FROM OUR ARCHIVES

The Tongan Government yesterday evening  [20 October 2006]  made an official response to the recommendations of the National Committee for Political Reform by announcing the Cabinet's own proposal for political reform.

The Cabinet proposal would give new powers to the Prime Minister and introduce constituencies to the electoral process.

The Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele, in a statement, said that the Cabinet, "has suggested...…for the House not to take a vote on the NCPR report as that would be counter-productive at this stage."

He said that instead, Cabinet had suggested the formation of another committee with members from Cabinet, the nobles and people's tables. "To establish a Parliamentary Tri-partite Committee to consider the various possible routes, strive for consensus and then report back to the House next year".

Dr Sevele believed the views of the people had been taken into account. "Over the past few weeks the Legislative Assembly has been discussing the report of the NCPR on the views of people about the political reform that Tonga might follow." He said the plan, he proposed to the House on October 19, was, "taking into consideration some of those proposed by the report of the NCPR".

However, he said that the government had for some time been considering the various options possible to move the political reform process forward. In his statement that was broadcast on national television last night, he reminded Tongans that the recent political reforms were begun by the Late King Tupou IV in 2004, including the appointment of ministers from members of the Legislative Assembly and later the appointment of a commoner Prime Minister, and the appointments of further ministers nominated by the Prime Minister. These reforms were now supported by King Siaosi Tupou V.

He said the new king wanted these proposals to be included in the discussions of the new Tri-partite Committee.

Cabinet's reform proposal

"The proposal essentially gives the elected members of the Legislative Assembly the authority to appoint the Prime Minister and the majority of the members of Cabinet," Dr Sevele said.

He said there were still "mechanics and detail" to be sorted out, but the reforms proposed by the Cabinet were:

• that the size of the Tongan Legislature be no less than 23 and no more than 28 members;
• that there will be nine nobles representatives and 14 people's representatives;
• that the nine noble's representatives will be elected by the nobles in area constituencies;
• the 14 people's representatives come from demarcated constituencies Tongatapu 7 (being one from each district); Vava'u 3, Ha'apai 2, Niuas 1 and 'Eua 1).

The proposal stated that:

• the Tongan Cabinet will consist of 12 to 14 members including the two Governors of Vava'u and Ha'’apai;
• at least two thirds of the cabinet will be from the elected members of the Tongan Legislature;
• two thirds of the cabinet members be appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister;
• that the Prime Minister shall have the sole discretion to allocate portfolios.

Dr Sevele said that under this new model there will be no by-elections held to replace those elected members of Parliament who are appointed as Ministers, and the king will keep the right to independently appoint one third of the cabinet, including the two Governors, either from within the Tongan Parliament or outside of it. This means, "that should the king appoint one third of cabinet members from within Parliament it will retain the size of the assembly at 23. Should he appoint them from outside of the Tongan parliament then there will be around 28 members."

The Prime Minister shall also be an elected member of the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the king based on the recommendation of Parliament. "The king will on the other hand retain the prerogative to appoint one third of the members of Cabinet, including the two Governors, and he will also have the liberty to either appoint them from within or outside Parliament," Dr Sevele said.

Differences

The new proposal announced by the Prime Minister yesterday differs in some key points from the recommendations of the NCPR.

While the NCPR decided that forming constituencies for each region would make it difficult for an appointed minister or member to focus on the welfare of Tonga as a whole, the introduction of constituencies is a key part of the new proposal read by the Prime Minister.

The NCPR had also recommended increasing the number of people's representatives to 17, while the new proposal suggests 14.

But the Cabinet proposal does take from the NCPR the terms, "road map" and "talatalanoa" to describe the way forward, and advocates peace and stability.

Referendum

In regards to a suggestion from some members of the House asking for a "yes" or "no" referendum to be held on the three key questions raised by the NCPR report, in order to get a mandate from the people before drawing up a new model of government, the Prime Minister commented that, "there are 100 more steps to take."

He noted that, "at the Privy Council yesterday the king agreed to the proposed plan," but added that, "if later on people don't accept this then why not have a referendum?"

The Prime Minister urged his people to get behind the government's new proposal: ."Every patriotic Tongan should be proud and grateful for this magnanimous yet momentus decision," he said.