“Campaigning” by Cabinet Ministers closes Parliament [1]
Thursday, October 15, 2020 - 11:31. Updated on Thursday, October 15, 2020 - 11:33.
From the House by Pesi Fonua
Members of Parliament claimed that because Cabinet Ministers were on an election campaign mission to ‘Eua, it forced Tonga's parliament to close down on Monday, 12 October, because it did not have the quorum.
The Cabinet's “campaign mission” stirred some vociferous exchanges between members in parliament on Tuesday morning, 13 October.
However, while the House was still in Legislature, the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa gave his routine news report.
He apologised that he and his Cabinet could not make it to the House the day before, because their return flight from ‘Eua was delayed because of bad weather. He then outlined what the Cabinet did while in ‘Eua.
The Prime Minister and his Cabinet attended the launching of the Tonga Tourism Beautification Program; the opening of the renovated Malau Hall that was financed with aid from the Japanese government; the launching of an ‘Eua Rubbish Board, and the announcement of the finding of a new underground fresh water source for ‘Eua at the depth 100 meters. They also visited kava plantations, and the PM stressed the importance for the House to pass new kava legislation, and for Tonga to market kava as a food product.
He also announced that he had marked his 'Eua tour, with some new awards and gave 103 Prime Minister’s Awards to ‘Eua’s big achievers.
The PM commented that their presence at ‘Eua marked the 10 years of the Political Reform that was introduced by King George Tupou V in 2010.
However, this was a change in his rationale. It was Interesting that in early September, when the Prime Minister announced the schedule for National Fasting and Praying to protect Tonga from COVID-19, he highlighted that the Fasting and Praying at ‘Eua on 10-11 October would mark the first birthday of his government, the People’s Party which he said came into power on 10 October 2019.
However, whether the Cabinet was in ‘Eua to mark the 10 years’ of King George’s Democratic Reform or the first birthday of the People’s Party, the Tongatapu No. 1 People’s Representative, Siaosi Pohiva, queried why Cabinet went on a tour, forcing the House to close because it did not have a quorum.
Speaker granted permission
Lord Nuku, the Minister of Police responded that they had asked the Speaker for permission, which was granted.
Siaosi reminded Cabinet Ministers that Tonga has a deficit Annual National Budget, and that or government to spend $100,000 to going to ‘Eua was a “waste of money.” He was certain that Cabinet Ministers were campaigning for the next General Election.
Lord Nuku, again reminded the House that they had asked for permission from the Speaker, and the Speaker clarified that they had asked for a permission and he had granted it.
The Tongatapu People’s Representative No. 4, Mateni Tapueluelu reminded the House that the People’s and the Nobles’ Representatives had just completed their Annual Constitutional Tours. He questioned the source of the $100,000 that government spent on the Cabinet’s tour of ‘Eua.
The Prime Minister reminded the member that they were sent to ‘Eua by the Government.
Mateni responded that the Cabinet was “pau‘u lotu” behaving irreverently. They were campaigning.
Lord Nuku complained to the Speaker about Mateni’s claim, and the Speaker responded that he had lowered his complaint to a Standing Committee.
The word “Campaigning” suddenly became a difficult issue for the House to deal with.
Lord Tu‘i‘afitu expressed his concern with the situation that the House has got to when even a good working program that government was trying to implement is considered to be a campaign – or corruption.
“For me I think it is time to dismantle this House. We are not a part of this campaign, and it has damaged the work of the House,” he said.
The issue of campaigning stuck with the House for the rest of its 13 October proceedings. The sensitive issues relating to government paying for the expensive medical treatment of past and current Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament were raised.
The Tongatapu No. 2 People's Representative Semisi Sika, reminded members to respect the dead.
However, before House closed at the end of the day it passed the MEIDECC 2019-2020 Annual Report with votes of 13-0. (MEIDECC = Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications).
Before the House closed for the day, the Speaker reminded members of their invitation for a function the following day, 14 October so the House would resume at 10:00am Thursday 15 October.
The function that closed the house yesterday was understood to be a birthday party.