation, particularly the proposed Amendments to the Constitution.

The situation in the House became more complex. Even though Cabinet is a minority in the House, the current government has secured the votes of four cooperative People’s Representatives to secure a majority of votes in the House. With 12 Cabinet Ministers plus the four loyal People’s Representatives, the government secured 16 votes, leaving the other half, seven Nobles Representatives and three People Representatives a minority with only 10 votes.

Walk-out

Seven Nobles Representatives walked out of the House on Tuesday, in a reaction against the government’s decision to deny a public consultation over the six urgent bills.

Before the House closed on Thursday, 14 March, the Prime Minister moved for the session not to close, as it was originally scheduled, but to extend it to 27 March.

The Speaker called for votes on the PM’s motion for the House to extend its proceedings until 27 March and it was carried 15-2. Against were Tevita Lavemaau and Samiu Vaipulu. The Speaker then announced that the House would close it session on 28 March.

On Thursday, both Tevita Lavemaau and Samiu Vaipulu, the two remaining People's Representatives are clearly not in the government team. They said they did not support the move to extend the proceedings of the House from 14 to 28 March, because Tevita stressed he has an urgent medical appointment booked to start on that date, and Samiu, pointed out that a Supreme Court hearing would start in Vava’u on 18 March and he had to be there. The other People's Representative, Siaosi Sovaleni is overseas, but he had told the House that he was with the Nobles’ Representativse in their demand for the Six Bills to be made accessible for Public Consultation.

When the House resumes at 2:00pm Monday, 18 March, it is anticipated that it will have a quorum and the top of the agenda will be the six bills that the Cabinet has given to the Attorney General to explain to the public on the radio.

On Monday the Prime Minister will present his report on the radio ‘consultation’ to his Cabinet Members and their four people’s Representative supporters.

The House on Thursday, 14 March passed a new Regulation allowing Duty Free entry for Aircrafts, ships, and fishing boats with spare parts. Butter and Table Spreads were also to be allowed Duty Free.

When  the Prime Minister questioned the Minister for Revenue Collection and Customs, Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu on the impact of these Duty Free exemption on the economy. Hon. Tapueluelu responded that all these business sectors were pleading for help.

The Speaker also contributed, by reminding the House of the saying  “allow chickens to have eggs”.

Parliament is scheduled to resume at 2:00pm on Monday, 18 March,