Speaker and three other MPs absent from first session [1]
Friday, January 14, 2022 - 16:50. Updated on Friday, January 14, 2022 - 16:54.
From the House by Pesi Fonua
Four elected members of parliament were absent from the opening session of the new 2022-25 parliament yesterday, including the Speaker of the House Lord Fakafanua.
No explanation was offered to the public for the absence of the Speaker and three others, at the swearing-in of newly elected members.
The Deputy Speaker Lord Tu'iha'angana led the swearing-in of the 23 newly elected members of parliament and one appointee Minister, who were present.
Those not sworn-in were Lord Fakafanua, Hon. Vili Hingano, Lord Tu'ivakano and HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, who were absent.
Lord Fakafanua was re-elected [2] as the Speaker, by a vote in the House on 15 December 2021.
Hon. Hingano, a former governor of Ha'apai, who won a Ha'apai People's Representative seat in the Nov. 18, 2021 general election, was selected by the Prime Minister as the Minister of Agriculture. No reason was given for his absence but it is known that he left Tonga on December 30 on a flight to New Zealand.
HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, who replaced Lord Fusitu'a as the Noble's Representative for Niuatoputapu and Niua Fo'ou, was expected to enter parliament for the first time.
The opening of the Tonga Legislative Assembly yesterday was busy day with members taking their oaths; the election of the Chairman of the Whole House Committee; and the naming of members of new Standing Committees.
This is Tonga’s 5th Parliament under our new system of government that was introduced in 2010, and the House faces the challenge of structuring a parliament to counter the economic and health crises that the world and Tonga are facing today. King Tupou VI stressed the challenges for the future [3] in his opening address to the assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 11.
Swearing-in
Lord Tu'iha'angana led the first item on the agenda yesterday. With the help of the Clerk of the House, each member was required to hold the Oath with his left hand and the Bible with his right hand. After reading the oath, the Member then kissed the bible, and signed his/her name for the first term in parliament.
In consideration of COVID-19 protocols members were permitted to kiss their own bibles, instead of the usual kissing of the communal book.
The oath in Tongan translates to: “I am taking this Oath in the Presence of God, I will truly obey His Majesty King Tupou VI, the real King of Tonga and I keep the Constitution of the Tongan Government, and sincerely and wholly fulfil my duties and the responsibilities of Parliament.”
After the Deputy Speaker took his oath, he was followed by the Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi ‘Ofa ki Vahafolau Sovaleni, who took three other oaths as the Minister of Education, the Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Brigade, and the Minister responsible for His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF).
Two of the three nobles for Tongatapu, Lord Vaea and Lord Fohe, were followed by Lord Nuku (‘Eua), then Lord Tu'ilakepa (Vava'u).
Other MPs followed, Hons.: Sione Sangstar Saulala, Viliami Uasike Latu, Lord Tu‘i‘afitu, Samiu Kuita Vaipulu, Tevita Fatafehi Puloka, Dr ‘Uhila Mei Langi Fasi, Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke, Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, Dr Taniela Fusimalohi, Veivosa Light of Life Taka, Vatau Mefi Hui, Sevenitini Toumo‘ua, Semisi Tauelangi Fakahau, Dr Saia Ma‘u Piukala, Tatafu Toma Moeaki, Poasi Mataele Tei, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu.
Cabinet Ministers then took their oaths, as follows, Hons.: • Poasi Mataele Tei, Minister for Environment, Government Enterprises and Information; • Tatafu Toma Moeaki, Minister of Finance, Revenue and Customs; • Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, Minister of Health; • Semisi Tauelangi Fakahau, Minister of Fisheries; • Fekita Moeloa ‘Utoikamanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, • Hon. Sevenitini Toumo‘ua, Minister of Infrastructure; • Samiu Kuita Vaipulu, the Minister of Justice and Prisons; • Lord Tu‘i‘afitu, Minister of Land and Natural Resources; • Viliami Uasike Latu, Minister of Trade and Economic Development; • Sione Sangstar Saulala, Minister of Internal Affairs.
The Deputy Speaker, Lord Tu‘iha‘angana declared the beginning of the parliamentary session for 2022 to 2025. He called on the Clerk for a Roll Call of the day’s session on Jan. 13, 2022. Four members were absent (Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, Fakafanua, Tu’ivakano, and Hingano).
The House proceeded to elect a Chairman of the Whole House Committee.
Lord Nuku proposed Lord Vaea, who was elected as the Chairman of the Whole House Committee.
The key distinction between the Committee of the Whole House and the Legislative Assembly is that the Committee of the Whole House has more flexible rules and less formalities and protocols. As such, the Legislative Assembly often resolves itself to the Committee of the Whole House so that issues may be discussed by members in more detail.
