PM returns to the House – during sensitive rift with King

PM returns to the House – during sensitive rift with King [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Monday, February 19, 2024 - 23:07. Updated on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 - 09:57.

From the House by Pesi Fonua

The Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku returned to the Tonga Legislative Assembly this morning after taking leave from the House for over three months, but made no mention of his Cabinet's rift with King Tupou VI.

In a short opening speech the PM thanked the House for the long time he had been away. He did not have anything to say about the King's withdrawal of his confidence and consent to the appointment of two Cabinet Ministers.

A fortnight ago, while the Prime Minister was overseas, the Privy Council notified Cabinet that King Tupou VI in Privy Council, on 2 February, had withdrawn his confidence and consent to the appointment of Hon. Hu‘akavameiliku (the PM) as the Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, and of Hon. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and as the Minister for Tourism.

The Cabinet disagreed with the King's advice, and since then the two Cabinet ministers in question have continued to work with their portfolios. Today was the PM's first appearance in parliament since Cabinet announced their dissent over the King's use of his Constitutional powers.

Last week, when members of parliament discussed the issue, they said there were urgent questions in need of response from the Prime Minister. They were waiting for him to return.

But today's agenda did not include any questions about the Prime Minister's rift with the King.

The Speaker, at the last sitting on Thursday, warned the House that this was “a very sensitive issue”.

Today, the sensitive issue of whether or not the two ministers would resign their portfolios remained to be ‘the elephant in the room’.

Bills from 2023

On the agenda, the House was expected to continue their work on the passage of bills from last year that had not moved forward.

But before proceedings got underway, some questions were raised.

The People's Rep. from 'Eua, Dr. Taniela Liku’ohihifo Fusimālohi said there was concern by the public relating to the poor quality of the broadcasting of proceedings of the House. The live stream was disrupted, and this caused concern for Tongans overseas and those out of range of the local radio.

The Speaker reminded the member that he had to ask for permission before he could speak.

The People's Rep. Tongatapu no.7, Piveni Piukala, raised his concern that they were not abiding by the Law of the House because the Prime Minister had been absent for over three months.

Power cuts

The People's Rep. Tongatapu no. 4, Mateni Tapueluelu, raised his concern over the state of electricity supply on Tongatapu. There were too many power cuts, and there was insufficient power generation to meet demand.

The Deputy PM, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, replied that it was a technical issue and hard to fix the problem.

Tongatapu no. 4, “A solution has to come from government. It is good for us to know what they are doing.”

Hon. Vaipulu– “Once completed, we will let you know.”

Tongatapu no. 4, “Now we have been told, it will be the same tomorrow – more power cuts”.

The House continued their work on the Bills, but it was difficult for the listening public to follow because some of the Bills were into their third reading and not much detail was read out.