PM, Ministers to step down from public enterprise boards [1]
Monday, February 25, 2008 - 16:23. Updated on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 15:05.
Starting in January 2009 all directorate positions in Tonga's public enterprise boards will be filled from the private sector.
The Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Civil Servants who are directors on Government's public enterprise boards will at the end of this year vacate their board positions allowing private sector candidates to step in.
This was revealed by the Minister of Public Enterprise Hon. 'Afu'alo Matoto after opening a Directors' Training Course.
Therefore, the training of 29 private sector candidates, adds to the potential pool of directors that could be nominated next year to take over positions on a public enterprise board.
"Our objective is to improve the financial and economic performance of the public enterprise boards in making a positive contribution to Government and to the country as a whole. And I see this is a part of developing the Private Sector because what happens in these public bodies has spill-over effect on the sector," said the Minister.
He also confirmed that Government passed a policy requiring that at the end of 2008 public servants who are board directors will vacate the positions making it available to be filled by non-public servants namely these candidates who are undergoing training.
'Afu'alo said these candidates will be their first choice for the positions when vacated, but they will advertise and do their selection through the normal procedure of skills and the wealth of experience a person has in this kind of job.
Participants include Tom Nakao, Aloma Johansson, Pousima Afeaki, Ma'ake Faka'osifolau, Masao Soakai, Simi Tekiteki, Bryan Welch, Roger Miller, David Garett, Monalisa Palu, Diane Warner, Malakai Tapealava and Michael Bloomfield.
Training
The course consists of two streams, one pool in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Trainers are Bruce MacQueen from the Business Government and Strategies International contracted to the Asian Development Bank, assisted by 'Aisea Taumoepeau and 'Inoke Vala, the Public Enterprise CEO
'Afu'alo said Government has about 17 Public Enterprise Boards and some of these participants are existing members on boards with some already having a fair knowledge on how it operates.
The main part of the training is to look at the function and responsibility of directors both legally and financially, followed by other issues such as Principle of Good Governance, Statutory Duties both legally and financially, Financial and Economic Issues and Board relationship.
The training held at the Tonga Council of Churches Hall, Vaololoa ends on Friday February 29.