From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua.

Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 10, Monday night June 23, 2008. Highlights:


- People's Representatives from the outer islands might have half a million pa'anga in their pockets to give away to village people when they tour the outer islands later this year.

- Concern expresssed over the undisclosed amount of money that aid donors pay straight into the account of foreign consultants and some Head of Departments.

- PR 'Akilisi Pohiva called for the termination of the Anti Corruption Commission. He said it would not work unless Tonga changed its political system, and it would be a waste of money. His notion was supported by other PRs Clive Edwards, 'Isileli Pulu, and 'Etuate Lavulavu.

- The Minister of Justice was baffled by the opposition of the PRs to the setting up of the Anti Corruption Commission, since the House passed the Anti Corruption Act only last year.

- A PR was told that the House was stealing from the people by working overtime. [The overtime rate for the House is one hour equals one day's salary.]

Roll Call. The Clerk told the Speaker that Noble Tu'ipelehake was not attending the House and the rest of the members he presumed were coming late.

Hand-outs

The Prime Minister told the house that despite the fact that they had voted on the Vote of the House and rejected the proposal by PRs for a half a million pa'anga for PRs to hand out to villagers in the outer islands, when they tour their districts, he asked if the Minister of Finance could find that kind of money from somewhere.

He said it was the same situation as the request by the Auditor General to increase his vote by $300,000. The Minister of Finance said he could get the money. He said that these needs could be sorted out but they should not change any of the figures in their vote.

PR 'Isileli Pulu wondered why Tongatapu was not included in the funding for the PRs on tour.

The PM said that the understanding was that villages' needs in Tongatapu had been well looked after.

In their pockets

Teisina Fuko, thanked the PM and reminded the House that the half a million was something for them to have in their pocket when they visited their electoral districts.

'Isileli Pulu pleaded for Tongatapu to be included, instead of the PRs from the outer islands 'eating on the sly' kaipo.

The Speaker agreed with 'Isileli and said that it was not fair for the PRs from the outer islands to have money in their pockets to hand out but not the Tongatapu PRs. He dissolved the Legislature into Committee.

The Chairman of the Committee, Samiu Vaipulu called for debate to continue with the Vote of the Prime Minister's Office.

Consultants salaries

'Isileli Pulu wanted to know where the Minister of Finance got the money for the salaries of consultants at the Prime Minister's Office.

Minister of Finance, Hon. Afu'alo Matoto told the member that it came from foreign donors, such as the Commonwealth and the European Union.

'Isileli Pulu wanted to know where the salary of the PM's political adviser, Lopeti Senituli came from.

The Minister told the member that he did not know, but may be the PM could help him.

Clive Edwards said that when they queried last year where Lopeti Senituli's salary came from they were told that it came from China.

Prime Minister said he has been told that they were just finishing off the allocation from China, and they hade been planning on further discussion with the Chinese ambassador.

Clive said that if that was how government kept account of foreign aid, the House would not know how foreign aids have been spent.

The PM said that there were no secrets of how consultants at the PM's Office were paid. Lopeti was paid with aid from China, Viliami Afeaki, who looked after Civic Education was paid by the European Union, and the EU had also given half a million to finance the work of the civil society in Tonga. He said that the salary of his economic adviser Rob Solomon was paid by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Clive said that in the USA any gift of money that was given to the president went to government.

Aid donors

The Prime Minister said that money from aid donors went to the bank then from the bank to the treasury, then the treasury paid out the salaries of employees under the scheme that was funded by aid donors.

'Akilisi Pohiva said that the office for Human Right and Democracy had been seeking financial assistance, and they were told to go and ask the Prime Minister's Office. He said that detailed information on the sources of funds and the salaries of consultants and advisers at the PM office should be presented to the House.

The PM asked 'Akilisi to stop looking on the negative sides of things. He said that it was a decision by the EU for their funding for the Civil Society to be administered by the PM office. He said that if government decided to seek financial assistance from overseas they did not have to get the approval of the House.

'Akilisi told the PM that it was good to be suspicious. He said that suspicion builds the country, and that was why he was elected by the people to look out for whatever was not in order.

Budget

Teisina Fuko did not think they would be able to pass the budget on time because of how aid funds were presented in lump sums without any details of how they were spent. He asked the Minister of Finance for a new approach in next year's budget.

Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Viliami Tangi tried to explain how aid money was spent. He gave an example of the bilateral aid assistance between Australia and Tonga and under an Australian Staffing Scheme two Australian doctors were assigned for Vaiola Hospital. He said that the salaries of these doctors were paid straight to the accounts of these doctors in Australia, and since they arrived in Tonga they provided accommodation and other provisions. He pointed out that it would be very difficult to expect the Minister of Finance to tell the House the salaries of the Australian doctors.

