From the House, by Pesi Fonua

A controversial issue that was raised in the Tongan Parliament, on 15 May, led to questions in the House over the releasing of government money to pay the debt owed by Tonga after it failed to host the Pacific Games in 2019. 

Some members did not remember that the House had already passed this issue.

During the vociferous debate on Monday, People’s Representatives Taniela Fusimalohi and Piveni Piukala were insistent on their request for government to reveal how much money it had paid to compensate for Tonga’s failure to host the Pacific Games. The games went to Samoa in 2019.

According to the Parliamentary Minutes of 15 May 2023, the Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni responded to a question by People’s Representative ‘Aisake Eke, who asked why this important report was not mentioned in the Annual Report of the Prime Minister. The member wanted to know what legislation justified the PM to withhold the figures.

The Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu, responded that under a settlement agreement the government could not release the information. He stressed that it was a Supreme Court decision. He explained that Tonga had to pay the debt because of the unreasonable stoppage of a sport event that was already scheduled to take place.

‘Aisake Eke, asked the Prime Minister to please reveal the legislation that stopped them from releasing the figures of the money they had paid out.

The Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni reminded the House that they were debating over a 2022 report, but the Pacific Games settlement was paid in 2023, so it would come in that report, there was no secret. “If you want more detail, we have to go back to the Court, and we then can reveal the $100,000, or whatever was the debt,” he said.

Lord Tu‘i‘afitu, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources reminded the House that “all these members voted in favour of the report, now they are questioning the report.”

 The Prime Minister told the House that once a report was passed, they could not go back and debate over it.

He reminded the House that the settlement was approved by the court, and had to be confidential.  It was confidential between the two parties, and we agreed. We still can go back and ask for it to be opened up, “there was a bill to be paid.”

‘Aisake Eke, however, pointed out that the judiciary had nothing to do with this payment. The payment was made after an agreement between the two parties outside of the Court. “The Court has nothing to do with this”.

The Prime Minister responded that the government can’t tell the amount of the debt because we did not have a contract with the Pacific Games. 

Piveni Piukala asked two questions. Is it right to spend government money without the people and the House knowing? Then he asked for Cabinet to disclose to the House the amount they paid for a settlement.

The PM told the member not to use wrong examples. “We are talking about a budget that has already passed. We can’t change a decision that has been passed.”