Minute no. 2 turns up 6 days after House sits [1]
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 18:50. Updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 - 16:12.
A second Parliamentary Minute was published by the House on June 9, six days after the House adjourned on June 3.
From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua.
Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 2, Tuesday June 3, 2008.
The Speaker called on the new Ha'apai no. 2 People's Representative, Sione Teisina Fuko to take his oath. Teisina was absent from the House the on the first day of parliament.
The new Ha'apai Nobles' Representative, Noble Tu'ipelehake is the only member that has not taken his oath, but the Speaker said he would take his oath when he attended parliament.
House staff
At the start of the session, the House elect their staff and a list of applicants for various jobs was distributed.
The Governor of Ha'apai requested for more time, at least a week to make a decision on who should be given the jobs.
'Etuate Lavulavu, suggested that they should form a sub-committee to come up with a short-list.
'Uliti Uata moved for members to be given 30 minutes to make up their minds before the House reconvened and selected their staff. It was seconded and the Speaker called for votes. It was carried 13-2. Against were the Governor of Ha'apai and Noble Lasike.
After a 30 minutes break, the ballot papers was distributed and the members made their selection:
Viliami Uasike Latu - Chief Clerk of the House;
Saletili Lasike - the Sargeant at Arms;
Pauliasi Kienga - Chief Accountant;
Kitione Maile Mokofisi - Broadcasting Officer;
Sione Malekamu Palu - Chief Technical Officer;
Fatani Tavake Latu - Assistant Technical Officer;
Fifita Holeva Tu'iha'angana - the Speaker's Assistant Secretary;
Siaosi Vete - Assistant Secretary for House Standing Committees;
'Ilisapeti Hala'api'api - Assistant Liaising Officer;
Sau'iafaa Lokotui, Mafi Tupou, Fatafehi Holani, Salote Langi, Mele Kaveinga Fotu, 'Ana Foliaki Tapueluelu, Mosiana Fisi'ipeau and Tupou Manuofetoa - Short-hand secretaries.
Halahuni Manuopangai and Tau'aika Ta'ufo'ou - Publishing Officers;
Fataimoemanu Fusitu'a Leki - Librarian;
Siaosi Heneli Blake - House Security Officer
Sami Mafile'o - House-keeper;
'Aakata Takapu - House-keeper;
Simione Lilo - House boy;
'Ana Halatoa - Tea-maker;
Lekaumoana Veikune - Driver.
The Speaker said that the members of the House's committee for the Board of the Retirement Fund remained the same: Minister of Finance, Ha'apai Nobles' No. 1 Nobles' Representative and the People's Representative for 'Eua.
Sione Tekiteki was the representative of the House on the Board of the Retirement Fund.
The Speaker read out the namess of the members of the House's other two Standing Committees - the Finance and the Law Committees.
Members of the Law Committee:
the Minister of Law, Minister of Health, Minister of Labour, Minister of Police, Minister of Tourism, Tongatapu No. 1 Nobles' Representative, Vava'u No. 1 NR, the Noble of Niua, Tongatapu No. 2 NR, Tongatapu no. 2 and No. 3 PRs, the 'Eua PR and the Vava'u No. 1 PR.
Members of the Finance Committee:
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Minister of Finance, Minister of Works, Minister for Youth, and Training, Governor of Ha'apai No. 1 NR, the Noble of 'Eua, Tongatapu, No 3 NR, Ha'apai No. 2 NR, Tongatapu No. 1 PR, Ha'apai No. 1 PR, the Niua PR and the Ha'apai No. 2 PR.
The Speaker reminded the House that the Auditor General had moved over from working under the jurisdiction of the PM to that of the House, and he proposed that there should be a select committee of the House to advise the Auditor General.
Teisina Fuko moves for such a committee to be formed. It was seconded.
The Deputy PM suggested for the Speaker to appoint the members.
The Speaker told members that he was now responsible for the preparation of the working agenda of the House, and the appointment of a committee to advise the Auditor General.
Bill for Appropriation Act
The Speaker called the clerk to read the Bill for the Appropriation Act 2008. It was carried 25-0.
After its second reading, 'Uliti Uata moved for the Bill to go to the Whole House Committee for debate.
No media
Teisina Fuko raised his concern that there was no media in the House. He said that it was unfortunate that the public do not know what was going on in the House.
The Speaker said that Radio Tonga and Television Tonga are allowed into the House for an hour each day, but the other media may follow the proceedings by reading the minutes.
'Etuate Lavulavu suggested that they should either ban all the media from the House, or allow them all in.
The Speaker called for the House to close until 9.30 am Monday, June 9.