Clive reminded the House when the New Zealand government a few years back claimed that Tonga misused New Zealand aid money, they were going to send a team to investigate. He claimed that aid funds were not thoroughly disclosed to the House.

The Minister of Finance told Clive that he was just following existing formula, but he would try and change the formula.

Teisina Fuko thanked the Minister of Finance, and at the same time accused the Minister of Health for being out of step with what they were talking about.

Dr Viliami Tangi told the member that he was trying to explain how aid funds were spent. He queried why Teisina wanted to know about the whole program, because he would not know anything about the program.

Political Reform Commission

Clive wanted to know if the half a million that has been allocated for the Commission for Political Reform would be short, what would they do about it.

The Minister of Finance said that New Zealand and Australia were financing the project and they could give more if it was needed.

Public Service Comission

'Isileli wanted to know who paid the salary of the Chairperson in the Public Service Commission.

The Minister of Finance replied Australia, and it was negotiated between the Chairwoman and Australia.

'Akilisi reckoned that the Minister should know the amount.

The Minister said he suspected that Australia wanted it that way so that Tonga did not interfere with its aid program.

The Chairman called for votes on Vote No. 3 of the Prime Minister's Office. It was carried 17-1. Against was Teisina Fuko.

Complaints Commission

The debate moved on to Vote No. 4 of the Public Complaints Commission.

Teisina queried why the vote for the commission was over a hundred thousand. He wondered if they had ever taken anyone to court. He wondered what were they doing.

The Minister of Finance said that the reason for the increase in the vote was because the commission had merged with the new Anti-Corruption Commission.

Anti-Corruption Commission

'Akilisi said that it was very important to have the Anti-Corruption Commission, but he thought they would be useless, because they would not be able to investigate the king.

He said that such an establishment would function only in a democratic form of government but not in Tonga.

The Minister of Finance was disappointed that the member held such a view, because if they were not going to put right what they thought was wrong then nothing would happen.

'Akilisi said he felt sorry for the Acting Anti-Corruption Commissioner. He said that if the Attorney General, the Public Prosecutor could not do her job, then how could the Acting Anti Corruption Commissioner.

He wanted to know if the Public Prosecutor could fight corruption.

Minister of Justice was baffled by 'Akilisi's remark because last year the Bill for the Anti Corruption Commission Act was read three times and was passed by the House, and an Acting Commissioner had been appointed.

'Akilisi said that the Acting Commissioner would be paid for doing nothing because if he would be given one complaint, he would say that could not do anything about it.

The Minister of Justice said that 'Akilisi held a pessimistic view on anything in life and he only noticed what was wrong and bad, and there lay their differences, because she was an optimist and she worked and hope for the best.

Clive said that the problem with the Minister of Justice was because she was wearing two hats, one of a Minister of Justice, and a politician; and that of an Attorney General who was supposed to hold an independent stance on issues.

He said he has written a number of times, complaining to the Attorney General but she never replied. He wrote to her about the imprisonment of Mele 'Amanaki, she never replied, but the Supreme Court Mele out.

'Alisi said that she had never not replied to a letter from Clive.

Opposition

'Akilisi insisted that it would be an utter waste of money to set up this commission. He said that if he would complain about the king who has an executive power and was involved in the making of laws. He did not think the commission could investigate the king.

Noble Nuku told 'Akilisi to amend the constitution.

'Akilisi said there would be trouble if someone was above the law. He pleaded for the House to terminate the Anti Corruption Commission.

The Minister of Tourism, Hon. Fineasi Funaki reminded 'Akilisi that the commission was an instrument to counter corruption.

He said that 'Akilisi had the symptoms of a loser who would blame his spade and that was why he could not hoe his talo patch. He said that the member was a pharisee, cheater and double-faced.

'Akilisi said that the minister could call him a pharisee, but he was sure that the Anti Corruption Commission would not work.

Destroying Anti-Corruption Commission

'Alisi reminded 'Akilisi that the law on corruption has been tested and the former Speaker of the House, Noble Veikune was sent to jail.

She could not understand why they wanted to destroy the Anti Corruption Commission.

Clive asked 'Alisi to ask herself the same question, and if she could answer it then she would understand.

'Alisi said she has asked herself that question, and had answered it herself. She said that she had face to face confrontation with Clive in court over a corruption case under this law and Clive lost, and his client lost his chair as the Speaker of the House, and another person went to jail.

'Etuate Lavulava said that government was stealing from the people by paying the salaries of the people who would work for the commission knowing well that they would not be doing any work.

Overtime rate

Noble Nuku told the member that they were actually stealing from the people by working overtime. (The overtime rate of the House is one hour OT is one-day's salary).

The Chairman called for votes on Vote No. 4. It was carried 20-4. Against were 'Akilisi, 'Isileli, Clive and 'Etuate.

The House was closed until 9.30am the following day.