The Speaker called for the reading of new Standing Committees and their members. Ten new Standing Committees, replace the current eight Standing Committees of the House.
The 10 new Standing Committees and their members are:
Standing Committee for Legislation:
- Chairman Taniela Fusimalohi, • Members, Fakafanua, Tu‘ivakano, Latu, Vaipulu, Eke, and the Attorney General.
- Reserve Members: Nobles Reps.: Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, Vaea; Cabinet Mins.,Tei, Sovaleni; People’s Reps., ‘Fasi, and Tu‘i‘onetoa.
Standing Committee on Agenda:
- Chairman, Lord Fakafanua; • Members, Tu‘iha‘angana, Sovaleni, Tei, Eke, Puloka.
- Reserve Members, Nobles Reps: Tu‘ilakepa and Lord Nuku. Cabinet Mins., Moeaki and Fakahau. People’s Reps., Taka and Tu‘i‘onetoa.
Standing Committee for Legislative Assembly Privileges:
- Chairman, Lord Vaea; • Members, Tu‘iha‘angana, Vaipulu, Latu, Fusimalohi, Fasi.
- Reserve members, Nobles Reps., Tu‘ilakepa and Tu‘ivakano. Cabinet Mins., Piukala and Tu‘i‘afitu. People’s Reps., Eke and Tu‘i‘onetoa.
Standing Committee on Finance:
- Chairman, Hon. ‘Aisake Valu Eke; • Members, Fakafanua, Vaea, Moeaki, Tei, Tu‘i‘onetoa, and the Auditor General.
- Reserve members, Nobles Reps., Nuku and Fohe; Cabinet Mins., Sovaleni and Vaipulu; People’s Reps., Fusimalohi and Fasi.
Standing Committee on Social Affairs:
- Chairman, Hon. Tevita Fakahefi Puloka; • Members, Vaea, Fohe, Saulala, Hon. Saia Ma’u Piukala and Fasi;
- Reserve Members, Nobles Reps., Nuku and Kalaniuvalu Fotofili; Cabinet Mins., Sovaleni and ‘Utoikamanu; People’s Reps., Hui and Taka.
Standing Committee on the environment and Climate Change:
- Chairman, Lord Tu’ivakano; • Members, Nuku, Tei, ‘Utoikamanu, Hui and Taka.
- Reserve Members, Fakafanua and Tu‘ilakepa; Cabinet Ministers: Sovaleni, Tu‘i‘afitu. People’s Reps., Fusimalohi, and Puloka.
Standing on Foreign Relation, Defence and Trade:
- Chairman HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili; • Members, Fakafanua, ‘Utoikamanu, Latu, Fusimalohi, and Eke.
- Reserve members: Vaea, Tu‘iha‘angana; Cabinet Mins., Sovaleni, Moeaki. People’s Reps., Tu‘i‘onetoa. And Fasi.
Standing Committee for Agriculture and Fisheries:
- Chairman, Lord Tu‘ilakepa; • Members, Nuku, Fakahau, Hingano, Taka.
- Reserve Members: Nobles Reps., Fohe and Vaea, Cabinet Mins., Toumo‘ua and Saulala. People’s Reps., Puloka and Hui.
Standing Committee for Anti Corruption:
- Chairman, Hon. ‘Uhila Moelangi Fasi; • Members, Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, Tu‘i‘afitu, Toumo‘ua, Puloka.
- Reserve members, Nobles Reps., Fakafanua and Tu’ivakano; Cabinet Mins., Vaipulu and Fakahau, People’s Reps., Fusimalohi, and Eke.
Standing Committee for the growth in Population and Development:
- Chairman, Hon. Veivosa Light of life Taka; • Members, Tu‘ilakepa, Fohe, Piukala, ‘Utoikamanu and Hui.
- Reserve members: Fakafanua, Tu‘ivakano, Saulala, Latu, Tu‘i‘onetoa and Fasi.
21 members voted in-favour of the composition of the committees.
MPs Retirement Reserve Fund
The Speaker proceeded and raised the issue relating to the Retirement Reserve Fund for members of parliament, which is looked after by members to be selected by the House.
The Chairman of the Board is the Speaker of the House and on reserve is the Deputy Speaker, and the Directors are representatives of Cabinet Ministers, and a representative of the Nobles’ and the People’s Representatives. The Secretary has been the Chief Clerk of the House.
The Prime Minister moved for the Minister of Finance to be the Chairman and his deputy to be the Deputy Prime Minister.
Lord Nuku proposed Lord Tu’ilakepa, and Lord Fohe.
Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa proposed ‘Aisake Eke, and ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi.
The Speaker called for votes and 22 members voted in-favour.
The House was then unofficially closed because the broadcasting of the proceeding ended as members proceeded to complete their Response to the King’s opening speech of Parliament.