Mele 'Amanaki, the Secretary General, of Tonga's Public Service Association, has been dismissed from her government post in a disciplinary action over her engagement in political activities.

Mele, who was the Principal Food Technologist with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries, was informed by the Public Service Commission that her dismissal from the Public Service was effective from July 30, 2007.

PSA Petition

The PSA in a statement today, said that the decision made by the Public Service Commission was based on the allegations made by the Chief Executive Officer of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries, Peni Vea, that Mele had breached the Code of Conduct of the Public Service.



The PSA believed that this was for two reasons. Firstly, because Mele, "submitted in May the PSA's report of their survey on the views of the public servants on the Memorandum of Understanding between government and the dissatisfied public servants during the 2005 strike;" and secondly, "because she submitted in July the PSA's letter informing the CEOs that the PSA would be submitting a petition to the King."

The PSA statement claimed that the CEO's allegations were directed by the Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, who is the Acting Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries.

Mele 'Amanaki is on vacation leave and was not due back to work until the end of August. It is understood that she has submitted an appeal to Cabinet

Warned

Mishka Tu'ifua, the chairperson of the Tonga Public Service Commission, today confirmed that Mele 'Amanaki had been dismissed due to a breach of the Public Service code of conduct

"The process government followed in the disciplinary proceeding was satisfied to the full," she said.

"Mele was previously warned to take every reasonable step to avoid conflict of interest with her employer, the government. Civil servants are required to be apolitical and are required to get approval for any political involvement that might bring government or a Ministry into disrepute," said Mishka.

"On previous complaints Mele was given the benefit of the doubt but this was disregarded. A charge was placed by the HOD, number of issues were brought to their attention and reviewed by a disciplinary committee and then a recommendation was made to the PSC.

"The officer had been given prior warning to avoid taking any type of action and to avoid any act that would bring disrepute to government. It was not one but a number of incidents," said Mishka, who added that seniority was taken into account and, "the scope of influence of the individual, the reputation of the Ministry and the stakeholders, because she was the Ministry's reference point for a number of regional organizations."