Photos by Tupou Vaipulu Jr.

The Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku holds on to his leadership tonight, after a ballot for a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence failed to gain a majority, with members voting 11-For and 14-Against the motion, during the second day of two-days of sometimes heated deliberations, 5-6 September 2023.

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga met on Tuesday 5 September, and deliberated late into the night on the Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister, which was filed to Parliament by 10 members of the Tonga Legislative Assembly.

On Tuesday, a total of 35 Motions were disclosed to the House (as reasons for the VNC), along with the Responses from the Prime Minister and fellow MPs accused of wrong doing or failures. The Motions were disclosed in four separate sessions, which lasted a total of seven hours in the house.

Today, the session continued with more motions presented and concluded at noon with a total of 46 Motions and Responses. A second session resumed at 2:00pm following heated disputes among themselves, as the Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku proposed for the House to ballot the Vote of No Confidence without further deliberations, supported by the Deputy PM Hon. Samiu Vaiplulu, and the PM's appointed Ministers.

 However, Piveni Piukala with fellow People Representatives argued for further discussion, defending their right for a debate under the Clause 62 of the Constitution of Tonga. This also resulted in an upset Piveni Piukala, questioning the Prime Minister, "Prime Minister, were there errors in your responses, and is that why you want to avoid further deliberation?".

However, the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua called for balloting of the PM's proposal "to ballot the Vote of No Confidence without further deliberation", where 17 voted for and 10 against.

Only elected members may vote in a Vote of No Confidence so the two appointed ministers, the Minister of Finance and the Minister for Tourism, did not vote.
Ballots:
11 in favour of the Motion for a Vote of No Confidence

1. 
Hon. Dr 'Uhilamoelangi Fasi Tongatapu Peoples Representative No. 2
2. 
Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu Tongatapu Peoples Representative No. 4
3. 
Hon. Dr Aisake Valu Eke Tongatapu Peoples Representative No. 5

4. Hon. Paula Piveni Piukala Tongatapu Peoples Representative No. 7

5. Hon Kapelieli Lanumata Tongatapu Peoples Representative No. 10

6. Hon. Dr Taniela Fusimalohi Eua Peoples Representative No. 11

7. Hon. Mo'ale Finau Ha'apai Peoples Representative No. 12

8. Hon. Vatau Mefi Hui Niuas Peoples Representative No. 17

9. HSH Kalaniuvalu Fotofili Niuas Noble's Representative

10. Lord Nuku 'Eua Noble's Representative
11. 
Lord Tu’ivakano Tongatapu Noble's Representative No. 2

14 against the Motion for a Vote of No Confidence

1. 
Hon. Tevita Fatafehi Puloka Tongatapu, Peoples Representative No. 1

2. Hon. Veivosa Light of Life Taka, Ha'apai Peoples Representative No. 13

3. Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Sevenitini Toumoua, Tongatapu Peoples Representative No. 9
4. 
Minister of Health, Hon. Saia Ma'u Piukala, Vava'u Peoples Representative No. 14

5. Minister of Lands, Survey and Natural Disaster  Rev. Lord Tu’i'afitu

6. Prime Minister, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku (SIaosi Sovaleni)
7. Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu
8. Minister of Labour and Trade, Hon Dr Viliami Uasike Latu
9. 
Minister of Internal Affairs, Lord Vaea

10. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Lord Fohe

11. Hon. Johhny Grattan Vaea Taione Tongatapu Peoples Representative No. 8

12. Hon. Dulcie Elaine Tei, Tongatapu Peoples Representative No. 6
13. 
Lord Tu’iha'angana, Ha'apai Noble's Representative No. 1
14. 
Lord Tu’ilakepa, Vava'u Noble's Representative No. 2

