From the House by Pesi Fonua

Parliamentary debate was dominated by the Prime Minister's proposition for all members of parliament to contribute 20 percent of their annual salaries to government in its effort to counter the COVID-19, in parliament's session yesterday, 19 May 2020.

The Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Rev Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa made the proposition in the House during Monday's Budget introduction [2] after he had the idea on the way to work that day.

Yesterday the first reading of the National Budget 2020-2021 Bill, to allocate funds for government services during the Government Financial Year, 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, was passed with 20-0 votes.

Penisimani moved for the Bill to be tabled into the Whole House Committee; it was seconded by Lord Tu’iha’angana.

The Speaker, Lord Fakafanua directed for the House to revert and address the proposition by the PM for a 20% salary cut by members of Parliament and contribute to government’s financing of programs in preparation to counter CoViD-19 when it arrives in Tonga.

The proposition by the Prime Minister provoked a number of interesting perceptions from members of parliament.

Lord Tu’iha’angana, (who was not in Parliament when the Prime Minister announced his proposition for members of parliament to contribute 20% of their salaries toward COVID-19 preparations) expressed his conviction that the proposition was not in good spirit.

“We need to work in unity. What we need is unity,” he said, expressing a view that members should have been informed of the PM’s proposition before he announced it in  the House.

MPs salary increase

People's Representative Mateni Tapueluelu, pointed out that on page 8 of the Budget there is a proposition to increase the salaries of members, and there is a Bill to reset the salaries of members so he was convinced that the Prime Minister’s proposition is “Out of Order”.

Lord Tu’ilakepa, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, however reminded the House that the Prime Minister’s proposition “was just a request”.

The Prime Minister took the floor to tell the House how he came out with the idea, but Mateni pointed out that it was lunch time.

After lunch the Prime Minister took the floor and informed that House that he thought of the idea while he was preparing to come to work on Monday morning. He had a look at the National Budget and was very concerned with the devastating destruction that Cyclone Harold inflicted on the tourism Industry.

He also apologised to the House that he mentioned his political party, the People’s Party during his presentation before the Minister of Finance presented his Budget Statement.

Saia Piukala however reminded the Prime Minister that the House fell apart when he was talking about the manifesto of the People’s Party. “He brought the party forward to set the others apart.”

The Prime Minister responded by proposing for the 20% salary reduction issue to be tabled into the Finance Committee.

However, the House closed for the day.

So it was not clear whether the House intended to raise their salaries before they took a 20 per cent cut. Or whether they would just take the proposed increase that was reportedly in the Bills to be passed.