From the House by Pesi Fonua

The Tongan Parliament went into a closed session when it opened on Wednesday, after a three-weeks break, and there was no broadcasting of the morning’s proceedings.

So what was parliament doing on the morning of November 23?

The Tonga Legislative Assembly's website, the same day, posted a photo of a newly elected People’s Representative Dulcie Tei, posing with the Speaker, after taking her oath. The story was about the Speaker. The caption stated: “The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly today warmly welcomed the three newly elected Members of Parliament...This morning Tongatapu 6 constituency MP - Hon. Dulcie Tei, Tongatapu 4 MP, Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu and the new MP of Tongatapu 7, Hon. Piveni Piukala took their oath in office to be loyal to the King and to abide by the law and the Constitution of Tonga.”

However, the Speaker offered no explanation as to why the new members, elected by the people, were sworn in during a closed session.

The house resumed open session in the afternoon.

Parliamentary visits

Yesterday, Thursday, at 2:30pm, the proceedings of the House continued in open session with the People’s Representatives presenting reports of their parliamentary visits to their constituencies, and reporting how their constituency funds were spent.

First birthday

Having reached the first birthday of our new parliament that was elected on 18 November 2021, it is astounding to see how the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku (Siaosi Sovaleni) and his Cabinet have managed to keep the government in operation during a most challenging 12 months.

Two Cabinet ministers have died in office, three Cabinet ministers have been unseated for committing election bribery – after election petitions made serious allegations against seven elected People's Representatives.

During the year, there were two national states of emergency. The Tongan economy struggled to stay on its feet after two years of closed borders and the continuing blows of natural disasters.

In June, parliament passed Tonga's biggest-ever budget.

Extremely challenging 2022

The new Government with a 12-member Cabinet [2] was appointed on 28 December 2021.

Shortly thereafter, the powerful Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai (HTHH) volcanic eruption and tsunami on 15 January 2022, shocked Tonga and the world.

Then, as foreign disaster relief flowed in, Tonga grappled with the impact of COVID-19, which started spreading rapidly [3] in the community in February 2022.

The government had declared two simultaneous States of Emergency [4]  for the whole of Tonga, and outlined their responses.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the natural disaster and with Omicron spreading, a significant number of the newly elected members of parliament faced political problems of their own, to an extent not seen before in Tonga.

Following the 18 November 2021 General Election eight election petitions were filed with the Court of Justice against seven elected members.

After due process in the court, four Cabinet Ministers were found to have committed bribery to win votes in the election.

As a result, three Cabinet Ministers were unseated by the Legislative Assembly after they were unsuccessful in their appeals in the courts. They were the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei (MEIDECC), Hon. Tatafu Toma Moeaki  (Finance and National Planning); and Hon. Sione Sangster Saulala (Internal Affairs).

However, the fourth accused, former Prime Minister and Tongatapu No. 10 People’s Representative, Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, retained his seat in the Legislative Assembly, when his third appeal was upheld by the Appeal Court on 9 August.

In addition, three election petitions were dismissed by the court, against People's Representatives Tevita Puloka (Tongatapu No. 4), ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi (Tongatapu No. 2) and ‘Aisake Eke,  (Tongatapu No. 5).

By election

A by-election [5] was held on November 3 (the second during the year) to find new members to fill the three seats of the unseated members.

Newly elected members are required to take their oath as representative members of parliament before they can enter the House.

Deaths of Cabinet Ministers

The two Cabinet ministers who died in office during the year, were Vili Manuopangai Hingano (Ha'apai) the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forests who passed away on 10 June, and Hon. Semisi Fakahau (Tongatapu 8)  Minster of Fisheries who passed away on 26 October.

Two new Members [6] took their oath on 24 October, Moale Finau who won the Ha’apai seat in an earlier by-election, and a new Finance and National Planning Minister Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti, who was appointed by the Prime Minister to take over from Tatafu Moeaki who was unseated.

Noble Fohe was also appointed to replace the late Hingano as the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forests.

Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti is one of two new Cabinet Ministers who were appointed from outside the House by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has the privilege to appoint four unelected members of Parliament as members of his Cabinet.

The other Cabinet member, appointed by the Prime Minister, and the only female member of his Cabinet, is Hon. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism.

More recently, Hon. Lord Vaea, Tongatapu No. 1 Nobles Representative, was appointed as the new Minister for Internal Affairs (replacing Saulala who was unseated).

Lord Vaea was the Chairman of the Whole Committee and he was replaced by Lord Tu‘ilakepa, the Vava‘u No. 2 Noble’s Representative.

January by-election

A third by-election will be held on Thursday, 19 January 2023 to fill the seat of the late Semisi Fakahau (PR Tongatapu No. 8).

Largest budget

On June 14 the Tongan Parliament passed the 2022-2023 annual budget, totalling $764.7 million Pa’anga, the Kingdom’s largest annual budget.
According to the Ministry of Finance, most of the budget ($437 million) will be financed by Government while the rest ($327.7 million) will be financed by Development Partners.

Members of the Tonga Legislative Assembly (at 24 November 2022)

The Cabinet Ministers:

1. Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni – Prime Minister; Minister of Education and Technical Training; Minister of Police and the Fire & Emergency Services; and Defence.
2. Hon. Samiu Vaipulu – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Prisons.
3. Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti – Minister of Finance and National Planning.
4. Rev Lord Tu’i’afitu – Minister of Lands, Survey and Natural Disaster.
5. Hon. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism.
6. Hon. Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala – Minister of Health.
7. Hon. Dr Viliami Uasike Latu – Minister of Labour and Trade.
8. Lord Fohe – Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.
9. Lord Vaea – Minister of Internal Affairs.
10. Hon. Sevenitini Toumoua – Minister of Infrastructure.

The Nobles Representatives (9):

1. Lord Vaea – the Tongatapu
2. Lord Tu’ivakano – Tongatapu
3. Lord Fohe – Tongatapu
4. Lord Nuku – ‘Eua
5. Lord Tu’iha’angana – Ha’apai
6. Lord Fakafanua – Ha’apai
7. Rev Lord Tu’i’afitu – Vava’u
8. Lord Tu’ilakepa – Vava’u.
9. HSH Kalaniuval Fotofili – Niuas

The Peoples Representatives (17):

1. Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka – Tongatapu
2. Hon. ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi – Tongatapu
3. Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni – Tongatapu
4. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu – Tongatapu
5. Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke – Tongatapu
6. Hon. Dulcie Elaine Tei – Tongatapu
7. Hon. Paula Piveni Piukala – Tongatapu
8. Tongatapu constituency no. 8 By election set for 19 January 2023
9. Hon. Sevenoitini Toumoua – Tongatapu
10. Hon. Rev Dr Pohiva Tui’onetoa – Tongatapu
11. Hon. Dr Taniela Fusimalohi – ‘Eua
12. Hon. Mo’ale Finau – Ha’apai
13. Hon. Veivosa Light of Life Taka – Ha’apai
14. Hon. Saia Ma’u Piukala – Vava’u
15. Hon. Samiu Kuita Vaipulu – Vava’u
16. Hon. Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu – Vava’u
17. Hon. Vatau Mefi Hui – Niuas