Motions


1. (PM, Lulutai) The Prime Minister is and has been the chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Lulutai Airlines Ltd., which has also not been legally established as a Government business or public enterprise.
2. (DPM, AG) Government loan. The infringement of the law of Government finances (Ngaue Fakapa’anga ‘ae Pule’anga).
3. (Finance, Lulutai) Misleading the House and the public by not including in the Estimation of the Government expenditure for the financial year 2023-24 and the Budget statement (2023-24) details of the purchase of the new aircraft for Lulutai which cost USD 6.5million dollars (14.7 million TOP), which the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance had knowledge of before the preparation and processing of the 2023-24 annual budget.
4. (DPM, Finance) The passing and insurance (malu’i ‘oe no) of a loan for a private firm without first passing it through the house first and at the right time.
5. (DPM, MOI) Unreliable and uncertain Government-provided-Policy regarding the Managing Policy of a Domestic Airline. (whether or not it’s limited for any entity)
6. (DPM, Finance, AG) The Government withheld information regarding its decision makings concerning the lawsuit of Pacific Sports and how much they demanded.
7. (Finance, Governor NRBT) Government hired people who were found to have committed bribery.
8. (PM, Poasi) Favouritism through Government selecting people to the role of Director within Ministry business boards.These people were hand-picked by the Minister and Cabinet without advertising it to the public and making it unaccessible for anyone with the skills and academic requirement to apply.
9. (Finance, NRBT) Unlawful assignment of the new director for the board of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.
10. (PM, MOI, NRBT, PRs) The breach of Clause 6 of the Constitution of Tonga, “Sabbath day to be kept holy”. This was violated when construction work was permitted to be done two Sunday in a row at the Ha‘apai Airport.
11. (MOI, NRBT, Poasi) Missing Government equipment with no explanation.
12. (DPM, AG) Lack of effort and attention to drafting important laws for the country through the House on time
13. (PMO) Increasing amounts of complaints from the public regarding the services provided by government ministries and no effort has been made to ease the complaints.
14. (MOI) Minister Sevenitini Toumo’ua signed checks for big projects outside of government affairs (Board of the Friendly Island Shipping) despite being a Minister.
15. (MOI) The Minister Sevenitini Toumo’ua disobeying Major Project Protocols to work together with the people’s and nobles representatives in uncovering the truth of the petition letter from the various construction companies that built/rebuilt the houses of those affected by the tsunamis.
16. (PMO, Finance, and NRBT) Too many international travel of the PM and Ministers.
17. (MTED) Complaints on the decision made by government to bring in foreign investors for the local fresh produce.
18. (MOI, Lulutai) Damage to the SAAB and Y12 aircrafts that was used by Lulutai.
19. (PM, MET) Secondary School Entrance Exam discontinued.
21. (PM, MET) PM and Minister of Education disapproved of the inclusion of Christian faith in Education, and therefore detain/hold back (toloi) the Tonga Education Strategic Policy Framework 2022-2032 from the Fale Alea.
22. (PM, MET) Establish the Tonga National University, that is not registered under the National Board (Poate Fakafonua) for the Tonga National Qualification and Accreditation Board.
23. (MEIDECC) Unfair and unreliable distribution of solar lights, water tanks, and satellite (tuunga setelaite)
24. (MEIDECC) PM overseas flights during lockdown, breaching its own rules and regulation for closing borders.
25. (MTED, MAFF, Health) Not enough regulations for food that causes  diseases.
26. (MPE, Finance) Excessive complaints on high electricity bills.
27. (MPE, TPL) High electric bills spike. 
28. (PM, Fire Service) No safety fire service at Niuas airport 
29: (Finance, Customs) More pollution from importing 15 years old motor vehicles
30. (FISA) Damage of the M.V. ‘Otuangaofa operated by the Friendly Islands Shipping Agency.
31. (PMO) No responses from Cabinet's Mnisters to parliamentary questions.
32. (MOI, PMO) The Government guaranteed 286 houses, would be built for families whose houses were destroyed in the tsunami, by December 2022, but at the moment only 40 houses were completed.
33. (DPM, AG) PM has not establish a Commission and Commissioner for combating corruption, which he guaranteed. 
34. (Finance) Not enough effort to reduce the Budget for FY2023-2024.
35. (DPM, AG) Not enough effort from the Minister of Justice to help people who can’t afford to pay a lawyer.
36. (DPM, AG, NRBT) Breach Clause 51(5) of the Constitution, by not disclosing how much money paid to the Pacific Games Association, TASANOC and Kacific to settle legal actions
37. (PMO, Police) Lack of effort by the government to combat illicit drug crimes.
38. (MEIDECC, Geology) Lack of attention and effort by the Government to ensure the safety of the public, before the HTHH on 15 Jan 2022.
39. (MEIDECC, Health, last 6 for covid to hit) Weak lockdown regulation; Covid reached inside our border. 
40. (PMO) Government failed to tabled in the Assembly’s Yearly Report (lipooti fakata’u) on time, and there were multiple corrections on that report. 
41. (Finance) Government cannot provide an effective budget plan for its International Debts.
42: (MOI) No improvement in repairing damaged roads.
43: (MIA) Government cannot effectively operate the overseas seasonal employment.
44: (PMO) Government misuse their power, for different affairs.
45: (PM, MOI) Misuse aid from the People’s Republic of China, that were given to those whose houses were affected by the tsunamis or the needy in Tonga.
46. (PM, MFA) PM neglected to establish a special memorial day for Tongans overseas to mark their continuous supports to Tonga.

The motion for the Vote of No Confidence was filed and signed by 10 Representatives on 14 and 16 June 2023.

1. Hon. Dr ‘Uhilamoelangi Ttp 2

2. Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu Ttp 4

3. Hon. ‘Aisake Valu Eke Ttp 5

4. Hon. Taniela Fusimalohi ‘Eua 11
5. Hon. Mo’ale Finau Ha’apai 12

6. Hon. Paula Piveni Piukala Ttp 7

7. Hon. Vatau Hui Niuas 17 

8. Lord Tu’ivakano Ttp Noble’s 2
9. Lord Nuku ‘Eua Noble’s Rep

10. Kapeli Lanumata Ttp 10 (signed 16 August 2023)

Report by Katalina Siasau and Tupou Vaipulu Jr.