Funding for fasters raises unanswered questions in House [1]
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 - 12:24. Updated on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 - 13:36.
From the House by Pesi Fonua
State funding for fasters raised an unanswered question in Tonga's parliament yesterday, when the House resumed its proceedings after a month-long break for the Prime Minister's ongoing national prayer and fasting schedule.
But a member's question, that raised the prickly issue of mixing politics and religion with state funding, was diverted by the Prime Minister and the acting Minister of Justice.
Parliament had to close while Cabinet went on a tour of Ha‘apai to attend its National Fasting and Praying at Pangai on 14-15 November “to protect Tonga from COVID-19”.
It was the second fasting and prayer event in the government's national schedule, and followed the October 10-11 'Eua tour that People's Representatives estimated cost government $100,000.
The monthly National Fasting and Praying schedule “to protect Tonga from the COVID-19”, will be continued in Vava'u, Tongatapu and the Niuas over the next three months.
The touring of the country by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet has been hailed by some PRs as campaigning by ministers for the next general election.
However, the Prime Minister Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, reminded the House that the Cabinet had approved the National Fasting schedule.
“We believe that is why we are still free from the COVID-19,” he said.
Funding the fasters
One question that remained unanswered yesterday, was when the Tongatapu no. 4 People's Representative, Mateni Tapueluelu, asked the Minister of Finance if it was true that the wives of Cabinet ministers were paid government travel allowances to accompany their husbands for the national fasting tour.
Unfortunately, the Minister of Finance did not have a chance to answer the question.
Cabinet minister Poasi Tei said, “My wife was with me and there was no travel allowence.”
Lord Tu'i'afitu, Chairman of the Whole House Committee, expressed his conviction that “whistle-blowing” had sparked off the Tongatapu no. 4 PR's question. He reminded members that the House had passed legislation against whistle-blowing, “against civil servants who leak out information!”
The Prime Minister told the House that he stopped the Minister of Finance from answering the Tongatapu no. 4 PR's question, and that Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, the acting Minister of Justice, could answer the question.
Hon. Vaipulu said that his wife had also accompanied him to Ha‘apai. He told the PR that the procedure to find an answer to such a question was for him to write a letter with his question.
Tea time
After that, the Speaker, Lord Fakafonua called for a break and said it was time for a cup of tea.
After the cuppa, the Tongatapu no. 4 PR's question about the alleged government travel allowances for the wives of Cabinet ministers remained unanswered, and the Speaker called for the House to pass bills that the Prime Minister considered to be urgent. The bills had to be passed before the PM and Cabinet members leave for their next prayer and fasting tour to Vava'u.
Next week the Cabinet will be going to Vava‘u for Fasting and Praying to protect Tonga from COVID-19 on 5-6 December.
In the New Year there will be fasting and praying in Tongatapu from 18-19 January 2021, and in the Niuas from 8-9 February 2021. Parliament has not been meeting during the fasting and prayer breaks.
When the Prime Minister returned to parliament on 13 October after his first fasting and praying tour to 'Eua, members reminded him about Tonga's deficit budget.
The PM's tour to 'Eua had forced the House to close because it did not have a quorum. Tongatapu no. 1 People's Representative, Siaosi Pohiva said the government spending of $100,000 for going to 'Eua was a “waste of money”.
Three bills
The House in its Legislature lowered three bills to their appropriate Standing Committees for their deliberation:
- Foreign Investment Bill (to Standing Committee on Legislation);
- Authority over Salaries Bill (to Finance and Public Accounts Committee);
- Bill relating to the misusing of the Social Media (to Standing Committee on Legislation).
The House yesterday also passed the Ombudsman’s 2019-2020 Annual Report and annual reports of the Fire Brigade.