Tonga legislators set to enforce COVID-19 inoculation [1]
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 12:04. Updated on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 12:18.
From the House by Pesi Fonua
Tonga is set to introduce compulsory inoculation against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
A Bill to amend the Public Health Act to enforce inoculation of the Public against COVID-19, was among seven Bills that government tabled into parliament yesterday morning 3 August.
A new Emergency Powers Clause 181A of the Public Health Act, states that it will be a crime for anybody to refuse to be vaccinated against the virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2).
Parents will also be held responsible if their children refuse to be inoculated.
It proposes that offenders will be fined not more than $1000 or jailed for not more than six months.
After the first reading of the amendment Bill in Legislature it was carried with 17-0 votes.
This Bill will be submitted to the Standing Committee on Social Services for deliberation, before it is resubmitted to parliament for its final reading.
The full details of the amendment bill have not been released to the public (the full text was not read out), and it was not immediately clear if exemptions would be made for pregnant women, children and people with medical conditions, allergies or frailities and others.
Coronavirus disease
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. The world is in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Health Organisation there have been199 million cases worldwide with over 4.24 million deaths since the start of 2020. WHO says that approved COVID-19 vaccines provide a high degree of protection against getting seriously ill and dying from the disease, although it says no vaccine is 100% protective. The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Bill for establishment of Credit Unions
The other controversial Bill that was tabled into the House yesterday was a Bill to enable small companies to establish Credit Unions, making it easier for them to borrow from the Credit Union.
According to the Minister for the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development Hon. Tatafu Moeaki the Bill was a response to the needs of the private sector who find it is difficult to borrow from the banks.
The Minister of Finance, Hon. Tevita Lavemaau, elaborated that the intention of the Bill was to make it easy to establish Credit Unions.
“Members to collect the money and invest it in the Union, and the Union can lend the money to the Public.
“The Reserve Bank will manage these Credit Unions to make sure no one is ripping off the money. To make sure the investment of the members is safe. The Ministry of Labour will work closely with these groups,” he said.
The Bill was passed with votes of 20-0.
Five other Bills that were passed by Parliament yesterday were:
- A Natural Disaster Bill
- An Energy Commission Bill
- A Government Business Enterprises Bill
- Tonga Development Bank 2021 Bill.
- A surgery treatment Bill
Today’s session was the first since the House broke up on 14 July. After today’s session the House will break up again and according to the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, members would be notified when they will resume again.